Exposure and cleanup of human blood
In a recent incident at the Laboratory, a man suffered a bloody nose while trying to reach a high shelf. He was treated and received a small bandage on his nose.
The incident prompted the Laboratory to remind employees about proper procedures for handling exposure to human blood. Employees who are exposed to human blood as a result of an accident or injury should follow these steps:
• Treat all human blood as if it were infectious for blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis or HIV.
• If exposed to your own blood from a minor injury for which medical assistance is not required, clean up the blood and dispose of any tissues or paper towels in a plastic bag and place in a waste receptacle.
• For injuries requiring medical attention, call 911 or escort the individual to Occupational Medicine for evaluation (whichever is appropriate).
• If exposed to blood from another person, go to Occupational Medicine no later than 24 hours after the exposure.
• If exposed to blood during off-duty hours, go to the Los Alamos Medical Center emergency room (or other nearby medical facility/hospital as warranted).
• In most cases, the clean up of blood should involve trained and properly equipped individuals or groups who utilize universal precautions. Call 7-6211 to report the incident and request cleanup and decontamination.
• Employees also should notify their line management and ensure that an Injury/Illness Notification Form along with a notification to the principal associate director for operations (PADOPS) are completed.
For more information, contact Randy Sandoval of the Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality Directorate (ADESHQ) at 7-8424 or rsandoval@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
