Biological Safety FAQs
According to OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, individuals who are exposed to bloodborne pathogens within the work place are required to attend bloodborne pathogen training. OSHA defines “occupational exposure” as reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane or parenteral contact with human blood, non-human primates or other potentially infectious material during the course of employment. Individuals who share equipment used for potentially infectious materials are classified as occupationally exposed.
No. However, written verification of attendance must be given to Yale’s Biosafety Officer and training must be current (within one year).
Yes. As indicated in the CDC/NIH “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories,” bench tops must be decontaminated on a daily basis or after a spill of viable material. The bench must be decontaminated prior to replacing the bench coat.
Yes. Equipment must be decontaminated with a tuberculocidal disinfectant such as 10 percent bleach solution (allow at least 15 minutes contact time). A Biological Safety Equipment Notice Tag must be completed and affixed to the equipment prior to it being discarded or serviced.
NOTE: Bleach is very corrosive to most metal surfaces, including stainless steel. Equipment should be wiped down with water or 70 percent ethanol to prevent pitting of the surface after decontaminating with bleach.
Needleboxes can be picked up free of charge from the KBT stockroom, 350 Edwards Chemistry stockroom, SHM stockroom or West Campus Resource Center stockroom.
Most of the autoclave rooms in the medical school will have the boxes and bags. You are free to take some from any of these areas. EHS restocks each autoclave room once every five working days.
Call 203-432-6545 and someone will remove your cart as soon as possible and replace it with an empty cart. Please do not leave waste on the floor or stack on top of the full cart.
All biological and chemical waste tags can be found in either the SHM, KBT or West Campus Resource Center stockrooms. All radioactive waste requests are submitted through EHS Integrator. When you submit a request, the system automatically generates a completed waste tag to attach to waste containers.
Biological safety is the scientific discipline devoted to the protection of individuals, agriculture and the environment from potentially harmful microorganisms and other biological agents. Biosafety is accomplished through the use of risk assessment and the application of work practices, protective equipment and exposure control.