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Custodial Services Blood Cleanup Procedures

Human blood has the potential for being an infectious material and must be avoided by using controls and procedures that reduce the likelihood of exposure. The following procedure must be followed whenever you are required to cleanup blood from a surface such as floors, walls, furniture, etc.

Supplies Needed:

  • Red bucket
  • Disinfectant wipe
  • Absorbent beads
  • Disinfectant spray
  • Squirt bottle
  • Disposable gloves (2 pr.)
  • Absorbent sheets
  • Scooper
  • Red bags or clear bags with printed biohazard label

Procedure:

  1. When notified of the need for clean-up of human blood, obtain a Blood Cleanup Kit. One will be located in the McCarthy Hall first floor hopper room and one will be located at Material Control. If the spill is larger than the supplies will clean up, notify Health and Safety at ext. 7233.
  2. Put on the disposable gloves available in the kit.
  3. To contain a large amount of blood you may choose to contain the spill by pouring the absorbent beads over it.
  4. Use the plastic scooper to pick up the semi-solid mix and discard into a red bag.
  5. Pour the small bottle of disinfectant into the spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with tap water.
  6. Spray the disinfectant onto the area and allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. Cover the blood with the absorbent sheets and allow to soak in. Use as many sheets as necessary to absorb the blood and disinfectant.
  8. Place soaked absorbent sheets into the red bag.
  9. Repeat steps E and F if necessary.
  10. For a small spill, use either the spray disinfectant or the disinfectant wipe to thoroughly wipe down the area.
  11. When cleanup is done for either large or small spill, place all items into the red bag.
  12. Remove use gloves using the technique demonstrated by EH&IS. Place gloves in red bag. Use tie wrap to secure the bag.
  13. Dispose of the waste in the bin outside, on the north side, of the Student Health Center. The key to open the bin is located in key box in MH-52. Cover and return bucket to the hopper room or Material Control.
  14. Custodians must receive annual training for these procedures. Hepatitis B Vaccination is necessary before performing any blood clean up duties.

Revised: 2/2007 CW