Section 722.306  Container Standards in the Laboratory

An eligible academic entity must manage containers of unwanted material while in the laboratory in accordance with the requirements in this Section.

a)         Labeling:  The eligible academic entity must label containers of unwanted material as follows.

1)         The following information must be affixed or attached to the container:

A)        The words "unwanted material", or another equally effective term that is to be used consistently by the eligible academic entity and that is identified in Part I of the Laboratory Management Plan; and

B)        Sufficient information to alert emergency responders to the contents of the container.  Examples of information that would be sufficient to alert emergency responders to the contents of the container include, but are not limited to, the following:

i)          The name of the chemicals; or

ii)         The type or class of chemicals, such as organic solvents or halogenated organic solvents.

2)         The following information may be affixed or attached to the container, but must be associated with the container if not attached to it:

A)        The date on which the unwanted material first began accumulating in the container; and

B)        Information sufficient to allow a trained professional to properly identify whether an unwanted material is a solid waste and a hazardous waste and to assign the proper USEPA hazardous waste numbers to the material, pursuant to Section 722.111.  Examples of information that would allow a trained professional to properly identify whether an unwanted material is a solid waste and hazardous waste include, but are not limited to, the following:

i)          The name or description of the chemical contents or the composition of the unwanted material or, if known, the product of the chemical reaction;

ii)         Whether the unwanted material has been used or is unused; and

iii)        A description of the manner in which the chemical was produced or processed, if applicable.

b)         Management of Containers in the Laboratory.  An eligible academic entity must properly manage containers of unwanted material in the laboratory in a way that assures safe storage of the unwanted material and which prevents leaks, spills, emissions to the air, adverse chemical reactions, and dangerous situations that may result in harm to human health or the environment.  Proper container management must include the following actions:

1)         Containers must be maintained and kept in good condition, and damaged containers must be replaced, overpacked, or repaired;

2)         Containers must be compatible with their contents, in order to avoid reactions between the contents and the container; and they must be made of, or lined with, material that is compatible with the unwanted material, so that the container's integrity is not impaired; and

3)         Containers must be kept closed at all times, except under the following circumstances:

A)        A container may be open when adding, removing, or bulking unwanted material;

B)        A working container may be open until the end of the procedure, until the end of the work shift, or until it is full, whichever comes first, at which time either the working container must be closed or its contents emptied into a separate container that is then closed; or

C)        A container may be open when venting of a container is necessary for either of the following reasons:

i)          It is necessary for the proper operation of laboratory equipment, such as with inline collection of unwanted materials from high performance liquid chromatographs; or

ii)         It is necessary to prevent dangerous situations, such as a build-up of extreme pressure.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 22047, effective November 19, 2018)