Work with potentially hazardous biological materials often involves special precautions, protocols, facilities, and surveillance requirements. Because of the potential for exposure, all employees need to be aware specific precautions used when working with biohazards. The Biosafety/bloodborne pathogens module of the EHS core training includes a needs assessment to determine the level of training needed. At a minimum, all employees need to take the Universal Precautions part of this training. Lab workers and healthcare workers will be guided to more detailed information.

General safety guidelines to reduce the risk of infection and contamination from biohazards are:

• Prevent the formation of aerosols when working with infectious materials
• Label and post all biohazard rooms, storage areas, and refrigerators
• Follow sterile procedures to protect other employees and to prevent contamination
• Test autoclaves and biosafety cabinets annually
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including lab coat, gloves, and eyewear, when working with biohazards
• Practice good chemical handling procedures when working with biohazards to prevent exposure
• Autoclave or disinfect solid or semisolid biohazard waste, and dispose of in specially marked containers or bags
• Autoclave or incinerate dead animals, animal blood, fluids, tissues, organs, waste, and bedding
• Contain and control human blood and body tissues.
• Decontaminate work surfaces after working with recombinant DNA containing organisms, pathogenic organisms, or any biohazard spill using ethanol, phenol, bleach, or sodium dodecylsulfate-EDTA solutions
• Inactivate biological hazards in mixtures containing hazardous chemicals without increasing the chemical hazards associated with the chemical; autoclaving is not recommended
• Inactivate biological hazards in mixtures containing radioactive materials using a treatment that is compatible with the radioactive material and will not volatize the radioactive component; autoclaving should only be used with the approval of the UNL Radiation Safety Office
• Incinerate or autoclave plants and all materials used in recombinant DNA studies for a sufficient period to inactivate all biological materials
• Biosafety in growth and greenhouse areas where these hazards exist requires the same microbiological practices