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Purpose and Scope
Some laboratories on campus have unique hazards and/or sensitive equipment/experiments. The purpose of this procedure is to protect maintenance employees, custodial staff and contractors from these unique hazards and ensure that sensitive equipment/experiments are not damaged. This SOP applies to preventative and routine work in all laboratories and areas that have been posted as “Restricted Access”.
Definitions
• Restricted Access. Access to the space must be authorized by a Laboratory Point of Contact due to unique hazards and/or sensitive equipment/experiments.
• Laboratory Point of Contact. Person that has the authority to grant entry into a “Restricted Access” space and can effectively communicate to an entrant the unique hazards and/or sensitive equipment/experiments that are present.
• Urgent Work. Work orders that have been elevated in status to be initiated/completed within a 24-hour period.
Policy
No routine work will be performed in laboratories that have been identified and posted to have special hazards and/or sensitive equipment/experiments without authorization from the responsible Department’s designated Laboratory Point of Contact.
Procedure
Laboratories to be evaluated for “Restricted Access” are to be reviewed by the Department responsible for the space using the provided “Restricted Access Evaluation Form”. Forms will be reviewed by the Department Director/Chair responsible for the space, Physical Facilities’ Sr. Director of Operations, and the Director of Environmental Health & Safety.
Areas deemed appropriate for “Restricted Access” will be posted:
ATTENTION
RESTRICTED ACCESS
INCLUDING PFD, CONTRACTORS,
AND OTHER UNIVERSITY TECHNICIANS
Contacts below are authorized to grant entry
The Department that controls the space is responsible for identifying a minimum of three Laboratory Points of Contact that can be available during normal business hours as well as evenings and weekends. They are also responsible for posting this information in a sleeve provided below the sign and updating PFD’s Operations Center during an extended leave of absence or change in Laboratory Point(s) of Contact.
All work orders generated for a restricted space will include a “Lock-Out” statement that includes restricted access information and the Laboratory Points of Contact.
All routine work, including urgent work, requires authorization by a Laboratory Point of Contact prior to entry into the space. The Laboratory Point of Contact will be notified a minimum of 24-hours in advance of work taking place.
In the event of an emergency (e.g. broken water pipe) an effort will be made to notify a Laboratory Point of Contact. However, entry may be necessary without authorization if a contact is unavailable. Workers anticipated to respond to emergency work in restricted areas will receive additional training on laboratory hazards.
A review of the space will be conducted annually to verify that “Restricted Access” designation continues to be appropriate.
Related Documents, Forms, and Tools
Attachment: Restricted Access Evaluation Form
Revision History