Procedures for the Proper Disposition of Equipment and Materials Through Lion Surplus
The Pennsylvania State University
Environmental Health and Safety
May 2006
Table of Contents
I. Introduction 1
II. Items Prohibited from Sale or Transfer
A. Asbestos Containing Material 2
B. Batteries 4
C. Fire Extinguishers 5
D. Gas Cylinders 6
E. Mercury 8
F. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 10
III. / Ite / ms with Regulatory or Safety Restrictions as to Sale or TransferA. / Computer and Monitors / 11
B. / Gas Chromatographs / 12
C. / Laser Systems / 13
D. / Liquid Scintillation Counters / 15
E. / Radiation-Producing Equipment / 16
F. / Equipment Containing Coolants, Oils, and Refrigerants / 18
IV. Equipment and Labware used with Chemicals, Petroleum Products, 20
Oils, Infectious Agents, or Radioactive Materials
V. Quick Reference Chart 23
I. Introduction
Lion Surplus, formerly known as Surplus and Salvage, operates a public sales store open to students, faculty, staff and the general public. Lion Surplus is responsible for the collection, sale, and disposal of University-owned equipment, supplies and materials that are obsolete or surplus to the needs of Penn State.
Some equipment and material may not be appropriate for resale due to the presence of hazardous materials, characteristics, or regulatory constraints. It is the responsibility of the equipment owner to ensure that all oils, coolants, and other hazardous materials have been removed prior to submitting the item for disposition through Lion Surplus. Items that may be contaminated by chemical, biological, or radioactive material must be cleaned prior to submission to Lion Surplus.
The descriptions provided on the following pages are examples of the types of hazards and potential items that may be a concern. This is not intended to be a complete and all encompassing list but rather a summary compilation of existing policies and best practices. It is not intended to replace or supercede any established university safety policies.
Questions about a potentially hazardous item or material should be directed to Environmental Health and Safety, 814-865-6391, for resolution. Any spills during transport, loading, unloading, or storage must be reported to the appropriate supervisor and EHS immediately. Clean-up costs will be charged to the equipment owner.
In all cases, items recognized as being a potential problem will be left at the pickup location. Lion Surplus, with EHS, will work with the respective departments to evaluate the item and expedite processing.
To dispose of surplus material complete and submit a DISP from through IBIS. If IBIS is inaccessible, departments may submit two copies of Form GF6.2, Report of Transfer or Disposition of Equipment Form, to Property Inventory. This form is available through FormLocator on GURU at: http://guru.psu.edu/Forms/6-
02ReportOfDispositionOrPermanentTransferOfTangibleAssetsFRM3.pdf . Upon receipt of the request, Lion Surplus will arrange to pick up the surplus item.
II. Items Prohibited from Sale or Transfer
A. Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)
1. Description
a. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was used extensively for its insulating and fireproof properties. It is often white or gray in appearance and may be in the form of braided or paper wire insulation, woven cloth-like material, cement-like sheeting known as Transite or stone lab bench tops (soapstone).
b. Handling and disposal of asbestos is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and the PA Department of Labor and Industry (PA L&I).
c. Contact EHS for confirmation as to whether the item contains asbestos. For additional information on the university’s Asbestos Management Program, please see: http://www.ehs.psu.edu/occhealth/Asbestos_management_program_m anual.pdf
2. Associated Hazards
a. Long term over-exposure to airborne asbestos fibers has been shown to cause lung and abdominal diseases, specifically asbestosis and cancer. Since asbestos is naturally occurring, there are allowable exposure limits.
b. Manipulating asbestos containing materials (e.g. drilling, sanding, or sawing) may generate dangerous levels of respirable asbestos fibers. These activities are strictly regulated and can only be conducted by PA L&I licensed Asbestos Workers using equipment and procedures that are specifically approved for these materials.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. For disposal at University Park, a Work Order must be submitted through OPP Area Services. This may require the disposal of entire pieces of equipment.
b. For disposal at facilities other than University Park contact EHS for guidance.
c. Disposal costs are the responsibility of the originating work unit. Examples of asbestos containing material can be found on the following page.
Examples of asbestos containing material.
