Emergency Response

All biomedical laboratories should establish internal emergency procedures taking into account the types of hazardous materials located in the laboratory. At this site you will find the information needed to address biological hazards. Once the lab’s internal emergency procedures are developed it is recommended that all labs / departments conduct drills on a regular basis using their written procedures to ensure all employees understand them.

Most incidents will not involve exposures and the materials can simply be cleaned up. To aid in planning for clean-up of biological substances please refer to the BSC (Biological Safety Cabinet) Spill Clean-up Procedure and Biological Spill Clean-up Procedure for BSL-1 & BSL-2 Labs. Spill clean-up procedures are also found under Documents and Forms.

• BSC Spill Clean-up Procedure
• Biological Spill Clean-up Procedure for BSL-1 & BSL-2 Labs

If it is known or suspected that an individual has become exposed to a biological material that could cause human disease it is important to get immediate medical attention.

• Exposure Incident Follow-up, Investigation & Reporting

When accidents or incidents occur, emergency responders (e.g., Albuquerque Fire Rescue) may be called to respond. When emergency responders arrive, they need to know as much information about the lab as possible. Remain in the area until they arrive if it is safe to do so, because you may have information that could help them. It’s best to ensure the lab has Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDSs)/Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) readily available either outside or immediately inside the entrance door. PSDSs/SDSs also help medical providers in determining appropriate follow-up care after an exposure. All PSDSs/SDSs files should be updated regularly when new hazardous materials are added to the lab.