State University of New York at Oneonta
IN-9: Green Laboratories

All fume hoods have "shut the sash" stickers and before each college break e-mail reminders go out to all staff to close fume hoods. At the start of each break staff walks through buildings to close any ajar fume hoods. The College has empowered the chemistry laboratory assistant and the Chemical Stores Clerk to review the quantity of laboratory chemical purchases and to review general facility purchases of chemicals in advance of placing orders and to explore alternative substances and substitutes that will not generate hazardous wastes. That may not be possible in many cases, particularly where specific chemicals must be used and specific experiments must be conducted as part of classroom education. In the Chemistry Department laboratory chemicals are ordered through the “Chemical Handler” with assistance from the Building Director’s Secretary (for finance purposes). When the materials come in, they are accepted by the Chemical Handler who creates an inventory of the shipment and labels each container with a barcode. The barcoded containers are then stored in the “Chemical Storage Room” for all users. When a faculty member needs to use the material, it is scanned out of the storage room, or it is recorded that some of the material was taken/transferred. This helps to maintain an accurate inventory of the usage of chemicals and to inform future orders.