Spill control
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This presentation discusses how to properly clean and decontaminate spills of blood and other potentially infectious materials in laboratories. It defines minor and major spills and outlines the appropriate response and cleanup procedures for each. Specific protocols are provided for cleaning spills on floors, benches, in biosafety cabinets, and centrifuges. Key steps include wearing proper PPE, covering spills with absorbent materials, applying an appropriate disinfectant for 20 minutes of contact time, and proper disposal of contaminated waste. The goal is to safely and effectively decontaminate any spilled infectious materials to prevent disease transmission.
Spill control
- 1. Presentation on Cleaning and Decontaming Spillage of Blood and other Potentially Infectious Materials Presented By: Nasir Nazeer
- 2. Introduction Phlebotomists and laboratory technicians are involved in the collection, culture, growth, and manipulation of blood, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious material. Laboratory staff should always be adequately prepared and trained for the event where the unexpected happened and blood or concentrated cultures of potentially infectious microorganisms may spill. Spilled, blood or cultured microorganisms present a risk of disease transmission to phlebotomists and laboratory workers.
- 3. Introduction (Contd…) Spillages should be dealt with as quickly as possible. All laboratories (research, diagnostic, or other) working with potential pathogens must have a written plan for dealing with spills or other releases of such materials. All work locations where employees may be reasonably anticipated to come into contact with blood or other potentially infectious material must have equipment available to safely and effectively clean up these spills.
- 4. Materials required • Spill kits specifically designed for the clean up and decontamination of biological spills in laboratories are commercially available. These kits contain items such as autoclave bag, latex gloves, gloves for handling broken glass, dustpan/brush, shoe covers, disposable lab coat, paper towels, disinfectant, safety glasses and ready made solutions to clean and decontaminate the spill.
- 5. Types of Spill If it is a minor spill: call a senior person in the lab to help you clean up; if you happen to be working alone, call your Laboratory Manager or Supervisor (or senior person) to come to the lab. A minor spill is characterized by all of the following criteria: Is inside a laboratory and hasn’t spread outside the laboratory; Did not result in a fire or explosion, nor presents a risk for a fire or explosion; and Did not result in personnel requiring medical attention.
- 6. Types of Spill (Contd…) • If it is a major spill: evacuate the lab and appraise TOP administration of the laboratory about the situation so that plan may be chalked out to cope with the scenario. A major spill is characterized by all of the following criteria: Results in a fire or explosion, or presents a risk for a fire or explosion; Results in personnel requiring medical attention; Is not contained within a laboratory
- 7. Types of Spill (Contd…) • If a bio-hazardous material spills on you: move to a safe area, remove contaminated clothing, and thoroughly wash exposed body parts with copious amount of water. If it gets in your eye, flush at the eyewash for at least 15 minutes. If it gets on shoes, soak the shoes in a tray with disinfectant. • If you are going to clean a spill: you must be wearing a lab coat, gloves and eye protection. You must have a chemical disinfectant, paper towels, and a biohazard waste bag. You may also need forceps, a dustpan and broom, and a sharps container.
- 8. Selection of Disinfectants • When choosing a chemical disinfectant: 1:10 dilution of standard bleach is typically suitable however be aware that some agents are resistant to bleach. Some bacteria (e.g., Bacilus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium difficile) are resistant to chemical disinfection, as are some protozoa (e.g., Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lambia). Prolonged contact times, higher concentrations and alternate disinfectants may be required for them. Bleach solutions can be corrosive to metals, including stainless steel. For cleaning of bio-safety cabinets, centrifuges, or other metal devices, contemplate and choose best available chemical disinfectant.
- 9. If transportation of Bio-hazardous is required • If you need to transport a biohazardous material through public areas use a durable, well- sealed primary container, and a leak proof, durable secondary container labeled with a biohazard symbol. If a spill occurs in a public space, evacuate the immediate area and start work to curtail the spillage.
- 10. IF SPILL IS ON FLOOR OR ON A BENCH If there is potential for aerosolization, evacuate the lab and allow 30 minutes for aerosols to settle. Ensure that you are wearing the required personal protective equipment and have all the materials you will need to clean up. Cover the spill with paper towels. Carefully pour a freshly prepared 1:10 bleach (or alternative chemical disinfectant if required) over the area, working from the outside in and soaking the paper towels. Cordon off the area and leave undisturbed for 20 minutes. This allows adequate contact time for the disinfectant to work. Remove any broken glass or sharps using forceps or tweezers and place in a sharps disposal container. Pick up the soaked paper towels and other absorbent materials and place in a biohazard waste bag. Clean the area again with the bleach solution (or the alternative chemical disinfectant) and paper towel. Wipe up any residues from the spilled material. Place all waste in the biohazard waste bag. Ensure all reusable items used in the clean up (forceps, dustpans, etc.) are bagged and sent for autoclaving.
- 11. IF SPILL IN A BIOSAFETY CABINET Keep cabinet on (or turn cabinet on) to control any aerosols that may be created. Cover the spill with paper towels or another absorbent material. Carefully pour a freshly prepared 1:10 bleach solution (or alternative chemical disinfectant if required) over the area, working from the outside in and soaking the area. Close the cabinet and leave the spill undisturbed for 20 minutes. This is to allow adequate contact time for the disinfectant to work. Remove any broken glass or sharps using forceps or tweezers and place in a sharps disposal container. Pick up the soaked paper towels and other absorbent materials and place in a biohazard waste bag. Wipe down the area of the spill and the walls and other surfaces in the area with a paper towel soaked in disinfectant. Carefully (ask another person to help) lift the steel tray (i.e., the work surface of the hood) and check for spills. Clean up any spills as described above. If not cleaned, the cabinet will remain in a contaminated state. Place all waste in a biohazard waste bag. Ensure all reusable items used in the cleanup (forceps, dustpans, etc.) are bagged any sent for autoclaving. Leave cabinet running for an additional 10 minutes.
- 12. IF SPILL IN A CENTRIFUGE When you become aware of a spill in a centrifuge, ensure the lid is closed and do not disturb the centrifuge for 30 minutes to allow aerosols to settle. Carefully remove rotors and bucket, seal in a plastic bag, and move them to a nearby bio-safety cabinet for further cleaning. Remove any sharp debris with forceps or tweezers and place in a sharp container. Use paper towel and a suitable chemical disinfectant to clean the inside of the centrifuge. A bleach solution is not recommended as it may corrode sensitive parts of the equipments, so please use an alternative chemical disinfectant. Working in the bio-safety cabinet, soak all the removable part in the disinfectant for 30 min, rinse thoroughly, dry and return them to the centrifuge. Place the liquid waste in a container suitable for autoclaving. Place all other waste (e.g. wet paper towels) in a biohazard waste bag. Ensure all reusable items used in the cleanup (forceps, dustpans, etc.) are bagged and sent for autoclaving.