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Emergency procedures must be developed for each laboratory using biohazardous materials. Emergency procedures should include information addressing personal injury and exposure. These procedures must also include instructions to contain and clean-up a spill of biohazardous materials inside and outside a biosafety cabinet. A generic set of emergency procedures have been developed for biohazardous spills outside a biosafety cabinet, but must be tailored to your specific biohazard. Please consult with the Industrial Hygiene Unit for assistance in developing your emergency procedures.

Procedures must be posted in a conspicuous area or be readily available for consultation during an emergency. Documented training must be conducted periodically to ensure that employees are knowledgeable and able to respond appropriately.

1. Alert people in immediate area of spill.
2. Any employee exposed to human blood and body fluids must cleanse the affected areas as soon as possible:

• Skin contact/cuts/puncture wounds: wash with soap and water, then pour 3% hydrogen peroxide over the cut/lesion or wash with either chlorhexidine or iodophor.
• Eyes: flush with water
• Mouth: rinse well with 3% hydrogen peroxide and then water

3. Inform supervisor of exposure.
4. Contact UHS for medical attention (x5-1164).
5. A properly trained employee must proceed with the cleanup and decontamination of the spill area. Environmental Health & Safetyassistance is available by calling Security at x13.
6. Put on protective equipment (full face shield or mask and safety glasses/goggles, latex gloves, lab coat).
7. Pick out any sharps using tongs or other mechanical means and cover spill absorbent material such as paper towels.
8. Carefully pour a freshly prepared 1 in 10 dilution of household bleach around the edges of the spill and then into the spill. Avoid splashing.
9. Allow a 20 minute contact period.
10. Use paper towels to wipe up the spill, working from the edges into the center.
11. Clean spill area with fresh paper towels soaked in bleach solution.
12. Place towels in a red bag for disposal.
13. Remove protective equipment and wash hands thoroughly.

1. Any employee sustaining skin, mucous membrane or percutaneous contact must cleanse the affected areas as soon as possible:

• Skin or percutaneous contact: wash with soap and water
• Mouth and eyes: flush with water

2. Wear disposable gloves.
3. Pick out any sharps using tongs or other mechanical means, then place paper towels soaked with disinfectant over the spill area.
4. Place towels in red plastic bag for decontamination prior to final disposal.
5. Clean spill area with fresh towels soaked in disinfectant.
6. Remove gloves and wash hands thoroughly.

• Disinfectant must be specific to microorganism.

In general, a 1 in 10 dilution of household bleach is sufficient to inactivate microorganisms requiring biosafety level 1 containment.

1. Alert people in immediate area of spill.
2. Any employee exposed to biosafety level 2 organisms must cleanse the affected areas as soon as possible:

• Skin contact/cuts/puncture wounds: wash with soap and water.
• Mouth and eyes: flush with water.

3. Inform supervisor of exposure.
4. Contact UHS for medical attention (x5-1164).
5. A properly trained employee must proceed with the cleanup and decontamination of the spill area. Environmental Health & Safety assistance is available by calling Security at x13.
6. Put on protective equipment (full face shield or mask and safety glasses/goggles, latex gloves, lab coat).
7. Pick out any sharps using tongs or other mechanical means and cover spill absorbent material such as paper towels.
8. Carefully pour a freshly prepared disinfectant around the edges of the spill and then into the spill. Avoid splashing.
9. Allow a 20 minute contact period.
10. Use paper towels to wipe up the spill, working from the edges into the center.
11. Clean spill area with fresh paper towels soaked in disinfectant.
12. Place towels in a red bag for disposal.
13. Remove protective equipment and wash hands thoroughly.

• Disinfectant must be specific to microorganism.

In general, a 1 in 5 dilution of household bleach is sufficient to inactivate microorganisms requiring biosafety level 2 containment.

Biological spills outside biological safety cabinets will generate aerosols that can be dispersed in the air throughout the laboratory. These spills are very serious!

1. Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate.
2. Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure. Immediate medical attention is available from University Health Service (x5-1164) or SMH Emergency Department.
3. Close doors to affected area.
4. Proceed with cleanup procedures previously approved by University's Biosafety Officer. OR
   Call Security at x13 from a safe location for an emergency response from Environmental Safety. Have person knowledgeable of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel.
   

Biological spills outside biological safety cabinets will generate aerosols that can be dispersed in the air throughout the laboratory. These spills are very serious!

1. Alert people in the laboratory to evacuate.
2. Attend to injured or contaminated persons and remove them from exposure. Immediate medical attention is available from University Health Service (x5-1164) or SMH Emergency Department.
3. Close doors to affected area.
4. Call Security at x13 from a safe location for an emergency response from Environmental Safety.
5. Have person knowledgeable of incident and laboratory assist emergency personnel.

QUESTIONS? Contact EH&S Industrial Hygiene at (585) 275-3241 or e-mail EH&S Questions.

This page last updated 6/11/2001. Disclaimer