Asbestos Braiding Transite Board inside Hood
Transite Sheet on Water Bath Soapstone Bench Top
Asbestos Glove Pipe Insulation
B. Batteries
1. Description
a. Expended batteries such as nickel-cadmium, lithium ion, and those found in uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems contain hazardous materials including heavy metals and acids. Lion Surplus will not accept batteries except as part of functional equipment.
b. Disposal of hazardous materials is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP).
c. For additional information and guidance on proper battery disposal, please see: http://www.ehs.psu.edu/hazmat/battery_disposal.cfm
2. Associated Hazards
a. Mercury and other heavy metals can cause a variety of health effects including kidney and neurological damage.
b. The acid contained in some batteries can cause skin and eye burns. c. Improper disposal of hazardous chemicals may result in the
contamination of soil and ground water.
3. / Procedures for Proper Dispositiona. / Complete and submit a Chemical Waste Disposal Request Form on the
EHS web site:
http://www.ehs.psu.edu/hazmat/chem_manifest/chem_manifest.cfm
. For University Park, EHS has established recycling and disposal options
for rechargeable batteries. Plans are under way for expanding this
recycling program to other campus locations.
b. For University Park, disposal of vehicle batteries can be arranged directly through the Office of Physical Plant’s vehicle maintenance garage, 814 – 865 – 3871. At other campus locations disposition may be handled by the maintenance garage services or local recyclers.
c. Alkaline batteries may be disposed of in the regular trash.
Examples of batteries that may contain hazardous material.
Rechargeable Batteries UPS Battery
C. Fire Extinguishers
1. Description
a. Fire extinguishers come in a variety of styles including pressurized water, chemical powder, CO2, halon, and specialty extinguishers designed to put out metal fires.
2. Associated Hazards
a. Fire extinguishers are pressurized devices that may cause serious injury if ruptured.
b. Fire extinguishers may not operate in an emergency if improperly maintained.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. For University Park, a work order must be submitted through the OPP Service Desk to arrange for the removal and disposal of fire extinguishers.
b. For campuses other than University Park contact EHS for guidance on proper disposition.
CO-2 Extinguisher Industrial Size
Class A Water Filled Class D for Metal Fires
D. Gas Cylinders
1. Description
a. Gas cylinders are manufactured in a variety of styles and are used to store compressed or liquefied gasses under high pressure. Examples include:
• Laboratory gas cylinders
• Lecture bottles
• Commercial propane cylinders
• Oxygen bottles
• Other pressurized devices
2. Associated Hazards
a. Gas cylinders may contain hazardous or toxic gases.
b. Gas cylinders are pressurized devices that may cause serious injury if ruptured.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. For University Park, cylinders purchased through General Stores are to be used in accordance with SY25 (http://guru.psu.edu/policies/SY25.html) and returned through General Stores when empty or no longer needed.
b. For campuses other than University Park, cylinders should be returned to the gas supplier contracted for that campus.
c. For unknown or other wise non-returnable gas cylinder, the generator shall complete and submit a Chemical Waste Disposal Request Form on the EHS web site: http://www.ehs.psu.edu/hazmat/chem_manifest/chem_manifest.cfm.
d. Other than as specified above, gas cylinder disposal costs are normally covered by the EHS waste budget.
Examples of gas cylinders can be found on the following page.
Examples of gas cylinders.
Calibration Gas Cylinders Lecture Bottles
Misc. Cylinders Propane Tanks
Miscellaneous Cylinders Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
E. Mercury
1. Description
a. Mercury, a silver liquid metal, is a toxic chemical most commonly used in thermometers. It may also be found in certain vacuum pumps, batteries, and many types of lab equipment where mercury thermometers are often used but may have been broken. Other items often found contaminated with mercury include incubators, heating blocks, ovens, refrigerators and water baths.
b. Spilled mercury is often found when moving lab equipment or furniture. Take a few moments to carefully check the floor or bench top for small beads of mercury that may have spilled some time in the past.
c. The disposal of mercury is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP).
2. Associated Hazards
a. Mercury is a poison that can cause kidney and lung damage in high concentrations. Mercury vapor is also a chronic poison that can cause neurological damage.
b. Mercury spills can also lead to potential environmental implications including soil and groundwater contamination.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. Contact EHS immediately for any mercury spills. EHS will initiate cleanup when an item is found contaminated with liquid mercury. Items free of mercury contamination may be sold or auctioned. If unable to be cleaned the item will be disposed of as waste through EHS.
b. Thermometers containing mercury should be exchanged through the EHS thermometer exchange program. For more information on the program please see: http://www.ehs.psu.edu/chem/mtep.html.
c. Thermometers found intact must be removed from the item. Complete and submit a Chemical Waste Disposal Request Form on the EHS web site: http://www.ehs.psu.edu/hazmat/chem_manifest/chem_manifest.cfm.
d. Vacuum pumps must be checked by EHS for mercury contamination before being sold.
