Biological Spill Response

Spill Response Steps
Take care of yourself	Remove contaminated PPE. Wash hands and administer first aid if needed.
Gather Supplies	Absorbent Pads or paper towels Gloves Lab Coat Surgical mask or face shield Tongs or forceps Mini dust-pan and broom Blue chemical bags Autoclave bags Store these items in a drawer, kit, or cabinet so they can easily be located in event of a spill.
Put on clean PPE	Ensure that gloves, lab coat and mucous membrane (eye protection & mask or a face shield) protection is worn when cleaning up spills.
Remove Debris	Using tongs, forceps, or dustpan remove broken sharps and dispose of in the biological sharps container.
Apply Disinfectant	Cover spill with absorbent paper towels. Start at edge of spill and work inward. Apply your freshly made disinfectant and let it sit for the appropriate contact time. Be sure to follow directions on label for dilution and contact time. We generally recommend freshly prepared 10% bleach for 10 minutes. Please refer to your agent's specific PSDS.
Reapply Disinfectant	Remove disinfectant-soaked paper towels and place in the regular trash. Re-apply disinfectant and let it sit for appropriate contact time.
Remove Soiled PPE	Once paper towels soaked with disinfectant have been discarded in regular trash. Carefully take off PPE and clean as described in lab specific biosafety manual.
Hand Hygiene	Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 30 seconds.
Notify	Inform EHS that a spill has occurred.

References and Resources

Biosafety in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)

University Biosafety Manual