Laboratory Emergency Preparedness Prepared by: Mahjoub Labyad, MIS, Public Health Specialist Environmental Health

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LaboratoryEmergency Preparedness Prepared
byMahjoub Labyad, MIS, Public Health
SpecialistEnvironmental Health Safety
Office218-726-7273
University of Minnesota Duluth
Fall 2011
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Program Objectives

• Fulfill regulatory requirements for emergency
  response planning.
• Save life and property, lessen the impact of
  emergencies, and ensure academic and business
  operational continuity.
• Improve employee preparedness response, ensure
  familiarity with the procedures in place.
• Familiarize employee with possible emergency
  scenarios and proper response.

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Program Objectives

• Establish the roles and responsibilities for
  personnel responding to incidents.
• Establish the importance of the Incident Command
  System (ICS).

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Regulatory Requirements

• 29 CFR 1910.38 Standard Emergency Action
• Plan requires employers to provide Emergency
• Preparedness Training to all staff including
• student employees.
• Based on the nature of the workplace and its
• surroundings, the training should discuss all
• possible emergency scenarios

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Regulatory Requirements

• The training should also familiarize employees
  with
• the written plans and at least the following
• Emergency reporting procedure.
• Procedures for emergency evacuation, including
  the type of evacuations and exit routes.
• Procedure to account for employees after an
  evacuation.
• Staff to contact for information about the plan.

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• What Constitutes
• An Emergency or a Disaster?

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An Emergency or a Disaster is

• Any (sudden) event that disrupts the normal lives
  of people or normal operations of a business. 
  Because of its nature, there is an urgent need
  for immediate and coordinated response by trained
  personnel who must function together in a team
  effort.

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Typical Response Agency Timelines
NEWS MEDIA
EOC
FEMA
HAZMAT
FIRE / EMS
LAW ENFORCEMENT
FBI
Call Recd
5 Minutes
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
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Campus/Employee Emergency Notification

• A text messaging system (TEXT-U) is used to
  notify the UMD community members via Cell-phone
  following emergencies. You may sign up for this
  free system at http//www.d.umn.edu/emergency/umd_
  alerts.html
• A Tone Alert Radios (TAR) to broadcast voice
  alert messages to the campus community. Depending
  on the situation, information about the emergency
  and instructions about how to proceed will be
  given. TARs are strategically placed throughout
  campus to ensure maximum coverage.
• Public-Alert/Notification System

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Employee Notification?

• Question
• How do you notify your employees of
• Emergencies?

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Additional Emergency Notification

• Home Page http//www.d.umn.edu/emergencies
• Email
• University Radio (KUMD)
• Local Radio and TV Channels
• Departmental Phone Trees

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Types of Emergencies

• Biological (bacterial, viral, toxin spills,
  exposure, leaks, theft, flu-pandemic, influenza
  etc..)
• Chemical (spill, exposure, leaks , thefts..)
  Bleach
• Fire/explosion (housekeeping, electrical or
  chemical-related)
• Medical/Personal Injuries (work, or
  Health-related i.e. Heart, Diabetes, Allergy
  problems)
• Threats (bombs, weapons use)
• Weather (tornadoes, power outages, flooding)

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• Discussion
• What types of emergencies youve experienced in
  the past as a department or a lab?
• Have you participated in a complete building
  evacuation in the past?
• Do you have a building evacuation Plan?

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Campus Preparedness

• The University has a number of guidelines and
  procedure in place to deal with/ minimize the
  impact of emergencies.
• It is everyones responsibility to become
  familiar with the guidelines and procedures in
  place.

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Plans Policies

• Emergency Operation Plan (DEM) www.dem.umn.edu/pla
  nprepareprevent.html
• Annex R Pandemic Influenza Response
  www.d.umn.edu/emergency/flu/Annex_R_UMD_Pan_Flu.pd
  f
• Contingency Plan for Hazardous Waste Generators
  www.d.umn.edu/ehso/UMD_Contingency_Plan/
• Regents of The University of Minnesota Policy on
  Establishing the National Incident Management
  System at the University policy.umn.edu/Policies/
  Operations/Safety/NIMS.html

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Guidelines Procedures

• Emergency Information Desk Reference
  (http//www.d.umn.edu/ehso/emergencies)
• Building Emergency Evacuation Plan (BEEP)
  (http//www.d.umn.edu/ehso/beep)
• Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) Program
  (http//www.d.umn.edu/ehso/AED)
• UMD Chemical Spill Clean up Guide

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• Preparedness means
• Familiarization with University plans and
• Procedures, and Knowing what to do before,
• during and after an emergency occurs.