Examples of items that contain or may be contaminated with mercury include can be found on the following page.
Examples of items that may contain mercury.
Mercury Lamp Vacuum Pump
Thermometers Mercury Switch
Thermostats Blood Pressure Monitor
F. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
1. Description
a. PCBs are one of several aromatic compounds containing two benzene nuclei with two or more constituent chlorine atoms.
b. The disposal of PCBs is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP).
c. For additional information and guidance on PCB containing light ballasts, please see: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/sy26.html.
2. Associated Hazards
a. PCBs can cause health effects from long term high exposure. b. PCBs are stable and do not break down in the environment.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. Notify EHS of the general description, origin, and serial number, if available, of the item. This includes transformers and/or capacitors that may have already been labeled as “non-PCB”. EHS will determine if the item contains PCBs. EHS will either authorize the items resale as a non-PCB item, or arrange for proper disposal of the fluids.
Examples of items that may contain PCBs.
Fluorescent Light Ballasts Oil Filled Transformers
III. Items with Regulatory or Safety Restrictions as to Sale or Transfer
A. Computers and Monitors
1. Description
a. Disposal of desktop computers, laptop computers and cathode ray tube type (CRT) monitors is restricted.
2. Associated Hazards
a. Computer electronic components contain small quantities of toxic heavy metals.
b. CRT type monitors also contain heavy metals including a large amount of lead used in making the glass tube.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. Computers and monitors shall be sent through Lion Surplus for disposition.
b. There are no special disposal requirements for flat panel type monitors.
Examples of computers and monitors.
B. Gas Chromatographs
1. Description
a. Gas chromatographs are analytical instruments used to separate and identify components within a mixture of chemicals, gases, or compounds.
b. These devices may be subject to federal and state regulations governing the ownership and use of radioactive materials.
c. Gas chromatograph manufactures included:
• Agilent Technologies
• Hewlett Packard
• Perkin Elmer
• Shimadzu
• Varian
2. Associated Hazards
a. Some gas chromatographs (GC) contain radioactive sources known as
Electron Capture Detectors (ECDs).
b. Some equipment can be contaminated with chemical hazards.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. Contact EHS to inspect each system. If it contains a radioactive source EHS will remove the source and perform a survey to confirm the system is free of any radioactive contamination.
b. Once the source has been removed and the system confirmed free of radiological and chemical contamination, the system can be sold or auctioned without restriction.
Examples of gas chromatographs.
Hewlett Packard / Agilent Perkin Elmer
C. Laser Systems
1. Description
a. Lasers, an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, are a source of intense, coherent, directional beam of optical radiation of either visible or invisible light.
b. Lasers can be imbedded as part of analytical and other scientific equipment.
c. For additional information and guidance on the university laser safety policy; http//guru.psu.edu/policies/SY17.html
2. Associated Hazards
a. Laser light can damage the eyes and burn unprotected skin.
b. Laser systems can contain hazardous chemicals, coolants, oils or dyes used to generate the laser beam.
3. Procedures for Proper Disposition
a. Systems in working order may only be resold to the original manufacture or other manufacturer of similar equipment; a manufacturer certified installer and/or representative, educational or research institutions, or private companies who currently use similar equipment.
b. Potential buyers of Class 3B or 4 lasers, or systems with imbedded Class 3B or 4 laser systems shall provide a letter or email to Lion Surplus, traceable to the business, educational, or research institution, acknowledging their experience and awareness of the hazards associated with the equipment. This letter must include information as to the intended use of the equipment and contact information for their safety department or representative. EHS will review the proposed buyer's information and make a recommendation approving or disapproving the sale.
c. When a suitable buyer for a Class 3B or 4 lasers, or systems with imbedded Class 3B or 4 systems, cannot be found, or if the potential sale is not justifiable financially, the system must be made inoperable. EHS is responsible for ensuring that the system has been made inoperable.