Emergency Preparedness for Biohazards

Emergency Response Guidelines

The Emergency Response Guidelines must be completed and posted in all laboratories and shops.

Biological EXPOSURE

In the event of an exposure incident, such as mucus membrane exposure, injection by contaminated sharps, inhalation, and animal bites/scratches, the following procedures should be followed:

• Immediately clean exposed area with soap and water. If mucus membrane exposure, flush the area with water only for at least 15 minutes.
• DO NOT scrub too vigorously.  Over-irritating or breaking intact skin can increase risk of exposure.
• Recover and/or save specimen.  Refrigerate if possible. (clinical setting)
• Secure area and post warning sign if a spill occurred.
• Notify and complete an EHS Incident Report Form with Supervisor/Principal Investigator.
• Follow up with NJIT Human Resources/Risk Management.

In the event medical assistance is needed:

• Contact the NJIT Police: 9-1-1, Say your location is "NJIT"
• Follow police/emergency services instructions.

Biological RELEASE

In the event of a spill or release of a potentially infectious biological material including human blood, human cell cultures, recombinant materials, or other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs) the following emergency response procedures shall be followed:

Inside the Biological Safety Cabinet

• Keep biosafety cabinet running
• Cover affected area with absorbent material
• Gently apply a liberal amount of disinfectant on top of covered spill
• Allow adequate contact time which is typically 20 to 30 minutes, pending the disinfectant, microorganism, and material
• Collect absorbent material and place into biohazard bag inside the BSC
• Clean affected area again with disinfectant
• Placed soiled cleaning materials into biohazard bag inside BSC
• Seal and wipe down the outside of the biohazard bag with disinfectant before removing it from the BSC
• Remove and place the biohazard bag inside a biological/medical waste box for ultimate disposal
• Remove potentially contaminated PPE and place inside a biological/medical waste box for ultimate disposal
• Wash hands before removing safety glasses and leaving lab

Outside the Biological Safety Cabinet

• Attend to any injured persons and follow appropriate emergency response protocols
• Evacuate affected area or entire laboratory if necessary
• Allow 30 minutes for aerosol droplets to settle
• Follow spill protocol for spills inside biosafety cabinet:
  • Cover affected area with absorbent material
  • Gently apply a liberal amount of disinfectant on top of covered spill
  • Allow at least 20 minutes of contact time
  • Collect absorbent material and place into plastic biohazard bag
  • Clean affected area again with disinfectant
  • Placed soiled cleaning materials into biohazard bag
  • Seal and place the biohazard bag inside a biological/medical waste box for ultimate disposal
  • Remove potentially contaminated PPE and place inside a biological/medical waste box for ultimate disposal
  • Wash hands before removing safety glasses and leaving lab

Tips for Small Spills

• ​Styrofoam tray for conical vials:  Soak with disinfectant for 15 minutes or manufacturer’s recommended contact time.  Collect and/or drain dispose residual liquid and then discard tray in the biohazard bag.  Plastic trays can be soaked for contact time and reused. 
• Plastic trays for Eppendorf tubes:  Affected holes should be filled with disinfectant.  Let sit for 15 minutes or manufacturer’s recommended contact time.  Collect and/or drain dispose residual liquid and then discard tubes in the biohazard bag.  Spray down the whole tray with disinfectant. 
• Droplets of culture:  Cover with a disinfectant soaked paper towel or absorbent mat.  The towel/mat should remain on spill area for 15 minutes or manufacturer’s recommended contact time then placed into a biohazard bag. 
• Double-gloving:  If there is suspected contamination on your outer gloves, wipe outer gloves with soaked disinfectant towel, remove outer gloves, put gloves in biohazard bag, and don new gloves. 
• Cover sleeves: If there is suspected contamination on cover sleeve, one should soak the sleeve with disinfectant and change the cover sleeve, disposing it in the bag inside the BSC.