Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Program

DATE: June 18, 2001

TO: ALL CNSM FACULTY, STAFF, FOUNDATION & STUDENT EMPLOYEES

FROM: Jim Sample, Chair, CNSM EH&S Committee

Kristin Hunter, EH&S Coordinator, CNSM

SUBJECT: SAFETY MEMO 54: CNSM BIOHAZARD CONTROL PROGRAM 

CNSM BIOHAZARD PROGRAM -- The CNSM Biohazard Control Program is based on the "CDC/NIH Guidelines for Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories". These guidelines indicate the Biosafety Level (BSL) for each microbial agent; the levels range from 1-4. The Biosafety Level dictates the use of certain lab practices, techniques, safety equipment and facilities. BSL-1 organisms normally do not cause disease in healthy humans (e.g. Penicillium); BSL-2 agents are associated with human disease (e.g. Cryptococcus neoformans, Shigella, any human body fluid, etc.); BSL-3 agents may cause serious or possibly lethal disease, with a potential for aerosol transmission (e.g. HIV, Yellow fever virus, etc.); BSL-4 agents pose a high risk of aerosol transmitted laboratory infections and life-threatening disease (e.g. Ebola virus). Please note that Level 4 organisms are not permitted in the College, and Level 3 organisms may not be brought onto College property without prior written permission from the CNSM Safety Committee. The CDC/NIH Guidelines are available for review in the CNSM Safety Office (PH3-018); many faculty also possess their own copies.

The purpose of the CDC/NIH Guidelines is to protect students, employees and the general public from exposure to biohazardous materials. If you work with biohazardous materials, you should ensure that everyone in your program is trained and that the CDC/NIH Guidelines will be observed as appropriate. For example, the SAFE WORK PRACTICES listed below must be consistently followed to reduce the likelihood of exposure when using biohazardous agents:

· Avoid hand to face contact, and don’t use sharps unless you must.

· Handle needles & sharps (pasteur pipets, slides, capillary tubes, broken glass, etc..) carefully. Engineered sharps protection must be used when working with human blood.

· Dispose of sharps in the final container (needles into red needle boxes only; call the CNSM Safety Office x55623 for pick-up and disposal when full).

· Disposal containers for sharps must be rigid; never use bags.

· No recapping, bending, or breaking of needles.

· Wash hands after handling biohazardous materials, even when gloves were worn

· Develop and use a method of decontamination based on surfaces and type of contamination.

· Employ Universal Precautions: treat all human body fluids as infectious for HIV (see "Special Biohazards" on next page for more information).

ENGINEERING CONTROLS must be used whenever appropriate; examples include biological cabinets, mechanical barriers, needle boxes, etc. If a biological cabinet is required per the CDC/NIH guidelines, it must be certified according to OSHA's Title 8, CCR 5154.1(a).

Ensure that everyone concerned uses PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) when

needed to shield skin, clothing and mucous membranes from contact with infectious materials. The PPE must be appropriate and fit properly; consider:

· types of fluid or tissue involved

· potential exposure volume

· probable route of exposure e.g. eyes via splash; if the potential for a splash to the eye exists, properly fitting and fully enclosed, indirect vented chemical splash goggles must be worn

· working conditions e.g. aerosol production might require biological cabinet use

Don't forget to STERILIZE YOUR WASTE but WATCH OUT - DON'T USE RED BAGS! Red bags are designated for Medical Waste collection only. If you use the orange biohazard bags, either use autoclave tape prior to autoclaving, or write "sterilized" on the bag after autoclaving to indicate the safe status of the bags to those who handle regular trash. Remember, NEVER put sharps in trash bags of any kind; always use rigid containers such as cardboard containers or the free sharps containers provided by the CNSM Safety Office.

HOUSEKEEPING is another important issue for biohazard areas - keep your area clean. OSHA's general sanitation laws in Title 8, section 3362, state that the workplace must be clean and sanitary, and be in a condition not liable to give rise to harmful exposure. Make sure corridors and eyewash/shower units are not blocked.

SPECIAL BIOHAZARDS:

MEDICAL WASTE: If you or those you supervise immunize animals or work with human tissues or human blood-derived products, you produce medical waste. If you perform research pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of humans or animals, you are probably producing Medical Waste. Medical waste may NOT be autoclaved and/or disposed of on campus property. The regulations for the collection and disposal of medical waste are quite stringent; improper handling could result in serious fines from the City of Long Beach. Please call the safety office immediately (x55623) if you think you might have medical waste. We will set up your program for you, and supply you with all the necessary information and free medical waste bags, collection containers, etc. We will also coordinate the waste pick-up and disposal for you.

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS: If you or those you supervise (including students) work with any human tissue or fluid - except urine, saliva or cheek cells - your work is regulated by the Cal/OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard. Improper handling could result in serious fines from the city of Long Beach. Please call the safety office immediately (x55623) if you think your work might fall under the bloodborne pathogen standard.

PLEASE NOTE:

YOU MUST CONTACT THE CNSM SAFETY OFFICE BEFORE WORKING WITH ANY HUMAN TISSUE, BLOOD OR BLOOD-DERIVED PRODUCTS, OR BODY FLUID OTHER THAN URINE OR SALIVA.

cc: Campus EH&S