91Ô­´´

Worksites must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition by the Campus Unit. The Campus Unit will determine and implement an appropriate written schedule for cleaning and method of decontamination based upon the location within the facility, type of surface to be cleaned, type of soil present, and tasks or procedures being performed in the area.

General Housekeeping Requirements:

• All equipment, environmental surfaces, and working surfaces will be cleaned and decontaminated after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
• Contaminated work surfaces will be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after completion of procedures; immediately or as soon as feasible when surfaces are overtly contaminated or after any spill of potentially infectious materials; and at the end of the work shift if the surface may have become contaminated since the last cleaning.
• Protective coverings, such as plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or imperviously-backed absorbent paper used to cover equipment and environmental surfaces, will be removed and replaced as soon as feasible when they become overtly contaminated or at the end of the work shift if they may have become contaminated during the shift.
• All bins, pails, cans, and similar receptacles intended for reuse which have a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with potentially infectious materials will be inspected and decontaminated on a regularly scheduled basis and cleaned and decontaminated immediately or as soon as feasible upon visible contamination. List any inspection and decontamination procedures in the customized ECP.
• Broken glassware which may be contaminated will not be picked up directly with the hands. It will be cleaned up using mechanical means, such as a brush and dust pan, tongs, or forceps.
• Reusable sharps that are contaminated with potentially infectious materials will not be stored or processed in a manner that requires employees to reach by hand into the containers where these sharps have been placed.
• Acceptable disinfectant solutions include:
  1. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) – The solution must be 10-15% by volume household bleach in water (for example 1 cup of household bleach mixed with 9 cups of water for a 10% solution). The solution must be dated when made and used within 24 hours. Bleach solutions are only recommended for laboratory use. More concentrated bleach solutions are not necessary, as they do not increase the disinfectant properties of the solution.
  2. Chemical agents that have an EPA registration number – These chemicals must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. These products are recommended for all applications outside of a laboratory.
  3. Other chemical solutions – These may be acceptable in the laboratory, see the Biosafety Manual for specific information related to disinfecting agents applicable to the potentially infectious material in use.

8.0 Sharps and Waste Handling

See the 91Ô­´´ Biosafety Manual for Regulated/Infectious waste disposal methods.

8.1 Contaminated Sharps

Contaminated sharps will be discarded immediately or as soon as feasible in containers that are: closable, puncture resistant, leakproof on sides and bottom; and labeled or color-coded in accordance with section 13.0.

During use, containers for contaminated sharps will be: easily accessible to personnel and located as close as is feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used or can be reasonably anticipated to be found (e.g., laundries); maintained upright throughout use; and replaced routinely and not be allowed to overfill.

When moving containers of contaminated sharps from the area of use, the containers will be: closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; and placed in a secondary container if leakage is possible. The second container will be: closable, constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping; and labeled or color-coded according section 13.0.

Reusable containers will not be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually or in any other manner which would expose employees to the risk of percutaneous injury.

8.2 Regulated Waste

Regulated waste will be placed in containers which are: closable, constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping, labeled or color-coded in accordance with section 13.0; and closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.

If outside contamination of the regulated waste container occurs, it will be placed in a second container. The second container will be closable, constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping; labeled or color-coded in accordance with section 13.0; and closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping.

9.0 Laundry

Contaminated laundry will be handled as little as possible with a minimum of agitation. Contaminated laundry will be bagged or containerized at the location where it was used and will not be sorted or rinsed in the location of use. Contaminated laundry will be placed and transported in bags or containers labeled or color-coded in accordance with section 13.0.

Whenever contaminated laundry is wet and presents a reasonable likelihood of soak-through or leakage from the bag or container, the laundry will be placed and transported in bags or containers which prevent soak-through and/or leakage of fluids to the exterior.

The employer will ensure that employees who have contact with contaminated laundry wear protective gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment.

When a facility ships contaminated laundry off-site to a second facility, the generating facility must place such laundry in bags or containers which are labeled or color-coded in accordance with section 13.0.

10.0 Additional Procedures For Laboratories

All laboratories are directed to the Biosafety Manual for additional procedures, particularly Standard Microbiological Practices.

Laboratories that work directly with the culture, production, concentration, experimentation, or manipulation of HIV or HBV, must follow the additional BBP program procedures.