STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
SOP No:
School/Department:
Supervisor/Manager:
Process
School of Biological Sciences
GMO Spill procedure in a PC2 laboratory
Section 1 - Procedure
1. All laboratory staff must be trained and be competent in the clean up/decontamination of
work surfaces and spills in a PC2 laboratory;
2. GMOs spills must be reported to your supervisor immediately. Make sure other staff working in
the immediate area are warned about the spill;
3. All spills are to be assumed to contain potentially infectious material and the area must be
vacated for at least 30 minutes to allow any aerosol particles to settle;
4. Report all spills to your supervisor and any external spills outside the PC2 laboratory to Jenny
Dawkins (Biosafety Officer, OHSIM, K07), ext 14126
Section 2 – Potential Hazards
1. Infection;
2. Irritation;
3. Eye splash
Section 3 – Personal Protective Equipment
1. Gloves;
2. Lab Gown (back fastening) with full-length sleeves;
3. Safety glasses or goggles;
4. Face mask or respirator classified P1(for Risk group 1 microorganisms) or P2 (Risk group 2
microorganisms)
5. PC2 spill kit (containing absorbent pads/towelling, disinfectant, gloves, goggles, face masks,
contaminated waste bag, long forceps if broken glass involved etc)
Section 4 – Handling, Storage and Disposal Requirements
1. Ensure contaminated objects and materials are placed into the biohazard bag for appropriate
decontamination or hazardous waste disposal;
Section 5 – Spill and Accident Procedure
1. Contain the spill with absorbent towels placed around the spill;
2. Soak extra absorbent towelling with freshly made sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution (1.0%
available chlorine: for a 4% bleach stock take 25 mls of bleach stock and dilute to 100ml);
3. Cover the spill with this towelling and allow the bleach to soak into the spill and decontaminate
for 20-30 minutes;
4. Then carefully wipe surrounding surfaces likely to have been contaminated with aerosols using
towelling soaked with bleach solution;
5. Carefully wipe up the spillage with the soaked towelling and transfer all contaminated material
into a plastic biohazard bag provided in the Spill Kit.
Section 6 – Decontamination Procedures
1. The generated waste and non-disposable contaminated gowns (if any) should be autoclaved
in accordance with the GMO waste disposal SOP. Warning: Hypochlorite solutions should not
be autoclaved.
2. Remove gloves, gown, safety glasses and face mask/respirator and wash hands thoroughly.
Section 7 - Material safety data sheets (to be available and accessible)
1. Sodium hypochlorite; Chlorine;
2. Microorganisms/GMOs involved
Section 8 - References
1. OHSIM (www.usyd.edu.au/ohs) website;
2. AS/NZS 2243.1:2005 – Safety in Laboratories: Planning and Operational Aspects;
3. AS/NZS 2243.3:2002 – Safety in Laboratories: Microbiological aspects and containment facilities;
4. AS/NZS 2243.10:2004 – Safety in Laboratories: Storage of Chemicals;
5. AS/NZS 2647:2000 – Biological safety cabinets: Installation and use.
6. OGTR Guidelines for Certification of a Physical Containment Level 2 Laboratory (Version 3.1)
http://www.ogtr.gov.au/rtf/certification/PC2LABv3-1-1.rtf
Issue date:
Review date:
Page 1 of 2
OHS Consultation and Approval
(Ensure this section is completed and copied onto rear of SOP)
(Completion Instructions)
Print names and enter signatures and dates to certify that the persons named in this
section have been consulted/trained in relation to the development and
implementation of this Standard Operating Procedure. Note that the OHS
Representative (OHS Committee) certifies that consultation has taken place, and
may not be involved in the original consultation.
Position
Name
Signature
Date
Manager/
Supervisor
First employee
using SOP
Second employee
using SOP (if
applicable)
Third employee
using SOP (if
applicable)
OHS
Representative
(OHS Committee)
SOP Approval
Name Authorising (Printed): .....................................................................................................
Signature: ..........................................................................Date: ................................................
Issue date:
Review date:
Page 2 of 2