Emergency Response

Personal Contamination and Spills

Personal contamination

  1. Alert co-workers.
  2. Clean exposed surface with soap/water, eyewash (eyes), or saline (mouth); Flush for 15 minutes.
  3. Apply first aid and treat as an emergency.
  4. Notify supervisor.
  5. Report to Kishwaukee Corporate Medical or Kishwaukee Community Hospital. Identify yourself as an NIU Employee. (Follow all Workman's Comp rules)

Personal contamination when human derived materials (blood or other potentially infectious materials) are involved

  1. If contact with blood or other potentially infectious material occurs on skin with cuts, rashes, acne or dermatitis, wash the area for 15 minutes with soap and water.
  2. If blood or other potentially infectious material splashes in the eyes or on mucous membranes, flush the area for 15 minutes with water or normal saline.
  3. If there is a cut or puncture with a contaminated object (broken glass, needle, etc), wash the area for 15 minutes with soap and water.
  4. Report the incident to a supervisor if available.
  5. Initiate medical follow-up immediately.
  6. The supervisor refers the employee and the source, if available, to Kishwaukee Community Hospital or the closest available emergency care facility for immediate care and follow-up. The facility will follow current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for a potential bloodborne pathogens exposure incident.
  7. Complete, together with the supervisor, the NIU Injury/Incident Report Form.
  8. The NIU Biosafety Officer will evaluate all bloodborne pathogens exposure incidents and complete a BBP Exposure/Sharps Injury Report to capture all information currently required under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard. All documentation related to an exposure incident will be recorded and maintained in such a manner as to protect the confidentiality of the employee.

Cleaning up a biohazardous spill in a biosafety cabinet

  • Let the BSC run. Do not turn off.
  • Cover spill with paper towels.
  • Spray spill with appropriate disinfectant working from outside edge of spill inward.
  • After the contact time, wipe up the spilled material.
  • Reapply disinfectant to the affected area and after the appropriate contact time, wipe up the area. Repeat if necessary.
  • Perform disinfection before removing items.
  • Segregate contaminated cleanup materials into the appropriate biohazardous waste containers.

Cleaning up a biohazardous spill outside of a biosafety cabinet

  • Close off the area and allow aerosols to settle.
  • Notify others including the supervisor.
  • Assemble all spill cleanup materials and review procedure.
  • Don appropriate PPE: laboratory coat, safety glasses, Nitrile gloves.
  • Remove broken glass with a dustpan and place glass in a sharps container; Sprinkle absorbent powder over the spill area.
  • Sweep up spill. Dispose of the dustpan in the biohazardous waste.
  • Apply disinfectant to the contaminated surface and allow it to stand for proper contact time.
  • Wipe up disinfectant, repeat if necessary.
  • Segregate contaminated cleanup materials into the appropriate biohazardous waste containers.

Cleaning up a biohazardous spill inside a centrifuge

  • Close off the area and allow aerosols to settle.
  • Notify others including the supervisor.
  • Wait 30 minutes to allow the aerosols created to settle.
  • Don appropriate PPE: laboratory coat, safety glasses, Nitrile gloves.
  • Remove rotors and bucket and place in the sink.
  • Thoroughly disinfect the inside of the centrifuge.
  • Segregate contaminated cleanup materials into the appropriate biohazardous waste containers.

Critical Shutdown Operations before Evacuation

Type of Emergency

Procedure

Fire Close doors and then leave
Medical Stay at location
Terrorism/Threat Close doors and then leave
Tornado/Weather Close doors and then go to designated tornado shelter areas
Chemical Spill/Leak Close doors and then exit immediate area or exit building to assembly point if necessary

Reporting Allegations of Non-compliance

Procedure for Reporting Allegations of Non-compliance

Allegations, preferably in writing, shall be reported to any of the following individuals:

  • IBC Chair (Joel Stafstrom, 815-753-3207)
  • Any IBC member
  • NIU Biological Safety Officer
  • Associate Vice President for Research
  • Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies

The IBC chair is responsible for the receipt and disposition of all complaints. All allegations will remain confidential to the extent possible. When the complainant wishes to be openly identified, the IBC Chair will acknowledge receipt of the allegations to the complainant in writing.

Whistleblower Information

Animal Medical Emergency involving biohazardous substances:

Laboratory Safety Manager
Michele Crase
mcrase@niu.edu
815-753-9251

Malta Veterinary Hospital
815-825-2077

In the event of a serious emergency, 911 should be called immediately.