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Before Emergencies Occur

• Conduct a Risk Assessment/Job Hazard Analysis to
  eliminate hazards and reduce risk.
• Risk and Hazard Assessment prevents accidents
  and emergency situations, and most importantly it
  is the best way to ensure the safety of all
  employees and preservation of resources

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Before Emergencies Occur

• Planning Risk Assessment
• What are the potential hazards that may cause
  accidents or emergencies? (Chemical exposure,
  Physical hazards, Fire explosion hazards,)
• What could go wrong? (Fire or explosion, chemical
  spills, runaway reactions, personal injury,
  chemical, rad. or biological exposure) ?
• What will you do if it does?
• How can hazards be eliminated risk minimized?

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Before Emergencies Occur

• Develop a response plan, and Know how to report
  incidents and to whom.
• Maintain a department emergency phone trees.
• (post by the phone http//www.d.umn.edu/ehso/post
  )
• Gather response supplies (First Aid Kit,
  Antidote, Spill Kit).
• Share preparedness information with students,
  patients, guests etc at the start of each
  semester.

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Before Emergencies Occur

• Know your buildings Floor Plan and Exits Routes,
  and become familiar with your BEEP Plan and/or
  Evacuation procedure
• Know the location of the emergency response
  equipment and how to use it (i.e. Safety
  Shower/Eyewash, Spill Kit Fire Extinguishers,
  Fire Alarm Pull Station, AED).
• Attend required Emergency Preparedness, Fire
  Extinguisher and other Safety training

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Before Emergencies Occur

• Know how and when to clean up spills if they
  occur, and what are your limitations (see
  UMD-Spill Clean up Guide)
• Know how to Evacuate Safely (see BEEP Plan).
• Know how to respond to medical emergencies

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Before Emergencies (Medical)

• Let someone like a friend, a coworker, or a
  supervisor know if you have a pre-existing
  condition that may result in an emergency.
• Have your medication (inhaler, EpiPen etc)
  available close by.
• Take a CPR class and/or learn how to use the
  provided AED.
• If you witness a medical emergency call 911
  immediately and follow proper response procedure.
  
• Immunize yourself (i.e. take a flu shot) .

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During Emergencies

• Depending on the Emergency, you may be required
  to either
• Evacuate
• Shelter in place,
• Go into a Lockdown, or
• Take some type of action to assist others (CPR,
  First Aid, AED, Call for help, or Clean
  Up a Spill)

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During Emergencies

• Remain calm but do not ignore the alarm
• If you witness the emergency, initiate a
  response! Call 911 to alert emergency responders
  to situations requiring their attention.
• If you are Evacuating, report to your assembly
  point/area by the safest route available (see
  BEEP)
• Assist others with health/physical limitations if
  you are able to, without endangering your safety.
• Walk do not run. Use stairs, do not use
  elevators.

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• Emergency
• Response Procedures

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In Case of Fire

• Attend to injured persons and remove them from
  further harm
• Alert people in the immediate area to evacuate
• Activate the fire alarm or call the emergency
  response number (911)
• Close doors to confine the hazard
• Evacuate to a safe area.

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In Case of Spills

• Alert others in the area of the incident, and
  direct them to nearest exit.
• Block all entrances to deny access and prevent
  others from entering the contaminated area.
• Close fire doors, isolate, the spill and post the
  lab/area with a "Caution Spill" sign
• Do not re-enter a spill area without proper
  protective equipment.  You may endanger your life
  and health.
• Assemble spill clean up Kit and protective gear
  if necessary
• Report spill to EHS or 911

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Chemical Spills

• Review MSDS of the spilled substance.
• Obtain additional information form EHS on how to
  proceed safely.
• Put on necessary protective equipment (PPE) such
  as gloves, lab coat, face shield or goggles.
• Clean up the spill, collect contaminated
  material, label collected material and dispose as
  hazardous waste.

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Chemical Spill Cleanup
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Biological Spill

• Alert others, and report the spill to EHS
  726-7273
• Leave the area immediately and restrict access to
  the spill area.
• Allow aerosols to settle for at least 10 min.
• Remove contaminated clothing and place in a
  biohazard bag. Use safety Shower or Eyewash to
  rinse contaminant.
• Put on clean gloves, booties and face mask prior
  to reentering the lab.
• Place absorbent pads on the spilled material and
  spray with a disinfectant or a bleach solution.
• Wait for few minutes (20 min) then finish the
  cleanup.

