Key Changes to EHS Chemical Fume Hood Certification:

· Elimination of Bi-Annual Requirement:

There is no longer a need for bi-annual fume hood certification. Annual certifications will begin in January 2025. Each building or facility manager receives notice prior to certification testing.

· Board of Regents (BOR) Requirements:

Institutions must comply with the annual verification standards outlined below.

Annual Hood Verification Requirement:

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a new rule for methylene chloride (also known as dichloromethane) for worker safety and public and environmental protection. The required actions and timelines to comply with the new rule are described below. The new EPA rule is in addition to existing Washington State Department of Labor & Industries rules for workplace safety.

Late one evening, the EH&S On-Call Number received an urgent call about a loud bang and a chemical spill involving an unidentified substance. Upon arriving at the scene, our Hazardous Materials Specialist found broken glass bottles and debris scattered across the floor, within the chemical fume hood, and throughout the laboratory. The sash of the chemical fume hood was visibly cracked along its length, and a computer screen had also been shattered.