Laboratory Equipment
This includes freezers, refrigerators, ovens, etc
- Remove hazardous materials from freezers/refrigerators and cabinets.
- Defrost freezers ahead of the move date.
- Equipment transported by lab personnel must be properly cleaned prior to moving.
- Equipment containing chemicals (ex. stills) should be disassembled and emptied.
- Equipment that is transported by movers or going to surplus must have:
- Laboratory Equipment Decontamination Form submitted to Risk Management & Safety
- Laboratory Decontamination Tag (green tag) completed and attached to the piece of equipment
- Contact Risk Management & Safety for the transport/disposal of mercury-containing equipment (e.g., thermometers, flow meters, pressure gauges, etc.)
Decontamination of Laboratory Equipment
Wear appropriate PPE during all decontamination procedures
Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC):
- Risk Management and Safety must be contacted prior to relocating any biological safety cabinet (BSC).
- Remove all materials from inside the BSC and apply freshly made 10% bleach or other appropriate disinfectant on the interior surface for 20 minutes of required contact time.
- BSCs must be decontaminated prior to relocation.
- Decontamination documentation must be attached to the BSC.
- Once relocation is complete, the BSC will need to be certified for its new location.
- Decontamination and re-certification of the units will be coordinated by RMS with Safety Plus.
- The week or days that re-certification will be performed will be notified to the departments accordingly.
- The unit cannot be used until re-certified.
- Certification costs are the responsibility of the department.
- Place a placard with the following information:
- Principal Investigator’s (PI) name
- PI Cell Number
- Moving From: Building and Room Number
- Moving To: Building and Room Number
- Special Instructions (if any)
Incubators
- Wear appropriate PPE during decontamination and cleaning of equipment.
- Discard any expired or contaminated cultures or flasks into biohazard waste, then autoclave.
- Disconnect power from the incubator.
- Allow the incubator to cool to room temperature if recently in use.
- Remove components (such as trays, water pans, etc.) carefully, then apply disinfectants (freshly made 10% bleach or another appropriate disinfectant) for the required contact time of 20 minutes.
- Any water in the water pan should be disinfected with bleach before disposal in the sink, then rinsed with copious amounts of water.
- Follow it with a detergent and warm water wash.
- Rinse thoroughly and air-dry.
- Wipe all interior surfaces with freshly made 10% bleach or other appropriate disinfectants.
- Ensure the disinfectant reaches:
- Walls and ceiling
- Floor of the incubator
- Door gasket and inner door surfaces
- Ensure the disinfectant reaches:
- Follow up with sterile or distilled water wipe if required to prevent corrosion (e.g., after bleach).
- Place the Green Decontamination tag on the equipment.
- Place a placard with the following information:
- Principal Investigator’s (PI) name
- PI Cell Number
- Moving From: Building and Room Number
- Moving To: Building and Room Number
- Special Instructions (if any)
Water Bath
- Wear appropriate PPE during decontamination and cleaning of equipment.
- Turn off and unplug the water bath.
- Allow the unit to cool completely.
- Remove components carefully, then apply disinfectants (freshly made 10% bleach or another appropriate disinfectant) for the required contact time.
- Follow it with a wash with detergent and warm water.
- Rinse thoroughly and air-dry.
- Add freshly made 10% bleach or another appropriate disinfectant to the water and let it sit for the required 20 minutes.
- Drain the water bath inside the sink, then fill it with copious amounts of water.
- Rinse thoroughly with water afterward to prevent corrosion
- Wipe the outside of the water bath, handles, knobs, touchpads, etc., with bleach and follow with a water or 70% ethanol wipe.
- Allow all surfaces and components to dry fully.
- Place the Green Decontamination tag on the equipment.
- Place a placard with the following information:
- Principal Investigator’s (PI) name
- PI Cell Number
- Moving From: Building and Room Number
- Moving To: Building and Room Number
- Special Instructions (if any)
Centrifuges:
- Turn off and unplug the centrifuge.
- Put on appropriate PPE.
- Remove rotor, buckets, adapters, and safety cups.
- Apply disinfectant (freshly made 10% bleach or other appropriate disinfectant) for 20 minutes of required contact time.
- Wipe the interior chamber using bleach wipes or other appropriate disinfectant wipes.
- Follow up with mild detergent and water wipe or 70% ethanol.
- Dry completely.
- Wipe lid, controls, handles, and exterior surfaces with bleach wipes or another appropriate disinfectant wipe.
- Avoid saturating electrical components.
- Place the Green Decontamination tag on the equipment.
- Place a placard with the following information:
- Principal Investigator’s (PI) name
- PI Cell Number
- Moving From: Building and Room Number
- Moving To: Building and Room Number
- Special Instructions (if any)
Refrigerators & Freezers
- Remove all labels and information from the exterior of the fridge/freezers.
- Wear PPE
- Discard any expired or contaminated cultures or flasks into biohazard waste, then autoclave.
- Using a bleach wipe or other appropriate disinfectant wipe, wipe all the interior and exterior surfaces of the fridge.
- Follow it with a wipe with detergent or ethanol.
- Allow all surfaces and components to dry fully.
- If using an energized truck to move the biological samples, decontaminate the exterior surface using bleach wipes, lock the equipment, and place the decontamination tag with the placard information.
- Place the Green Decontamination tag on the equipment.
- Place a placard with the following information:
- Principal Investigator’s (PI) name
- PI Cell Number
- Moving From: Building and Room Number
- Moving To: Building and Room Number
- Special Instructions (if any)
Liquid N2 Dewars
- RMS will conduct dewar movements. Lab personnel cannot do it.
- Ensure hazardous materials are secured below the liquid phase inside the dewar.
- Check the dewar for:
- Frost buildup
- Vent blockage
- Any existing damage
- Lock the dewar if possible.
- Place a placard with the following information:
- Principal Investigator’s (PI) name
- PI Cell Number
- Moving From: Building and Room Number
- Moving To: Building and Room Number
- Special Instructions (if any)
Autoclaves
- Contact the Biological Safety Officer at dzs00023@auburn.edu for consultation and guidance.
