EMERGENCY PLANS The following emergency procedures are recommended if there is fire, explosions, or other laboratory accidents. These procedures are intended to limit injuries and minimizes damage if an accident should occur. Entry of all people (i.e., EMT, MICT, fire, police, clean-up crew, etc.) into facility must be made aware of and be able to recognize any specific biohazards of the facility. The Principal Investigator is the responsible individual to assure this is done. Emergency Plans must be written and included in your Biosafety Manual. The plan must be annually reviewed for the following: Update your Alert and Notification rosters; new phone/cell phone numbers, addresses, staff members. Ensure that your assigned key personnel for disasters review their responsibilities and functions Review your Evacuation Plans and ensure you have identified the people with special needs. These special needs people will be the first to be released from work Review plans that will sustain research projects until regeneration of power occurs Review plans to notify your employees of the danger that could occur. Those responsible for designated shelters will review their plans in the event of a evacuation. GENERAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Render assistance to persons involved and remove them from exposure to further injury if necessary and capable; do not move an injured person not in danger of further harm. Warn personnel in adjacent areas of any potential hazard to their safety. Render immediate first-aid (e.g., beginning resuscitation if breathing has stopped; help washing under a safety shower). In case of fire, call the fire department. Follow local rules for dealing with small fires, e.g., if there are portable extinguishers available and the institution encouraged their use, extinguish the fire. In a medical emergency, summon medical help immediately. Laboratories without medical staff should have personnel trained in first-aid available during working hours. Any lost or missing biological commmodities during an incident must be reported immediately to Biological Safety Program and a written report via the BSP-2 form within a week of the incident. Biological Safety Officer will notify federal and state authority. FIRE AND EXPLOSION The doors to each area in which biological agents are used should be properly labeled with the highest level of physical containment required for work in this area. Each piece of equipment used for storing, processing, or handling viable biological materials should be labeled with the universal biohazard symbol. Each of these items should have emergency telephone numbers attached. In the event of a Fire or Explosion, implement the following in addition to those steps outlined in the site emergency response plan: Place all biohazards material in an incubator, refrigerator, or freezer. Turn off all gas outlets. In the event of a Gas Leak, implement the following in addition to those steps outlined in the site emergency response plan: Control ignition sources. Call Campus Security. Turn off gas if location of valve is known and safe to do so. Follow guidance of Facility. If significant, evacuate and keep people out. ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES NATURAL DISASTER (Floods, Earthquakes, Hurricanes): If as a result of heavy rains or plumbing problems, the potential for flooding of a facility exists, area personnel should take measures to prevent the release of biological materials. Inactivate all cultures that could possibly enter flood waters. Relocate all stock cultures to areas that are not at risk of flooding. In the event of a "hurricane watch," "high surf watch" and "flash flood watch", as announced by the National Weather Service, all active manipulation should cease and prepare for proper storage. Hurricanes, Tsunamis and other natural disaster are dangerous storms and can threaten the safety and operation of research laboratories. Plans should be developed well in advance of a hurricanes, tsunamis and other natural disasters to insure the protection of valuable research equipment, specimens and data. Once a hurricane or tsunami watch is issued, these plans should be implemented in your research areas in preparation for the hurricane or tsunami. Even with backup generators available, researchers should protect their valuable materials in case power, water and climate control go out of service for an extended period of time. Special arrangements may need to be planned to protect and prevent release of radioactive isotopes, biohazardous agents and hazardous chemicals. Here are some tips to help prepare for hurricanes and tsunamis: When a hurricane or tsunami watch is issued, make necessary preparations to suspend ongoing experiments involving biological cultures. When a hurricane warning is issued, implement activities to suspend operations in the laboratory. Plan to shut operations down within three hours of initial hurricane warning. Remember, dont count on the availability of power, water, climate control, or biosafety cabinetry exhaust systems. Due to the possibility of power outages, materials that are volitile, toxic, or pose a respiratory hazard should not be stored in fume hoods or refrigerators but in tightly sealed, impervious and impact-resistant containers. Laboratories with outside windows should develop a secure area for the storage of biological agents. These secure areas should be waterproof and heavy enough to not be affected by the wind. Biological agents should not be stored below ground level during a hurricane or tsunami. Find a secure area above the ground floor levels to secure these materials in case of flooding. Check emergency phone numbers. Update lab personnel phone, pager, and cellular phone numbers. Post these outside your lab and request staff carry them at all times. Keep plastic waterproof containers on hand to store lab notes, research documentation, computer disks, and any other materials that you cannot afford to have damaged. Keep plenty of warning labels appropriate for the hazards of the materials you work with on hand. These may be needed after the hurricane or tsunami. Remember, you must take responsibility to protect your own laboratory. Plan ahead and implement your plan as soon as a hurricane or tsunami watch is issued. Annually perform a laboratory drill to test out your laboratory specific evacuation plan, including meeting location, accounting of all staff, and medical situations. UTILITY EMERGENCIES (Power outages): In most cases, containment of biological materials is not compromised during utility failures provided that facility personnel respond in an appropriate manner. In an electrical failure while using a biological safety cabinet. Discontinue work with the biological material immediately. Seal all cultures securely. Decontaminate the work area with an appropriate disinfectant. REFRIGERATOR, FREEZERS, WALK-IN AND OTHER COLD STORAGE FACILITY These type of equipment must be labeled as to who to contact person and emergency numbers in case of emergency, i.e., freezer breakdown. All biological commodities must be inventoried on an annual basis. Expired and other unwanted material must be decontaminated properly. Materials for long term storage must be annually inspected and each containers must be checked for cracks and other damages and properly disposed of replaced. In the event of a freezer melt-down, all materials that are unable to be salvaged must be properly treated by autoclaving or incineration. Please check with Laboratory Animal Services for incineration procedures. A processing fee, may be assessed. If unable to incinerate please call Building and Grounds for disposal via landfill. A service charge may be assessed. REPORT of LOSS or MISSING BIOLOGICAL COMMODITIES Any lost or missing biological commodities during an incident must be reported immediately to Biological Safety Program and a written report via the BSP-2 form within seven days of the incident. Biological Safety Officer will notify federal and state authority .