Spills biological agents

Commercially available spill-control products are stocked by major scientific supply vendors and by safety product supply companies. Assortments of different sizes of the spill-control pillows, together with a selection of related products, should be kept in locations convenient to the laboratories and should be replaced when used. These products can be useful for cleaning up a biological agent spill after decontamination or spills of radioactive liquids. One kit may serve several laboratories. Thus a small investment may prove to be a wise step. 

The basic rule for handling spills of chemicals is identical to that for handling biological agent spills be prepared. Have a plan of action, and have the necessary spill-control supplies available. The basic actions to be taken if a chemical spill occurs include the following ... 

Plant or processes or systems of work which minimize generation of, or suppress or contain, the hazardous dust, fume, biological agent etc. and limit the area of contamination in the event of spills and leaks. 

Spill/Leak Disposal Outright cleanup or disposal of Infectious Substances (biological agents or weapons) should ONLY be handled by trained and experienced personnel. To contact such help, call any or all of the following numbers. 

Each biological agent chapter has a Response on Scene by First Responders section that includes Caution, Field First Aid, Drugs, Antibiotics, Medical Management, Fire, Personal Protection, Spill/Feak Control, Symptoms, and Vaccines. Also, spread over other chapters, will include basic duties of various first responders including Fire Departments, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, and Hazardous Materials Response Teams. 

Introduce biological agents to the spill to hasten biodegradation. Most of the components of oil washed up along a shoreline can be broken down by bacteria and other microorganisms into harmless substances such as fatty acids and carbon dioxide. This action is called biodegradation. Oil... 

Figure App. 1.1 An example of an action protocol for a spill of a biological agent (477).

Spills Chemicals Biological agents Radioactive materials Personal injury Bums... 

Certain types of work involve potential exposure to hazards. This is certainly true of both handling hazardous waste and responding to chemical emergencies. Several hazards at a work site can precipitate an emergency chemicals, biologic agents, radiation, or physical hazards may act alone or in concert to create explosions, fires, spills, toxic atmospheres, or other dangerous and harmful situations. 

Appropriate disinfectant should be applied following any spill of potentially infectious materials or at the end of daily work to decontaminate laboratory work surfaces. Spill kits (containing absorbent pads and/or neutralizing agents) should be prepared for all frequently used chemicals or biological waste. 

Disinfectant Agent used to decontaminate equipment or surfaces. Such disinfectants would include a 1 100 bleach solution for routine decontamination and a 1 10 solution for higher biological loads such as a blood spill caused by serious injury. 

All workers using the biological safety cabinet with potentially infectious agents should have a supply of an appropriate decontaminant located within the cabinet. This avoids the need to withdraw the arms from the cabinet should a spill occur. If the arms or hands have been splashed with culture material, pour the decontaminant onto them without withdrawing them from the cabinet. 

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