Published June 3, 2025, via Research News
EH&S learned yesterday from a Medical Campus Department that Continental is no longer delivering dry ice to laboratories. It is assumed that this change could impact many Departments on the Medical Campus. EH&S is working with Facilities and Purchasing to address this change and directly with departments who have reached out. If this change impacts you and you must now transport dry ice, please have your Department Business Manager or other representative contact EH&S to evaluate any safety concerns and provide guidance on transport. General contact information is provided on the EH&S website.
As indicated in the annual lab safety training, dry ice is a cryogenic solid. This means that it can displace oxygen and cause an oxygen-deficient environment, which poses a safety hazard. As a reminder, you should not ride in a elevator with any cryogen or other material that can displace oxygen.
Please follow these general steps as outlined in the lab safety training. In addition, freight elevators should be used to transport these types of materials and transport will likely require two people to ensure adequate safety.
- Load the cryogen on the elevator and ensure it is secure.
- Add a sign letting others know not to enter the elevator due to transport of cryogens. When using a freight elevator, there may be an option to bypass other floors to prevent personnel from entering the elevator.
- Send the elevator to the desired floor, where a second person is stationed to meet the elevator.
- Remove the cryogen from the elevator.
Again, if this change impacts your Department, please contact EH&S (ehs@wustl.edu) for assistance. Walk-throughs and meetings can be scheduled next week to review.