Safety and health measures when closing or relocationg a laboratory

抄録

There are a variety of apparent and potential risks at universities and research institutions. Though extensive research has been done into health and safety issues associated with the execution of actual research activities, the risks involved in closing or relocating a laboratory have not been fully addressed. In this study, I focus on the potential risks involved in closing or relocating a laboratory and measures to reduce those risks. I argue that, in addition to the risks involved in ongoing research/experiments, researchers and administration staff should also pay careful attention to those involved in closing or relocating a laboratory, and that there are some risks that are specific to, or greater during, laboratory closing/relocating. I suggest that a laboratory closing/relocating taskforce should be set up to take a systematic and organized approach toward safe, efficient and regulatory-compliant laboratory closing/relocating. I also give an example of a set of policies, rules, procedures and forms for laboratory closing/relocating which should be prepared in advance.