Department of Health
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is dedicated to helping people in the state remain healthy and safe. That mission also includes protecting the public from the toxic waste from methamphetamine clandestine laboratories.
DOH's Office of Environmental Health and Safety works to protect the public from contamination of illegal methamphetamine lab chemicals to ensure that proper decontamination procedures are followed after a meth lab is identified. The Office's Clandestine Drug Lab Program certifies contractors to decontaminate properties. DOH staff provide technical assistance and training to local health jurisdictions, government agencies, and community organizations. It is also responsible for developing remediation policies and procedures.
Once a meth lab is identified, the Washington State Department of Ecology is responsible for removing bulk chemicals and equipment and then local health department jurisdictions assess properties to determine the degree and extent of contamination of methamphetamine and chemical residues and biohazards. The DOH program works with local health jurisdictions to help train them on proper decontamination procedures and provide presentations on identification, prevention, and decontamination of drug labs.
The program also sponsors a comprehensive three-day training course to certify workers and supervisors on the proper techniques to remediate a contaminated property. Students of the course learn about property assessment, decontamination techniques, work plan development, and environmental sampling.
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