Biohazards at CHESS
Emergency Procedures

Spill of virus-containing material

• Larger spill on bench top, table, or floor

  1. Block access to area of spill.

  2. Inform CHESS operator, who will contact cognizant Safety Officer if necessary.

  3. Clean up spill, as above. For a large volume of spilled material, pour additional disinfectant on it after covering area with paper towels.

  4. When cleanup is complete, remove barrier around area and inform operator.

• Small spill on equipment in hutch

  1. Clean up as much as possible, as for spill on bench top.

  2. Position germicidal lamp to illuminate equipment. Turn on lamp and vacate the hutch. Close hutch door and wait about 1 hour for inactivation of all virus.

  3. Turn off and remove lamp.

   

• Larger spill on equipment, or other difficult-to-clean items

  1. Block access to area of spill.

  2. Have CHESS operator contact Safety Officer and/or EH&S for help in cleaning up spill.

Exposure of personnel to virus:

1. Inform CHESS Operator

2. If medical attention is required, contact Gannett Clinic or Cayuga Medical Center.

Emergency contact phone numbers:

Cornell Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S): 5-8200
Cornell Emergency Medical Service: 5-9320
Gannett Clinic: 5-5155
Cayuga Medical Center: 274-4011
Tompkins County Emergency Response: 911