Monday, December 16, 2024
Please note for the holiday shutdown that due to winter weather conditions, utilities (especially electricity) may be affected. It is a general rule that all laboratory processes be designed to safely survive a service failure. During the holiday shutdown this is particularly important and the following precautions are recommended.
Prepare your laboratory: Lab Temporary Shut-down Checklist
- Suspend lab operations by Friday, December 20, 2024 @ 4:00 pm, resuming no earlier than Thursday, January 2, 2024.
- Shut down all processes vulnerable to failure of utilities.
- Remove hazardous waste from the lab. The waste facility will be closed for the holiday shutdown. Users were notified via the waste Booking Page of the shutdown in early December. The last day of hazardous waste pick up for each location is:
- E6/DWE/Satellite Pick-Ups: Tuesday, December 17th
- ESF: Wednesday, December 18th with extended hours from 10AM to 12PM on Monday, December 16th, Tuesday, December 17th and Wednesday, December 18th
- PHR: Monday, December 16th with extended hours from 2PM to 3PM
- For more information email esf@uwaterloo.ca.
- Store hazardous materials properly and in containment areas and ensure that containers are closed or sealed.
- Shut off compressed gases and gas supply lines to equipment.
- Turn off and unplug, where possible, electrical equipment such as hot plates, computers and, if not containing hazardous materials, fume hoods and environmental chambers. This prevents damage to equipment due to power surges while reducing energy waste.
- Ensure lab contact information is updated with names, phone numbers and addresses in a location accessible to emergency response personnel (e.g. inside of door), and provide emergency contact information to UW Special Constable Service via email (uwscs@uwaterloo.ca). If applicable, include documentation on contents of sensitive freezers and refrigerators in the lab.
- Anyone approved to work in a lab during shutdown must have supervisor and departmental approval and adhere to the Working Alone Guidelines posted on the Safety Office website. Building access keys and named authorized persons must be arranged to be left with UW Special Constable Service to be signed out only to those people that have specifically been authorized.
- If you have any questions about preparing your lab for shutdown contact the Safety Office at x35755.
What to do if you have a lab incident:
- Report failures of equipment or physical plant to Plant Operations at x43793.
- If lab or building has been without power, allow the lab exhaust systems to operate for at least 2 hours before entry to lab or building.
- Contact Safety Office or UW Spill Team through UW Special Constable Service at 519-888-4911 or x22222 if you need emergency assistance related to hazardous materials spills.