STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE_APC012; Version 2
Title: Disposal of waste in the APCEffective Date: 4 September 2013
Approvals(Signature and Date):
Eva McArdle
Author (Signature)Technical Authority (Signature)Date: 14 September 2013
1.0PURPOSE
1.1The purpose of this SOP is to describe how waste is disposed of in the APC.
2.0SCOPE
2.1All laboratory personnel must be aware of how to properly dispose of the considerable volumes of waste generated in the laboratory. This SOP refers mainly tothree types of waste; biohazardous waste which must be autoclaved, hazardous (e.g. solvents) and non-hazardous waste, which is safe to dispose of in rubbish bins provided.
3.0RESPONSIBILITY
3.1It is the responsibility of all those present in the lab to dispose of waste in a safe manner.
4.0HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
4.1Dealing with waste is a huge health and safety issue. It is paramount that all lab staff are aware of the dangers of biological contamination issues and chemical hazards.
4.2 It is vital that correct PPE be worn at appropriate times. Labcoats and safety glasses are provided to
protect employees from possible harm.
4.3Cleanup of any spills that may occur can be addressed using one of two spill kits in lab 5.27 (they are above the fridge on the right of the main double door entrance half way down lab). One is a chemical spill kit, which provides a neutralizing agent for acid, caustic & solvent spills; the other a biohazard kit which is used specifically for biohazardous materials (all non-disposable items e.g. biohazardous spill warning signs, should be autoclavable or compatible with the disinfectant to be used in the kit). For biohazardous waste household bleach is a good decontaminant for bodily fluids. The bleach is stored in sink under entrance to 5.19.
Permanent equipment in the lab include safety showers (outside 5.28 & autoclave room), eyewashes (at every second basin in lab) and hand-washing sinks with soap and paper towels (at top, centre & end of lab).
5.0DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
5.1It is advisable to review SOP APC001 (Health & Safety in the Lab).
6.0PROCEDURE
6.1When human samples are being worked with, they should be used in a LAF hood, and items being discarded should be placed in an autoclavable biohazard bag. These smaller bags are subsequently placed in the larger biozardous waste bags which are autoclaved by those on weekly duty rota. All autoclavable biohazard waste bags must be double bagged (two autoclavable bags) when being removed from bin, prior to autoclaving. Tears and rips happen all too often, exposing contaminants. Once autoclaved, the double bagged (now non-hazardous) waste will be placed in a new black bag (one autoclaved waste bag per black bag, as they can be too heavy to dispose of in skip) which is then put in the green wheelie bin. The green bin is taken to skip at side of BioSciences Institute by those on duty for that week. Double gloving when working with human samples is also strongly recommended. Only materials that have been contaminated need to be autoclaved. Regular tissue paper should not be present in biohazard bags, unless used for a dangerous spill etc….
6.2All used disposable pipettes should be placed in yellow autoclavable pipette containers. (Treat all pipettes as a hazard). Pipettes break though autoclave bags too easily. Post autoclaving, the pipettes can be emptied from the yellow containers and placed in a black plastic bag and added to regular waste in green bin in wash room. Please place autoclaving tape on pipette container buckets to eliminate any confusion regarding whether pipettes have been autoclaved yet or not. These yellow containers are placed in dedicated (and labeled TO BE CLEANED) washroom area and are washed by cleaning staff prior to re-use.
6.3The autoclave cycle is pre-programmed so once the user has ensured that the probe has sufficient water covering it (very important), and inner and outer doors have been closed, the user just has to press the start button to start the autoclave cycle (75 mins; temp 121 degrees C). Please let Lab Supervisor know if there is a problem with the autoclave as they can be problematic.
6.4Agar plates are not autoclaved in the 5th floor as a specially designed tray is required (it prevents agar dripping into in instrument and clogging up inlets/outlets when it solidifies). Currently there is a rota for one day of the week (presently Mondays) when APC are allowed to bring plates to Micro Dept. in Food Science Building, but this must be discussed with Lab Supervisor first.
6.5Animal carcasses are stored in designated boxes in freezers until a professionally contracted company is notified for pickup (please inform Lab Supervisor when boxes are full). Currently Heathcare Waste Ltd are used as the external waste disposal company.
6.6Paper waste should be recycled where possible. Numerous dedicated blue recycle bins are placed around the lab.
6.7In the Gel room (5.18), on Monday mornings throw buffer down sink – the carboy containing buffer should have destaining teabags to remove residual EtBr (suspected carcinogen) and the weekend will have allowed time for the teabags to work. Actual gels are disposed of in yellow disposal container on floor. Please advise Eva when almost full, so that SRCL (external professional waste disposal company) can collect the gels and dispose of accordingly.
6.8There are several sharps containers scattered throughout lab; there should be a yellow sharps container on each of the lab islands. Again, please advise when full so that a collection can be arranged. All glass, glass slides and needles should be placed in here.
6.9Chemicals such as organic solvents are placed in a labeled Winchester in the fumehood. Pleas note on log on fumehood wall type and approximate volume of waste added to container. Alcohols are poured down the sink (and diluted) in fumehood, and acids are to be poured down fumehood in 5.18, and flushed with water. Note: It is important to read and fill out if necessary section 19.3.17 (Chemical Risk Assessment form) of the APC Safety statement; as it provides detail around precautions to be taken.
6.10When dealing with biologics (e.g. handling micro-organisms and cell lines) it is necessary to read Section 19.3.18 of the Safety Statement. Again, a Risk Assessment form may need to be filled out, particularly if dealing with a ‘new’ type of biological hazard.
6.11Notify spills (of any hazardous nature) to Lab Supervisor, who consequently informs U.C.C. H&S Department. If spill occurs in the hood, the person responsible must address it. The surface area including trays below must be cleaned and decontaminated (virkon/bleach etc..) immediately.
6.12When fluid waste containers are employed, add ~200mls Virkon prior to use. Do not fill volume above shown level. Ensure lid is secured prior to autoclaving and discard in black bag once sterilization has taken place.
6.13Broken glassware is placed in a dedicated rigid blue bin (it is clearly labeled) and is half way down lab under bench. Professional disposal company takes care of such glassware.
6.14Pathogens are worked on in dedicated and contained lab 5.28; all waste is contained (e.g. fluid waste containers) before being taken to autoclave.
Note: Your own safety is in your own hands!
SOP #APC012 - Disposal of Waste in the APCPrinted Name of Trainee / Signature of Trainee (SOP#APC012 Read & Understand by) / Date