The following is very generic, but you can apply them to most emergencies. They should be modified, as appropriate, for each specific work site. The best time to know what to do in an emergency is before, not after, it happens. Always use the best and calmest judgment you have.

Emergency Phone Numbers

New Brunswick / Piscataway - Rutgers University Police Department

General Emergency Guidelines

2. Call the campus emergency number from the nearest safe area. Calling takes precedence over everything except evacuation in all emergencies. This also applies for seemingly minor emergencies; it is far better to make an occasional unnecessary call than to fail to call and needlessly endanger life or health.

For all emergencies, obtain an outside line then dial 9-1-1 Calmly state: your name; the location and nature of the emergency; whether an ambulance or fire fighting equipment is needed; any hazards that might threaten persons on the scene or responding; and a phone number and location at the scene where you can be reached.

After calling, stay off the phone. The only exception is in cases of poisoning, when you may need to call the Poison Control Center: 1-800-962-1253.

3. Protect the life and health of anyone who may be injured. After calling, do what you can to continue to preserve life, but do no more than the necessary first aid procedures unless you are specifically trained to do so.

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Fire

Pull the fire alarm.
Evacuate immediately.
Assemble in an area established by your supervisor. Follow your Emergency Action Plan! If unable to leave contact RU Police and give your exact location so the firefighters can be directed to you.
DO NOT attempt to extinguish the fire.

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Chemical Spill

First, you must decide on whether to evacuate the immediate area of the spill. Anytime you are unsure about handling the spill yourself, be safe and evacuate the area.

Evacuation

• If the spill is contained within an operating fume hood, evacuation is not necessary.
• If the spill is outside of an operating fume hood but within your lab, evacuation is usually not necessary since the laboratories are generally under negative pressure with respect to surrounding areas.
• If the spill is outside a laboratory, if you spill a Particularly Hazardous Substance, or you have reason to believe that a spill in the laboratory may escape into the surrounding areas, please do not hesitate to pull a fire alarm if you feel the need for building-wide evacuation.

Personal Contamination

If a spilled material has contacted any part of your body, start first aid measures immediately. Shout for help and move directly to the nearest eyewash or safety shower. Disrobe promptly if clothing is involved. Flush for a minimum of 30 minutes whether eyes or skin are involved. Other persons should assist (you will need help with eye flushing) and should contact RUPD as soon as possible to obtain medical assistance

Spill Cleanup

If you have the appropriate training, you can clean up a chemical spill yourself. Make a determination on whether a cleanup can be handled or if assistance is required. Generally, the spill can/should be cleaned up by lab personnel if the material is of low hazard (low corrosivity and toxicity) and is a gallon or less. REVIEW THE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS and use the following guidelines.

If you require any more information, contact REHS at (732) 445 - 2550

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Radioactive Material Spills

If you come across a spill that potentially contains radioactive materials, you must contact REHS at 445-2550.

Radioactive Spill Procedures for Laboratory Workers

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Biological Spills

Spill Procedures for Custodians
Small Spill: a few drops of blood or fluid
Large Spill: a small puddle of blood or fluid
Catastrophic Spill: a large amount of blood or fluid spread over a large area
Personal Contamination
Needle in Regular Trash

Spill Procedures for Lab Workers
Spill of Human Blood or Body Fluids

Spill of Potentially Infectious Microorganisms
A. Spills Within the Biosafety Cabinet
B. Spills Outside of the Biosafety Cabinet

Personal Contamination

Spill Procedures for Custodians

1. Obtain the spill kit needed to address the spill.
2. Put on the appropriate PPE: gloves and safety glasses.
3. Place the absorbent material (paper towels) on top of the spill area.
4. Wipe the area with an absorbent towel and then with the disinfectant (bleach, A33, etc.).
5. Place all items that are dripping with blood into the biohazard bag. Call REHS to request a pickup of medical waste.
6. Place all items that are not contaminated or have just a few drops of blood into a clear trash bag. Take the bag directly to the dumpster.
7. Wash your hands with soap and water.
   

