Colleagues,

Following up on recent discussions on hoods, I have a questions for the group: Do you have an SOP or flowchart that is followed when facilities workers service hoods? Can you share it?

Hoods often need servicing due to low flows. Usually the problem is a fan belt or motor that can be serviced on the "clean" side. However, sometimes there are problems with venturi valves or other items that requires facilities workers to open up hoods or ducts and hence be working on the "dirty" side.

At UCLA we have a protocol in place for servicing hoods that are used for radioactive materials. This protocol involves cleaning and testing to make sure workers servicing hoods are not exposed to radioactive materials. But we are now looking at protocols for servicing hoods used for chemicals. And that would include what workers should do if they open up a duct line and see something suspicious.

If your institution has already addressed these issues and has a good protocol in place, I would be interested in seeing it.

Thanks,

Craig

Craig A. Merlic