Georgia Tech custodial services in laboratories includes daily non-hazardous trash pick up, twice weekly sweeping, once weekly wet mopping, once a year floor stripping and waxing, and refilling hand soap and towel dispensers as needed. The actual frequency of these services is dependent on the nature of the activities in the lab, however. It is the responsibility of the lab group to arrange for custodians to have access to the lab, or alternatively, make sure that the lab trash cans are left out in the halls after 3 pm each day. Georgia Tech custodians are specifically prohibited from the following activities in laboratories:
- Cleaning up chemical spills
- Moving chemicals
- Removing spill cleanup materials as regular trash
- Cleaning up residues from spill clean ups without prior EHS approval
- Allowing lab personnel to use custodial supplies, (especially mop heads) to clean up chemical spills
- Entering laboratories with illuminated laser hazard warning signs OR, when only paper signs are present, from entering the lab when there is no one inside to tell them that it is safe to enter.
Custodians are allowed in labs to clean up floods, vomit, and blood, but will only do so after procuring the appropriate cleaning equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Do not help yourself to the custodian’s equipment to clean up chemical or biological spills. If you need help with a spill of a hazardous material, contact the GT Police at 404-894-2500, explain the situation, and ask them to contact EHS.