9.0 Maintenance and Inspections

9.1 Maintenance by Lab Personnel

9.1.1 All local exhaust ventilation hoods and other engineering controls shall be functioning properly.

9.1.2 Operators of laboratory hoods equipped with audible / visible alarms shall make sure the visible alarm is not in the alarm mode if the audible alarm is silenced.

9.1.3 Laboratory hoods equipped with magnehelic gauges shall be evaluated to determine that the static pressure is at a predetermined setting marked of the gauge which indicates that the hood is functioning properly.

9.1.4 Improperly functioning equipment, out-of-service equipment and equipment under repair shall be locked and tagged out and not restarted without the approval of the Chemical Hygiene Officer (or designee). Facilities Management should be contacted immediately if repairs are needed.

9.1.5 All employees should be trained to properly operate a fume hood and the meaning of all gauges and alarms.

9.2 Inspections

9.2.1 Laboratory Employees

9.2.1.1 Laboratory employees will be assigned to conduct the following inspections at the specified intervals: (Determine intervals, such as monthly for flushing eyewashes and daily for hood static pressure checks or alarm checks). Eyewash/safety shower inspection sheets are available from EHS. Laboratory employees should be assigned to check access to eyewash, equipment, update MSDS, or some other item, which requires frequent attention.

9.2.1.2 The following personal protective equipment will be inspected before each use (The inspection details are outlined in Section 11 Personal Protective Equipment):

  • Safety glasses
  • Gloves
  • Clothing (lab coats, splash aprons, hard hats, etc.)

9.2.1.3 The following engineering controls will be inspected before each use (The inspection details are outlined in Section 19 Ventilation):

9.2.1.4 Inspect local exhaust ventilation hoods by looking at magnehelic gauges or alarms to determine if the device is at the appropriate setting which indicates that the hood is functioning properly.

9.2.2 Laboratory Inspection Team

(Specify your team by titles or description: staff, technicians, faculty, and employed students. A team or committee approach is optional. This could be a natural outgrowth of a Departmental Safety Committee).

9.2.2.1 A member of the laboratory inspection team will conduct the following inspections at the specified intervals (such as once/month): (list them)

9.2.2.2 The following emergency equipment will be inspected monthly (The inspection details are in Section 12, Emergency Equipment):

  • Fire extinguishers
  • Eyewashes
  • Safety showers
  • First aid kits
  • Emergency lighting, illuminated exit signs

9.2.2.3 The following items will be inspected annually (in some cases, a more frequent interval may be more appropriate). (The inspection details are in Section 12, Emergency Equipment and Section 19, Ventilation.)

*Smoke detectors/fire alarms--- (by F.M. Life Safety Shop in cooperation w/EHS)

*Fire suppression systems--- (by F.M Life Safety Shop in cooperation w/EHS)

9.2.2.4 The following equipment should be inspected annually:

*Local exhaust ventilation hoods--- (by EHS for certification every year, because all hoods have real time flow devices on them)

9.3 Inspection Timing

EHS will periodically conduct laboratory inspections and generate reports that will be given to the PI and the Department Chair.