Safety and Health Program- Hazard Laboratory Upgrade Chapter

(Please click your "Back" button to return to the previous "Upgrade Page")

Hazard Communication for Laboratory Work

Policy:

Infectious and/or toxic materials must be disposed of in a manner that prevents environmental contamination in communities where Company facilities are located and protects laboratorians and maintenance, service, and housekeeping staff from exposure to infectious or toxic materials in the course of their work.

Procedures:

1. All biohazardous materials must be secured in an appropriately marked container (refrigerator, freezer, incubator, etc.) or decontaminated at the end of each workday.

2. All radioactive and hazardous chemical wastes must be disposed of in accordance with established Company procedures. The Safety and Health Manager must be contacted for disposal of these wastes.

3. No laboratory glassware, plastics, etc. may be discarded in a trash receptacle serviced by janitorial personnel.

Decontamination of Reusable Items:

1. Reusable laboratory wares contaminated with biological or chemical agents must be decontaminated or neutralized prior to reprocessing, recycling, or disposal. This may be done on site in the laboratory or at a central location. Consult the Laboratory Supervisor or the Safety and Health Manager for assistance.

2. Reusable items must be separated from non-reusable disposable items and sharps.

3. Unless otherwise specified, all reusable laboratory wares must be discarded in the pans provided by the Company. The pans must have lids securely fastened with autoclave tape.

4. All pans collected will be autoclaved before disposal and/or use.

5. Add one inch of water to the pan. Place reusable items in the pan. Items must fit within the pan so that a lid may be securely attached with tape. If items are too large for the pan, contact the Laboratory Supervisor for assistance.

6. When the pan is ready for disposal/decontamination, secure the lid and place a room identification sticker on the pan. Unidentified pans will not be processed. Identify contents as "Reusable".

7. Transport the pans, using a cart, to the disposal/decontamination station. Follow the posted procedures; procedures may differ by location.

Decontamination of Disposable Laboratory Waste:

1. All disposable laboratory ware must be autoclaved prior to disposal, except for items contaminated with hazardous chemicals or radioactive substances. These items require special treatment; consult with the Laboratory Supervisor if you have questions.

2. Soft, dry items such as disposable gowns, gloves, masks, paper, plastic backed "diapers", etc., may be placed in clear autoclave bags and autoclaved without pans. Prior to closing the bag, add water (about 500 ml), tie the bag loosely with autoclave tape and label with Building and Room number. ANYTHING THAT COULD PUNCTURE A BAG MUST BE PLACED IN A PAN.

3. All other disposable labware, including cultures, media, microtitration trays, pipettes etc. must be placed in pans lined with clear autoclave bags. Several sizes of bags are available, however some bags do not fit readily and must be trimmed or folded outside the pan.

4. Before autoclaving, carefully add approximately 250-500 ml of water (or dilute germicidal solution. Some germicides may produce fumes or objectionable odors. Do not use Bleach!). AVOID SPLASHING.

5. Fold ends of bag, but do not tie. This will allow steam penetration.

6. Replace pan lid. Place proper labels and autoclave tape on end of pan.

7. Autoclave bags should not be used for reusable items such as glassware, or glass syringes. Place these items directly in a pan and cover with a pan lid. Bags sometimes melt, ruining reusable glassware.

Disposal of Needles and Sharps:

Needles, scalpel blades and other sharps that can easily puncture the skin should be handled with extreme caution.

1. Used, disposable needles and other sharps must be placed in a rigid puncture-resistant disposable container with a lid.

2. Disposable syringes with attached needles must be disposed of as one unit without separation of the needle from the syringe.

3. Needles must not be resheathed, bent, broken, or cut.

4. Adapters used with evacuated tubes must not be reused. Discard needles and adapter as a unit; do not remove needle from adapter.

5. Discard containers for sharps must be clearly labeled as such. Containers must also be identified with users room number. Unidentified containers will not be processed.

Disposal of paper wastes:

Many laboratory items are disposable and may be wrapped with plastic or paper, i.e. pipettes, gloves, etc. To avoid disposal of potentially contaminated paper products in the waste receptacles serviced by janitorial personnel, the following procedure is recommended.

1. Place a biohazard discard bag on a stand next to the BSC (biohazard safety container).

2. Discard all paper wrappings into this bag unless the paper is obviously contaminated. Contaminated paper products should be discarded in the discard container placed in the BSC.

3. When the bag is full, securely close the bag opening with a "tie".

4. Place a room identification sticker on the bag.

5.Dispose of the bag as described in laboratory standard operating procedures.

6. Do not place other laboratory items in the bag.

G. Disposal of Hazardous Chemical Wastes