Environmental Health and Safety

Training Program Schedule

The following training programs are required by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for all employees who work with hazardous substances including: chemicals, human blood, blood products, fluids, and human tissue specimens. These programs are presented by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS). Attendance is required at one or more session, depending upon the employee's potential exposures.

Laboratory Safety (Chemical Hygiene Training): Provides a comprehensive introduction to laboratory safety practices and procedures at Penn and familiarizes the laboratory employee with the Chemical Hygiene Plan. This course is designed for employees who have not previously attended Laboratory Safety at the University. Required for all University employees who work in laboratories.

September 11 10:30-11:30 a.m. John Morgan Lecture Room B

October 3 1:30- 2:30 p.m. John Morgan Lecture Room B

Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens: This course provides significant information for employees who have a potential exposure to human bloodborne pathogens. Topics include a discussion of the Exposure Control Plan, free Hepatitis B vaccination, recommended work practices, engineering controls and emergency response This course is designed for employees who have not previously attended Bloodborne Pathogens training at the University. Required for all University employees potentially exposed to human blood or blood products, human body fluids, and/or human tissue.

September 19 10:30-11:30 a.m. John Morgan Class of 1962

October 22 1:30-2:30 p.m. John Morgan Lecture Room B

Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens (in a clinical setting): Required for all University faculty and staff who have potential clinical exposures to blood and other human source material. It is intended for employees with direct patient contact, or those who handle clinical specimens, and administrators who routinely work in a clinical environment. Topics include: risks, protection, work practice controls and emergency procedures. This course is designed for employees who have not previously attended Bloodborne Pathogens training at the University.

September 26 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stemmler Hall Room 104

October 14 11:30-12:30 a.m. Stemmler Hall Room 104

Laboratory Safety--Annual Update: This program is required annually for all laboratory employees who have previously attended Chemical Hygiene Training. Topics include chemical risk assessment, recommended work practices, engineering controls and personal protection as well as an update of waste disposal and emergency procedures. Faculty and staff who work with human source materials, HIV or hepatitis viruses must attend the Laboratory Safety and Bloodborne PathogensAnnual Update (see course description).

September 12 1:30-2:30 p.m. John Morgan Lecture Room B

October 10 10:30-11:30 a.m. John Morgan Class of 1962

Laboratory Safety and Bloodborne Pathogens--Annual Update: This program is required annually for all faculty and staff who work with human source material, HIV or hepatitis viruses and have previously attended Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. Issues in general laboratory safety and bloodborne pathogens are discussed. Topics include bloodborne diseases, risk assessment, recommended work practices, engineering controls and personal protection as well as an update of waste disposal and emergency procedures. Participation in Laboratory SafetyAnnual Update is not required if this program is attended.

September 24 1:30-2:30 p.m. John Morgan Lecture Room B

October 17 10:30-11:30 a.m. John Morgan Lecture Room B

Attendees are requested to bring their PENNcards to facilitate course sign in. Additional programs will be offered on a monthly basis during the fall. Check OEHS web site (http://www.oehs.upenn.edu) for dates and time.

If you have any questions, please call Bob Leonzio at 898-4453.

Updating Penn's Exposure Control Plan

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that the University's Exposure Control Plan be reviewed and updated annually. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) reviewed the University's Exposure Control Plan and an updated version of the plan is now available. Principal Investigators/Area Supervisors who have completed Appendix C of their existing Exposure Control Plan should obtain a copy of the new plan and update Appendix C. Copies of the University's Exposure Control Plan are available at the OEHS web site, http://www.oehs.upenn.edu, or by calling OEHS at 898-4453.

The Exposure Control Plan includes recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on reducing the risk of tuberculosis transmission in health care settings. It also establishes practices and procedures to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

The updated plan must be readily accessible in the workplace to all employees who work with human source materials and other potentially infectious materials that may transmit bloodborne diseases. This includes but is not limited to Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, non-A non-B hepatitis virus(es), Human T-cell Lymphotrophic Virus type I, syphilis, malaria, babesia, brucella, leptospira, arboviruses, relapsing fever, Creutzsfeld-Jakob Disease agent and viral hemorrhagic fever.

Safe and Effective Use of Autoclaves

The use of an autoclave is a very effective way to decontaminate infectious waste. Autoclaves work by killing microbes with superheated steam. Recently, there have been several accidents involving the use of autoclaves on campus. In an effort to raise user awareness in the University community, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety offers the following safety tips:

  1. Do not put sharp or pointed contaminated objects into an autoclave bag. Place them in an appropriate rigid sharps disposal container.

  2. Use caution when handling an infectious waste autoclave bag, in case sharp objects were inadvertently placed in the bag. Never lift a bag from the bottom to load it into the chamber. Handle the bag from the top.

  3. Do not overfill an autoclave bag. Steam and heat cannot penetrate as easily to the interior of a densely packed autoclave bag. Frequently the outer contents of the bag will be treated but the innermost part will be unaffected.

  4. Do not overload an autoclave. An overpacked autoclave chamber does not allow efficient steam distribution. Considerably longer sterilization times may be required to achieve decontamination if an autoclave is tightly packed.

  5. Conduct autoclave sterility testing on a regular basis using appropriate biological indicators (B. stearothermophilus spore strips) to monitor efficacy. Use indicator tape with each load to verify it has been autoclaved.

  6. Do not mix contaminated and clean items together during the same autoclave cycle. Clean items generally require shorter decontamination times (15-20 minutes) while a bag of infectious waste (24" x 36") typically requires 45 minutes to an hour to be effectively decontaminated throughout.

  7. Always wear personal protective equipment, including heat-resistant gloves, safety glasses and a lab coat when operating an autoclave. Use caution when opening the autoclave door. Allow superheated steam to exit before attempting to remove autoclave contents.

    8. Be on the alert when handling pressurized containers. Superheated liquids may spurt from closed containers. Never seal a liquid container with a cork or stopper. This could cause an explosion inside the autoclave.

  8. Agar plates will melt and the agar will become liquefied when autoclaved. Avoid contact with molten agar. Use a secondary tray to catch any potential leakage from an autoclave bag rather than allowing it to leak onto the floor of the autoclave chamber.

  9. If there is a spill inside the autoclave chamber, allow the unit to cool before attempting to clean up the spill. If glass breaks in the autoclave, use tongs, forceps or other mechanical means to recover fragments. Do not use bare or gloved hands to pick up broken glassware.

  10. Do not to leave an autoclave operating unattended for a long period of time. Always be sure someone is in the vicinity while an autoclave is cycling in case there is a problem.

Autoclaves should be placed under preventive maintenance contracts to ensure they are operating properly. If you have any questions about maintenance and use of autoclaves, please contact OEHS at 898-4453, email: oehs@oehs.upenn.edu.

Almanac

Volume 43 Number 2
September 3, 1996

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