Fact Sheet

Moving Hazardous Materials Off Campus

This checklist covers issues that need to be addressed when moving hazardous materials to an off-campus site. Some of the checklist items are directed to the department; others are more specific (e.g., individual laboratories, shops). Please follow the entire checklist to ensure that your move is safe and legal.

For guidance, consult the EH&S Move Manual. Other contacts that might be helpful include:

• Office of Environment, Health & Safety: 642-3073
• Real Estate Services: 643-2066
• Office of Radiation Safety: 643-8414
• Office of Emergency Preparedness: 642-9036

Planning Your Move

Selecting a site

c Contact Real Estate Services if you are considering leasing an off-campus site where you will be moving hazardous materials. There are many issues regarding the suitability of potential space for hazardous materials use and storage.

• You may need a copy of your anticipated chemical inventory to determine occupancy requirements.
• The site may also need to be investigated for existing potentially hazardous material contamination.

Once a site is selected

c Contact Real Estate Services to help with coordination of lease requirements.

c Notify EH&S if you are relocating to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory space. There are existing arrangements you will need to know about and follow.

c Determine whether the landlord or building owner will provide maintenance/repair services.

If not, notify Real Estate Services to make necessary arrangements with PP-CS.

c If you use radioactive materials, radiation producing machines, or lasers, call the Office of Radiation Safety.

 

Once the move date is established

At least 6 months before the move date

c Submit an Off-Campus Move Notice (attached) to EH&S.

At least 3 months before the move date

c Schedule a meeting with EH&S a nd department representatives to discuss operations, hazards, and related issues.

Recommended meeting agenda items:

• Assessment of vacated space for possible decontamination (hazardous chemical, biohazard, radioactive)
• Chemical transport arrangements and costs, and waste disposal contractor access
• Determination of how unwanted hazardous materials will be managed
• Pre-occupancy inspection of new space by EH&S
• Fume hood inspection at new location by EH&S before operations commence

c Review your chemical inventory and clean out hazardous materials you will not be needing at the new location.

• Donate surplus chemicals to other UC Berkeley researchers. Call EH&S regarding the Chemical Exchange Program (CHEX).
• Complete a chemical waste Recharge Authorization account form if you do not already have one on file with EH&S, and complete Materials Packing Lists (MPLs) and package all unwanted hazardous materials for EH&S pickup.

c Update your chemical inventory based upon hazardous materials remaining after clean-out.

c If there is no Building Coordinator at the new location, appoint a Building Coordinator and notify the Office of Emergency Preparedness of the name.

c If the new location has never been occupied by UCB, the Building Coordinator should prepare a Facility Emergency Plan. Use the template found on the EH&S Web site.

3 weeks before the move date

c Contact the Biosafety Officer at EH&S for any laboratories with Biohazard Use Authorizations (BUAs). The new locations will need to be inspected and the BUA modified.

 

During the Move

c Comply with Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping regulations. (Contact EH&S).

c Refer to the EH&S Move Manual for chemical transport guidance.

c Report any chemical spills to EH&S immediately.

 

Once the Old Space is Vacated

c If the vacated space may need decontamination, notify EH&S.

c Be sure to leave no hazardous materials in a vacated space.

c The department should inspect and verify complete and proper transferal of materials from vacated space.

 

Once the Move is Completed

Before you begin operations

c Make sure safety measures are in place (e.g., showers and eyewashes checked by PP-CS, fume hoods checked by EH&S).

c DO NOT BEGIN experiments involving toxic gases or biohazards in the new location unless the site has been inspected by EH&S. The ventilation system, fume hoods, or gas cabinets may not be adequate.

 

As soon as possible

c Notify EH&S that the chemicals have been moved to a new location and submit your updated Chemical Inventory.

c Train staff on evacuation and egress routes and the Facility Emergency Plan.

c Check the Chemical Hygiene Plan (flip chart) for each laboratory and make sure it has been updated for the new location.

 

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