Large Spill: a small puddle of blood or fluid

1. Block off the spill area, warn others not to walk through the spill.
2. Contact a specially trained foreperson for assistance, if needed.
3. Obtain the spill kit needed to address the spill.
4. Put on the appropriate PPE: gloves and safety glasses.
5. Place the absorbent material (paper towels) on top of the spill area.
6. Wipe the area with an absorbent towel and then with the disinfectant (bleach, A33, etc.).
7. Place all items that are dripping with blood into the biohazard bag. Call REHS to request a pickup of medical waste.
8. Place all items that are not contaminated or have just a few drops of blood into a clear trash bag. Take the bag directly to the dumpster.
9. Wash your hands with soap and water.
   

Catastrophic Spill: a large amount of blood or fluid spread over a large area

1. Block off the area of the spill, warn others not to walk through the spill.
2. Contact REHS for assistance at 732/445-2550 during business hours, or call Rutgers Police after hours at 6-9-1-1.

Personal Contamination

1. Remove any contaminated clothing or protective equipment.
2. If skin has been contaminated, wash with soap and warm water.
3. If eyes have been splashed, rinse under running water (eyewash or faucet) for at least 15 minutes.
4. Contact Rutgers Police at 6-9-1-1 if medical attention is needed.
5. Tell your supervisor what happened, and visit Occupational Health Services at Hurtado Health Center for follow-up care.

Needle in Regular Trash
If you find a needle in a trash can:

1. Locate a sharps container.
2. Put on gloves and safety glasses.
3. Find a mechanical way to pick up the needle (tweezers, tongs, pliers).
4. Using the tweezers, lift the needle out of the trash can.
5. Carefully place the needle into the sharps container.
6. Wash the tweezers with A-33.
7. Take off gloves and wash hands with soap and water.

Spill Procedures for Lab Workers

Spill of Human Blood or Body Fluids

1. Put on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including double gloves, gown, protective eyeware, and face mask.
2. Control access to area. Prevent people from walking through affected area and thereby tracking the blood or other potentially infectious material to other areas.
3. Contain spill. Use paper towels or other absorbent material to contain spill.
4. Use forceps, plastic scoop, or other mechancial means to remove any broken glass or other sharp objects from the spill area. Take care not to create aerosols. Place these items into a small cardboard box, thick walled plastic bag, or other container that will prevent them from puncturing the red bag (or your hand). Place the contained sharp items into the red bag for disposal. Do not seal bag.
5. Apply appropriate disinfectant. To avoid creating aerosols, never spray disinfectant directly into spilled material. Instead, gently pour disinfectant on top of paper towels covering the spill or gently flood affected area first around the perimeter of the spill, then work disinfectant slowly into spilled material.
6. Allow several minutes of contact time with disinfectant.
7. Pick-up all absorbent material and place carefully in red bag for disposal. Do not seal red bag.
8. Clean affected area again with disinfectant and new paper towels. Place used paper towels in red bag for disposal. Do not seal red bag.
9. Dry area. Place used paper towels in red bag for disposal. Do not seal red bag.
10. Once spill is completely cleaned, place all used spill control equipment in the red bag for disposal. Do not seal red bag.
11. Remove PPE and place in red bag for disposal. Remove PPE in the following order:
    1. Remove soiled gown.
    2. Remove outer pair of disposable gloves.
    3. Remove face mask and protective eyeware.
    • Do not remove PPE from face with soiled gloves. Remove soiled outer gloves first and place them in the red bag for disposal. Use clean inner glove to remove PPE from face. This prevents the introduction of blood or other potentially infectious material to the mucous membranes of the face via a contaminated glove.
12. Once all used PPE, spill control equipment, and other potentially contaminated items are in the red bag seal bag securely for disposal. See the Policy for Disposal of Biological Waste for information concerning the proper disposal of regulated medical waste at Rutgers University.
13. Wash hands.

