Laboratory closure guide
How to facilitate the process of laboratory closure when a principal investigator is relocating, renovating or vacating a lab space.
When to use this guide
Use these procedures if you are closing, moving or renovating a lab that works with:
Chemical substances
Biohazardous materials (under a U of T-issued Biosafety Permit)
Radioactive materials (under a U of T-issued Radioisotope Permit)
These steps help ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations.
Who is responsible?
Department head
Ensures all PIs and staff follow this guide.
Notifies Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) when a principal investigator relocates, renovates or vacates a lab space.
Is accountable for costs, fines or penalties resulting from non-compliance with this guide.
Principal investigator (PI) or designate
- Oversees all closure tasks to ensure the lab is left in a safe and compliant condition.
- Ensures proper disposal of hazardous materials.
- Provide information regarding equipment uses related to chemical, biological, radioactive and physical hazards.
- Completes a detailed lab closure report.
- Ensures the lab space is safe for the next occupant or for contractors entering the space to conduct renovations.
Environmental Protection Services (EPS)
- Acts as the lead contact for lab closure projects.
- Assigns a Lab Closure Specialist.
- Coordinates hazardous waste removal.
- Conducts final lab closure walkthrough and communicates results.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
- Reviews lab hazards and conditions before relocation/renovation/closure.
- Provides guidance and assigns safety officers (radiation, biosafety or chemical).
- Confirms decontamination standards are met.
EHS director
- Becomes involved in large and/or complicated closures.
- Ensures that controllable risks associated with lab closure are minimized.
- Investigates any issues of non-compliance.
Health & safety officers
- Issues, amends or removes U of T-issued Biosafety and/or Radioisotope Permits for a lab space.
- Advises on decontamination procedures for lab equipment and surfaces.
- Confirms decontamination has occurred to acceptable levels.
Lab chemical safety specialist
- Assesses hazardous chemical contamination risks (for example, perchlorates in fume hoods).
- Recommends any needed decontamination steps.
Property manager
Notifies EHS when renovations are planned.
Coordinates with EHS for surveys and clearance.
Closure timeline and key steps
At least four weeks before closure
Department head notifies EPS manager: gord.petre@utoronto.ca.
EPS assigns a lab closure specialist.
Initial lab survey is completed with PI/designate, EPS and EHS.
If multiple labs or PIs are involved, contact the EHS Director.
Property manager is included if renovations are planned.
Two weeks before closure
PI/designate circulates a hazards list to:
EPS lab closure specialist
Department head
Property manager
EPS coordinates with appropriate EHS group:
Biosafety for biological materials, equipment and permits
Radiation for radioactive materials, equipment and permits
Lab chemical safety specialist for hazardous chemical use and permits
PI/designate fills out and submits required forms:
Bio-permitted labs: Complete the Exit / Renovation / Decommissioning Form (PDF)
Submit form to the EPS Manager (gord.petre@utoronto.ca) and inform Health and Safety Officer of form submission
Chemical and non-permitted labs: Complete the Exit/Renovation/Decommissioning Form (PDF)
- Submit form to the EPS Manager (gord.petre@utoronto.ca)
Radioisotope labs: Submit written notice to your Health and Safety Officer and follow radioisotope decommissioning procedures
Just before closure
Lab staff must label and prepare hazardous waste for disposal:
Affix chemical waste labels to all chemical containers.
Return gas cylinders to suppliers or report non-returnable cylinders to EPS.
Seal, label and segregate biowaste
Seal, label and segregate radioactive waste and unused radioactive supplies.
PI/designate schedules decontaminated equipment and non-hazardous material removals with the Campus Moving team.
PI/designate attaches a Safe to Remove tag (PDF) to any decontaminated lab equipment ready for disposal or relocation.
Closure day (lab is vacant)
PI/designate and EPS lab closure specialist inspect lab space.
Confirm all hazards are properly removed.
PI/designate notifies:
Department head and property manager that lab is ready for new occupant or renovations
Caretaking services for any required cleaning
PI/designate sends final closure report to:
Department head
Property manager
EPS lab closure specialist
After closure (new occupant)
Department head must notify EHS before any new PI moves in or renovations begin.
EHS will coordinate new permit approvals.