Bio Spill Cleanup Procedures

The following procedures are provided as a guideline to biohazardous spill clean-up and will need to be modified for specific situations. Stay calm, call 911 if necessary, and proceed with common sense. Call EHS at 355-0153 if further assistance is required, especially if the spill outgrows the resources in the laboratory. Only personnel with current biological safety training should handle spills.

  1. Notify others working in the area of the hazard.
  2. Remove spill supplies from bucket and line the bucket with a biohazard bag. Retrieve a sharps container for disposal of glass/sharps.
  3. Put on two layers of gloves. Put on splash goggles.
  4. Prepare disinfectant.
  5. If no sharps/broken glass move on to Step 7.
  6. Using tongs or forceps, place broken glass/sharps in sharps container. Use dust pan and broom for shattered glass.
  7. Cover the spill area with absorbent materials such as Green-Z, paper towels, SSS clean-up powder.
  8. Remove the absorbent material. If using a powder or solidifier, use dustpan and broom. Dispose of all absorbent materials and tools into a biohazard bag.
  9. Spray/apply disinfectant to the contaminated area and wait appropriate contact time.
  10. Remove disinfectant with paper towels and place the paper towels in the biohazard bag for disposal. If using Sani-Cloth wipes, allow for surface to air dry.
  11. Repeat step 9 and 10 to allow for sufficient disinfection of contaminated surfaces.
  12. Remove outer pair of gloves only and dispose of them in the biohazard bag.
  13. Remove goggles with inner gloves still on and disinfect goggles and any other items utilized in the spill response. If preferred, dispose of goggles in biohazard bag.
  14. Remove inner gloves and dispose of them in biohazard bag.
  15. Place the closed biohazard bag in a biohazardous waste container, fill out and affix hazardous waste tag to bag, order pick up through EHS.
  16. Wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible.
  17. Restock the kit for next use. (See kit contents list on reverse side of card)

Spill Kit Contents

  • Roll of paper towel
  • Approved EPA registered disinfectant (Sani-Cloth, Vircon, Envirocide, Rocal, Bleach, etc.)

Example:  Spray bottle with bleach (and marked line to make a 10% solution) – change bleach every six months

  • Biohazard bags
  • Disposable broom & dustpan
  • Tongs/forceps
  • Absorbent powder and paper towel
  • Gloves – change annually
  • Splash goggles (1 pair) – check straps annually

Biological Safety