Spill of Potentially Infectious Microorganisms

A. Spills Within the Biosafety Cabinet

When an infectious material is spilled within the biosafety cabinet it should be cleaned-up immediately by the individual performing the work. If the cabinet is certified and working properly (and not overfilled with lab equipment which limits the cabinet's air flow) there is little risk of aerosolization of the material into the general laboratory environment.

When cleaning and decontaminating a spill within a biosafety cabinet care should be taken not to move hands and arms into and out of the cabinet unnecessarily. This action creates turbulence that reduces the laminar air flow characteristics and effectiveness of the biosafety cabinet. A suitable disinfectant and laboratory wipes should always be available within the cabinet or on the supply cart or table directly adjacent to the biosafety cabinet. Additionally, employees working with potentially infectious microorganisms must wear adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).

To effectively clean and decontaminate a spill within the biosafety cabinet:

1. With cabinet running, cover affected area immediately with lab wipes or other available absorbent material.
2. Using a prepared spray bottle of a disinfectant appropriate for the material being worked with, gently spray disinfectant on top of covered spill.
3. Allow sufficient contact time.
4. Pick-up absorbent material and place in small autoclave bag inside biosafety cabinet. Do not seal bag.
5. Clean affected area again with disinfectant. If chlorine bleach is used, the affected area should be cleaned one final time with 70% Ethanol. the chlorine bleach will pit and corrode the stainless steel work area inside the biosafety cabinet.
6. Place sealed bag in biohazardous waste receptacle.

B. Spills Outside of the Biosafety Cabinet

Spills of infectious agents, especially those requiring biosafety level 2 containment or higher, outside the biosafety cabinet present a considerable risk of infection to laboratory workers. The laboratory in which the spill occurs should be vacated immediately by all occupants. Any laboratory worker requiring medical attention should be escorted to University Health Services for medical evaluation and treatment. The laboratory supervisor should report the spill to REHS as soon as possible.

The laboratory should remain vacant for at least 30 minutes. This allows aerosolized droplets to settle and the building's ventilation system to exhaust droplets which are airborne to the external environment. In some instances (e.g., buildings with recirculating ventilation systems) the ventilation system servicing the affected portion of the building may need to be shut down to prevent the dissemination of contamination.

In general, the steps taken to clean and decontaminate spills of an infectious agent outside the biological safety cabinet are identical to those taken when cleaning spills of blood and other potentially infectious material. Additional precautions may need to be taken depending on the particular properties of the spilled agent as well as the volume of the spill. A more thorough discussion of the cleaning and decontamination of spills of infectious material in laboratories may be found in the biosafety section of the Rutgers University Health and Safety Manual.

Personal Contamination

1. Remove any contaminated clothing or protective equipment.
2. If skin has been contaminated, wash with soap and warm water.
3. If eyes have been splashed, rinse under running water (eyewash or faucet) for at least 15 minutes.
4. Contact Rutgers Police at 6-9-1-1 if medical attention is needed.
5. Tell your supervisor what happened, and visit Occupational Health Services at Hurtado Health Center for follow-up care.

List of Practical Disinfectants

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Injuries

REMOVE the injured person from the area of danger if possible. Treat for shock by keeping warm and lying down.

CALL Campus Police.

UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM: Do not enter the area of danger. A lethal gas or hidden hazard may be present.

CHEMICAL SPLASH:

Eyes: Flush eyes with drench hose or eyewash for 30 minutes
Body: Remove clothing and use safety shower.

ELECTRICAL INJURY: Avoid direct contact with the victim. Disconnect the power source if it is safe to do so. Move the victim away from the power source with a nonconductive material such as a rope or board.

FIRST AID and CPR: Administer first aid, artificial respiration and CPR only if trained to do so.

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Contacts