Facility Closure Checklists
Implement a systematic facility closure process compliant with regulations
Implement a systematic facility closure process compliant with regulations
Published 13 Jan 2021
Facility closure is the process of shutting down a site or facility following a set of tasks that include the proper disposal or, if appropriate, the containment of hazardous wastes and materials at the site to prevent the contamination of the immediate vicinity and the environment.
This facility closure checklist can help with the seamless shutting down of a medical facility. Use this checklist for clean closure and cover all essential points by making sure that proper notifications have been made 60-90 days prior to closing and that all closure tasks are completed 30-60 days before closing the medical facility. With the iAuditor inspection and checklist app, you are empowered to:
Federal law requires proper facility closure of sites that handle or treat hazardous materials and wastes. Facility closure is also important for healthcare providers not only because the closure involves the disposal of waste and other hazardous materials, but also because of the need to ensure the security and accessibility of patient information to authorized persons even when a healthcare facility is no longer in operation.
This article will briefly discuss:
Facility closure is most applicable to healthcare facilities and different types of Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) or Hazardous Waste Management Units (HWMUs) which typically treat and temporarily or permanently store hazardous wastes.
The type of facility closure depends on how waste is disposed by a facility. Here are the two types according to the Environmental Protect Agency (EPA):
This type of facility closure includes the complete removal of hazardous waste and, when applicable, decontamination or removal of contaminated soil and equipment at the site being closed.
Sometimes called “closure as a landfill,” this mostly applies to facilities such as landfills and other TSDFs or HWMUs where removal of the waste is not possible and is instead sealed into the facility being closed following regulatory procedures.
Facility closure involves multiple professionals such as engineers and facility managers during the different stages of the life cycle of a facility. Below is an overview of the process involved during facility closure.
Preparing for and conducting facility closure involves multiple personnel and will cost time and resources. Using a digital tool such as iAuditor by SafetyCulture can help implement a systematic facility closure that is compliant with regulations and effective in post-closure care. With the iAuditor web and mobile app, you can:
A facility shutdown checklist is used by facility managers to ensure the site is safe, secure and not presenting uncontrolled hazards during circumstances where the integrity of the site can be challenged. It helps record important details such as the reason for closure including holidays, calamities, or pandemic, effectivity dates, and length of time for shutdown.
A site shutdown checklist is used in the construction industry to ensure safe practices are followed prior to facility closure. It helps secure facilities and equipment are properly stored and would not cause any issue even unattended.
Use this facility closure plan template to determine if the organization has prepared everything to be considered before the clean closure of a facility that holds hazardous materials. Adapted from a state’s checklist for closure plans, feel free to edit this facility closure checklist according to your local regulations.
Use this risk assessment template to determine all existing hazardous materials on a site and come up with ways to mitigate the negative impact on health and the environment. Formulate contingency plans for the duration of operation of a facility and by the time that a facility is due for closure with the waste in place or “closure as a landfill.”
