In  one of our buildings we have what we call “Chem ical Laboratory Wing”, and access to that roof is controlled by key which only the Facility Maintenance has.  I am the contact between the Maintenanc e and our labs.  Policy is Maintenance calls me with date and I check wi th Lab Managers to make sure no one will  exhaust chemicals that morning or afternoon.

Regina Cody

Goddard Space Flight Center

In general, maintenance staff working on rooftop fume hood exhaust equipment h ave indicated their concerns about being on a roof, and possibly being exposed to whatever is being vented. 

In a more specific laboratory situation, involving MOCVD (metal organic chemic al vapor deposition), we have a lock-out tag-out policy, due to the severity o f the toxic gases involved.

Questions:

1. Does anyone else have MOCVD l abs, and to what extent are controls in place for protection of workers on roof tops?
2. Does anyone else employ a LOT O policy?   
3. Are roof tops key-accessible only?

Thanks for the feedback.

-Stefan Wawzyniecki, CIH, CHMM

 University of Connecticut