TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Biohazard Incidents and Lessons Learned
- Proper use of bleach for decontamination
- Wear appropriate PPE
- Balancing Centrifuge
- Securing Samples inside the Shaker
2. New Inspections Management Module
3. Wash Bottle or Spray Bottle for Biosafety Cabinets
4. Review the Biosafety Permit You are Listed on
5. New Biohazard Warning Sigange Requirement
6. Reminder: Biosafety Emergency Response Refresher Training
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1. Biohazard Incidents and Lessons Learned
a. Fresh Bleach for Decontamination: A spill in the lab was cleaned with 10% bleach solution stored in the spill kit. The solution was prepared several years ago. Because of its oxidizing power, diluted bleach loses potency quickly and should be made fresh and used within the same day it is prepared. Hence the decontamination was not achieved and the clean-up was repeated with a freshly prepared bleach solution.
Undiluted household bleach has a shelf life of six months to one year from the date of manufacture, after which it degrades at a rate of 20% each year until degraded to salt and water, and a 1:10 bleach solution has a shelf life of 24 hours.
b. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): A student in the teaching lab was standing next to a colleague who was cleaning the contaminated plates. The student doing the cleaning was wearing PPE but the student standing next to them was not. A small drop of liquid flew up from the sink into her left eye/left eyelash as there was no eye protection.
This reminds the importance of wearing appropriate PPE when in the lab where hazardous substances are stored and handled.
c. Balance the Centrifuge: The centrifuge machine made a loud banging noise while in use for DNA extraction. When the machine stopped there was an error message indicating "Misbalance" and metal shavings throughout the inside. The machine was damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, all the broken parts were contained inside the centrifuge.
For a centrifuge to run smoothly and safely at its operating speed, the load it carries must be balanced. Even though a minor imbalance does not cause significant problems, it can still have a detrimental effect on the sample quality and separation process.
c. Secure Flasks on the Shaker: A culture flask inside the shaker fell over spilling the content. The review of the incident revealed that the flask was not secured properly on the shaker.
Before installing flask clamps, check whether a flexible spring must first be installed. If your clamps require a spring, it must be used, because without it the flask will not be secured. After attaching the springs, install the clamps onto the platform using the manufacturer-provided instructions and parts. Different shakers and flask clamps require 1–5 screws, and some require nuts and/or washers, so be sure to use all of the necessary components for your model. Using fewer than the recommended number of screws and nuts will increase the risk of the flask clamp dislodging from the platform, causing damage to your flask and samples.
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2. New Inspections Management Module
EHS is excited to announce the launch of a new Inspections Management module as part of our existing ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Safety Management System (SMS) on the Safety Spectrum web-based platform. This user-friendly web-based platform will allow users to perform and record workplace inspections in real-time, access historical data, and monitor trends. It will help make inspections more collaborative, facilitate the tracking of corrective actions and improve record-keeping.
EHS is currently using the new module for radioisotope and biosafety lab inspections. The module is also being piloted with the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences and a few local health & safety committees. A full launch of the new module is planned for late Spring. Additional information is available here.
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3. Wash Bottle or Spray Bottle for Biosafety Cabinets
Using spray bottles filled with 10% bleach and 70% ethanol is a common practice to decontaminate the biosafety cabinets. When the spray bottle is used, the solvent vapour concentrations will be re-circulated in the hood. Spraying disinfectants, specifically bleach, allows more of the chemical to get into parts of the cabinet that you cannot access, leading to potential corrosion and recirculation back into the room. The aerosol bleach droplets created by the spray bottle are not always cleaned up correctly with the ethanol. Over time, the missed droplets cause a cloudy white film, pitting, and corroding in the biosafety cabinet.
Internal damage is also done to the motor and windings when spray bottles are used in biosafety cabinets. The aerosols of both bleach and ethanol are drawn up into the cabinet and over time will eat away the lacquer that covers the open motor wiring. Once the protective lacquer is gone, the exposed wires will short out. Wash bottles are recommended for bleach and ethanol use in the biosafety cabinet.
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4. Review the Biosafety Permit You are Listed on
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV students and staff handling biohazardous substances are listed on one or more biosafety permits issued to their principal investigator (PI). The biosafety permit has information about the safe handling and disposal requirements. The lab members working under the permit must comply with the requirements detailed on the permit. The permit can be accessed at . Please review the permit you are listed on. The research team member has read-only access to the permit. Only the PI and a designate can edit the permit.
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5. New Biohazard Signage Requirement
As per the updated requirement of Canadian Biosafety Standard 3rd Edition, biohazard warning signage posted at the entry point of the containment zone (Containment Level 2 and above) must include the following:
a) International biohazard warning symbol;
b) containment level;
c) required PPE;
d) entry requirements, if applicable; and
e) emergency contact information.
Here is an example of a signage. All Containment Level 2 labs are required to post this signage. A PDF copy of the customizable signage is available on the EHS webpage here.
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Similarly, in areas where RG2 or higher samples are stored outside the containment zone, biohazard warning signage must:
a) be posted at points of entry to these areas or on equipment in which regulated materials are stored;
b) include the international biohazard warning symbol;
c) include the risk group of the regulated materials; and
d) include emergency contact information.
Here is an example of signage. This signage must be posted on all storage equipment or point of entry to the storage room. A PDF copy of the customizable signage is available on the EHS webpage here.
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6. Reminder: Biosafety Emergency Response Refresher Training
To comply with regulatory requirements and to prepare for emergencies, researchers working with biohazardous materials must complete the "Biosafety Emergency Response Refresher Training" annually. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to confirm that research staff and students have completed this annual refresher training. Register for training here.
This online module is intended to provide an overview of the ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Biosafety Emergency Response Procedures (ERP). The emergency procedures provided in the course have been adapted from the Campus-Wide ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Emergency Response Procedures. This training covers building safety, emergency response procedures, spill response, and incident reporting.
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About EHS
The Environmental Health & Safety department provides educational, technical and advisory services to the ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV community by working collaboratively with academic, research and service units to minimize and mitigate safety, health and environmental risks.
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