Program Elements

Plan

As the ANSI Z10 Standard outlines, in the planning phase of a continuous improvement cycle for an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS), the occupational health issues are identified along with programmatic "deficiencies and opportunities for improvement".  The Gap Analysis provides specific areas that need reorganization or development in this LVMP to be fully implemented.  There is no other implementation plan as most elements of the program are already functioning by members of the community.  Please see the Check tab for the development of the feedback loops to measure program performance.          

Do

The Cornell Laboratory Ventilation Management Program is operationally managed by the ANSI Z9.5 Standard for Laboratory Ventilation.  The program uses work practices already in place in the Facilities Services and Environmental Health and Safety Departments.

Operational elements include:

1. Training of lab workers in the proper use of fume hoods, biosafety cabinets and other containment devices as well as the safety value of the general ventilation provided to laboratories.

2. Maintenance programs for fume hoods, ventilation mechanical systems and building control systems, and continuous commissioning of laboratory spaces and proper decommissioning of laboratory spaces.

3. Design standards and review and commissioning of lab ventilation systems, including considerations of the ventilation effectiveness of the proposed design.

4. Assignment of operating ventilation rates (Control Banding) that maintain the safety of lab workers while incorporating sustainability strategies.

   • Control Banding Survey

5. Assessment of ventilation effectiveness

   • Contaminant Clearance Procedure

   • Ventilation Effectiveness/ CO2 Tracer Gas Test Guidance

6. Tracer gas concentration decay calculation

   • Carbon Dioxide Decay Calculations Template 

Related Sections of the Cornell Lab Safety Manual:

• Chapter 2 - Engineering Controls

• Chapter 4 - Administrative Controls

Check

The key indicators measure the performance of the program by providing feedback loops that can be monitored and adjusted. Indicators for the Cornell laboratory ventilation management program are reported by data from the University's asset management database, the lab inspection program and energy usage information provided the by the Energy and Sustainability section.

Building Energy Use Data

Act

This process includes review of lab safety indicators and reductions in energy usage. The effectiveness and deficiencies in the overall Laboratory Ventilation Management Plan are also evaluated and changes made as needed. This part of the Cornell LVMP is in continuous development and includes fume hood inspection results, lab consultation results, lab design and operation drivers and practices.