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Biological Spill Cleanup
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In Case of Exposure

• Remove all contaminated clothing (glove, lab
  coat, etc.) and place in a biohazard (autoclave)
  bag.
• If contaminated skin or open wounds, wash
  affected area vigorously with mild soap and
  water.
• If contact with mucous membrane wash with copious
  amounts of water, flush eyes for at least 15 min.
• In case of (inhalation or inoculation) seek
  medical help immediately.
• If agent necessitate taking antidote,
  take/administer appropriate dose immediately.
• Inform your supervisor, and EHS of the incident.

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In Case of Exposure
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During Emergencies

• Follow official instructions given by your
  building coordinators or emergency response
  personnel.
• If you are SHELTERING IN PLACE, (i.e. turnados,
  large chemical spills outside) stay inside the
  building, within your work area, or any safe
  place.
• If applicable, make sure doors and windows are
  closed/locked (for both chemical or physical
  threat situation) to reduce your exposure to
  threats (i.e. chemical vapors, odors and fume
  intrusion)

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During Emergencies

• If you are in a LOCKDOWN situation, lock the
  doors to deny entry, and barricade yourself if
  necessary
• Turn lights off, silence electronic devices, and
  remain quiet.
• Spread within the room and hide behind furniture.
• Remain quiet and wait for further directions from
  emergency response (Police Dept.) personnel.
• At the moment, the University Doesnt have a
  Lockdown Policy

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• Lockdown
• Preventing Mass Casualty Shooting

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After an emergency

• Wait for instructions from Public Safety,
  Emergency Personnel, or Building Emergency
  Coordinators.
• Up-to-date information concerning the status of
  the emergency will be communicated through
  available media resources.

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After an emergency

• Depending on the situation, safe facilities and
  critical personnel will be designated to carry on
  operations on a limited basis
• Alternate facilities will be established, if
  necessary.
• Normal campus operations will resume as soon as
  possible following stabilization of the emergency.

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Emergency Response Personnel
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Building Emergency Coordinators (Volunteers)

• During emergencies requiring evacuation,
  Building Emergency Coordinators (see BEEP) will
• Assist with building evacuation
• Guide building occupants to emergency assembly
  areas/points
• Account for evacuated employees
• Help people needing assistance to evacuate
• Building Emergency Coordinators may carry flags
  for easy identification by students and staff at
  assembly points.
• Further info at http//www.d.umn.edu/ehso/beep

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Response Personnel

• Have you appointed or asked anyone
• to volunteer as a responder?
• Roles
• Shutting down equipment
• Ensuring everyone evacuates
• Accounting for evacuated employees.
• Ensuring business continuity (critical Personnel).

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Campus Emergency Response Personnel

• UMD Police Department sworn police officers
  highly trained in rapid response to unfolding
  emergencies. The department is here to protect
  and serve the campus community and adjacent
  neighborhood 24 hours a day.
• To contact the UMD PD. Call 911 or 9-911 (24
  hrs/day)and Request University Police
• Facilities Management726-8262 (Mon.-Fri. 8
  a.m.-430 p.m.)After hours (726-8147, 726-7007
  or 348-4748) For custodial services and utility
  problems
• Environmental Health Safetyext 7273
  (Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-430 p.m.) General Safety
• or 343-9645 For chemical, biological,
  Radioactive spills, or radiation exposure and
  exposure to toxic fumes

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Critical Personnel

• Are designated staff with critical roles in
• responding to and dealing with a particular
• aspect of the disaster in order to stabilize
• the emergency, and to ensure business and
• academic continuity, and a prompt return to
• normal operations.

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• Additional
• Personal Preparedness

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Disaster Supply Kits

• Personal preparedness is essential. In a major
  disaster, it might be several days before vital
  services are restored. Personal supply kits
  should be adjusted based on personal needs.
• Suggested supplies include
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-powered radio
• Non-perishable food
• Water
• Medications
• First Aid Supplies
• Warm/Weather resistant cloths, and/or blankets
• Disaster Supply Kits for individual,
  departmental, or family preparedness are
  available from a variety of sources and/or Safety
  supply vendors. You can also make your own Kit.

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UMD Emergency Preparedness

• For additional information please visit
• http//www.d.umn.edu/ehso/EPR.html
• Thank you