Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Policy Number: IH-01
Title: University Policy for Fume Hood System Maintenance
Effective Date: 1985 Revision: R4 – 2/08 Number of pages: 2
University Policy for Fume Hood System Maintenance
Purpose:
The purpose is to afford those University employees conducting maintenance on the Fume Hood systems, located in Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Humanities, Fine Arts and Physics, personal safety from possible chemical, biological and radioactive contamination. Maintenance on the Chemistry Exhaust System may not require full personal protective equipment after consultation with EH&S.
Responsibilities:
It is the responsibility of the University to develop and maintain this policy for the safety of its employees, including maintenance and laboratory staff. It is the responsibility of each supervisor to notify and support his or her employees in the adherence to this policy. It is the responsibility of University employees to adhere to this policy, and follow the procedures outlined in order to protect themselves and their co-workers.
It is the Policy of this University that all maintenance in the Fume Hood Monitors must take place on Friday mornings until noon. Notification of any entry into the monitor must be made to the Department of Environmental Health & Safety, the Power Plant, the appropriate Building Manager and Building Occupants. Any work to be done in the Physics Monitor, including work on Friday mornings, must have advance clearance from Brian Taylor and the EH&S Office.
I. All persons entering the Fume Hood Monitors for the purpose of maintenance, supervision of employees, fact finding, or any other reason not listed here, must wear the full personal protective equipment (PPE) listed below. In order to best protect all persons that may need to enter the monitor area, all guards are to be replaced after maintenance is completed and the University Lockout/Tagout policy is to be used where pertinent.
II. It is also policy that any maintenance conducted on fume hoods be done only after the fume hood is cleared of all chemicals and equipment, wiped down and made accessible by laboratory personnel. Any hood not cleaned will not receive maintenance by University employees. Any employee refusing to conduct maintenance for this reason must notify their supervisor and laboratory personnel. Employees conducting maintenance on fume hoods must wear personal protective equipment according to the needs of the job (upon consultation with the Department of Environmental Health & Safety). This would include nitrile gloves, Tyvek suits (when entry into the hood is necessary), goggles and possibly respirators.
III. All laboratories maintain MSDS books and should be made available to employees conducting maintenance on the fume hoods. Maintenance personnel should consult Principal Investigators regarding possible chemical hazards that could be contained in the hood(s) scheduled for maintenance.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be worn in the Fume Hood Monitors:
All who enter the fume hood monitors must wear the following personal protective equipment:
- Cartridge Respirators (half-face, full-face or PAPR Respirators with Organic Vapor/Acid Gas/HEPA cartridges)
- Tyvek with booties & hood – (Rubber Booties optional)
- Eye Protection – Splash Goggles or Safety Glasses
- Glove Protection – Nitrile Gloves
This Policy is an addendum to the University Policy of the same name, distributed in 1989 and 1995. Questions should be addressed to EH&S at ext. 2-3495.
August 01
