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Hazardous Lecture Bottle
Purchase and Use Policy
Applicability
This policy applies to all
university personnel purchasing or using the category of small cylinders
of compressed gas or liquids under pressure called "lecture bottles."
Purpose
To eliminate the generation
of lecture bottles of unknown contents and those with known contents
which cannot be economically disposed.
Policy
Researchers should comply with
the following:
- Do not purchase cylinders from
suppliers who are not willing to accept back cylinders that still
have contents.
- If this is not possible, plan
to use allthe bottle contents or develop procedures to
destroy any hazardous constituents remaining.
- Comply with all safety recommendations
from the supplier of the the bottle and from the supplier of the
regulator or manual control.
- Insure that any fixtures attached
to the lecture bottle comply with the manufacturers instructions
- Insure that purging procedures
are complied with if applicable
- When the lecture bottle is empty,
mark it as such with an indelible marker.
- If the cylinder contained poison
gas or liquid , contact EH&S.as
soon as empty for disposal instructions. Some bottles are hazardous
even when empty.
- When finished, contact EH&S. for disposal instructions, if needed.
DO NOT store unneeded lecture
bottles of hazardous gases for some possible future use.
Reason
Disposal of hazardous lecture bottles
is one of the most difficult, expensive waste management operations.
Few suppliers are willing to take back their cylinders. Lecture bottles
with unknown contents can cost thousands of dollars to dispose. Old
bottles can also pose a significant hazard to both lab personnel and
others. Small leaks in storage can damage nearby equipment.
Adopted by the Chemical Hazards Committee, November 1994
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