UC Davis Environmental Health and Safety is piloting an incentive program to promote the timely decommissioning of laboratories before a Principal Investigator or Responsible Person vacates the space.

The pilot program incentivizes PIs, lab managers, lab personnel, and DSCs to plan ahead and work on disposing of hazardous materials/samples, disinfect equipment while there still lab personnel in the lab that know the nature of the operations and can identify and help with the safe handling and disposal procedures of hazardous materials. 

The benefits to decommissioning the lab before the PI or RS vacates the lab include:

• Ensures that the vacated space is safe to enter for individuals unfamiliar with the laboratory;
• Reduces disposal costs associated with unwanted and unknown hazardous materials; and
• Encourages sustainability through redistribution (i.e., sharing, gifting) of unwanted, useable laboratory equipment and supplies

Closing out a lab can be a time-consuming process. Often, the department’s safety coordinator or safety officer is tasked with coordinating the lab closeout after the PI has left campus. 

Incentive Program

The incentive program will provide a $50 gift card to anyone who takes the lead as lab closeout coordinator. 

In order to participate in the pilot lab closeout incentive program the lab must:

• Be part of the lab safety review program
• Have an active chemical inventory
• Designate one person as lab closeout coordinator 
• The designated person must lead the timely lab closeout before the PI vacates the lab 
  • Exemption - PI’s sudden and unforeseen departure 
• The designated coordinator must complete all sections of the Laboratory Closeout Checklist 
• Closeout process cannot take longer than six (6) months 

How to Join:

To participate in this program, the designed lab closeout coordinator must follow these three easy steps:

1. Email labcloseout@ucdavis.edu the following information when you begin the process. 

• Principal Investigator or RP 
• Lab Manager
• Department Safety Coordinator 
• Lab Closeout Coordinator
• Department 
• Building 
• Room Number 
• Tentative PI Separation Date 

2. Complete all applicable sections of the Laboratory Closeout Checklist.
3. Email labcloseout@ucdavis.edu when the closeout process is finalized.