How to Clean up a Blood Spill

Summary

This video provides a step-by-step guide on how to properly clean up large spills of blood and other infectious materials in a laboratory. It covers the essential safety precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, lab coats, and face protection. The process involves isolating the area, handling sharps with care, disinfecting the spill, and ensuring the materials remain in contact with the disinfectant for at least 15 minutes. After the cleanup, proper disposal and decontamination steps are outlined, with a focus on reducing contamination risks and ensuring the safety of all personnel.

Takeaways

• 😀 Immediately remove contaminated clothing if splashed with infectious material and dispose of it as biomedical waste or autoclave it.
• 😀 Inform those nearby of the spill and evacuate the area, waiting for 30 minutes for aerosols to settle.
• 😀 Assemble necessary spill cleanup materials and put on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• 😀 For large spills, wear eye, nose, and mouth protection, a lab coat, two pairs of gloves, and disposable shoe covers.
• 😀 Use tongs, a dustpan, or cardboard to carefully pick up sharps and dispose of them in a Sharps container—never use hands.
• 😀 Place absorbent materials on the spill and add disinfectant, usually a 10:1 dilution of bleach, ensuring contact for at least 15 minutes.
• 😀 Clean surrounding contamination with disinfectant-soaked paper towels, always using tongs in case sharps are encountered.
• 😀 After 15 minutes, dispose of disinfectant-soaked absorbent materials in a biomedical waste bag or Sharps container.
• 😀 Absorb residual disinfectant with paper towels and dispose of them safely after cleaning the area.
• 😀 For high-risk blood spills or infectious agents, absorbent materials should cover sharps before applying disinfectant and disposal should occur in a Sharps container.
• 😀 After cleanup, spray the area with disinfectant and let it air dry, then carefully remove PPE and wash hands thoroughly.

Q & A

What should you do if you are splashed with infectious material during a spill?

Immediately remove all contaminated clothing and dispose of them as biomedical waste or autoclave them. Inform those nearby to leave the area.

How long should you wait before cleaning up a spill to allow aerosols to settle?

You should wait for 30 minutes to allow aerosols to settle before starting the cleanup process.

What protective equipment is necessary for cleaning up a large spill?

For large spills, you should wear eye, nose, and mouth protection, a lab coat, two pairs of gloves, and disposable shoe covers.

What method should you use to pick up sharps during a spill cleanup?

Use tongs, a dustpan, or pieces of cardboard to pick up sharps. Never use your hands.

What should be done to disinfect a spill?

Place absorbent materials over the spill, then add a disinfectant (usually a 10:1 dilution of freshly prepared bleach solution). Ensure it remains in contact with the spill for at least 15 minutes.

How should you handle the absorbent materials used to clean the spill?

After using absorbent materials, dispose of them in a biomedical waste bag or Sharps container, depending on the nature of the spill.

What should you do if the spill involved high-risk blood or infectious material?

If the spill involves high-risk blood or infectious agents, place the absorbent material over the sharps, disinfect, and dispose of both the sharps and absorbent materials in a Sharps container.

How do you clean up any visible contamination found around the spill?

Soak some paper towels with disinfectant and clean any visible contamination around the spill. Always use tongs to avoid direct contact with sharps.

What should you do once the area has been cleaned of visible contamination?

Spray the area with disinfectant and allow it to air dry.

What steps should you follow to remove personal protective equipment after cleaning the spill?

Remove your personal protective equipment by starting with the shoe covers, followed by outer gloves, sleeves (if worn), lab coat, inner gloves, and face protection.

What is the final step after cleaning up the spill and removing personal protective equipment?

Always wash your hands thoroughly after removing your personal protective equipment. Inform others that they can return to work now that the spill has been safely cleaned up.