Guidance and Tools

Bloodborne Pathogens

The Potentially Infectious Material/Bloodborne Pathogens Program affects a variety of areas on campus. Employees and students may perform tasks that involve much more than simply working with human blood.

An employee or student is covered by this policy if they work with or are potentially exposed to any of the following materials:

• Human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood.
• Human bodily fluids, including: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, plural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, and any body fluid visibly contaminated by blood.
• Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) form a human living or dead.
• Cell, tissue, or organ cultures from humans or animals unless certified free of bloodborne pathogens.
• Blood, organs, or other tissues from animals unless certified free of bloodborne pathogens.
• Culture medium unless certified free of bloodborne pathogens.

Resources

Signage, Labels, and Stickers

Safety Signage

• Please contact the BSO for suggestions and guidance on content for BSL-2 signage.
• Orange BSL-2 Signage must be placed on the outer side of the door to the lab. Interconnected labs must post this signage on both entrance doors.
• EHS must have a current copy of all BSL-2 Signage for the record.

Additional Safety Signage and Labels for Use in Research Labs

Shipping and Receiving

Shipping and Receiving Biologicals

Orders of biological materials are subjected to the same review process as all other items if they are ordered from a vendor not currently on contract/bid.  Additionally, orders of biological materials at BSL2 or higher, as well as orders of biological toxins should be reviewed by EHS.  Several of the material vendors that handle biological agents require certification statements from the Biological Safety Program.

1. Shipping
   • Biological specimens, human/animal blood or tissue, serum, antibodies, DNA/RNA, etc. are considered hazardous materials and are subject to regulations set forth by numerous federal and international organizations. See: SHIPPING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS below for details.
2. Material Transfer Agreement (MTA)
   • Many research materials come from colleagues at other research facilities. The distribution of research results, many times, includes sharing materials. In these cases, it is a best practice to verify whether an MTA is needed to adhere to legal protections afforded by the University. Intellectual property rights can be jeopardized in materials are used without a proper MTA.
     • MTA Request Form
     • The sections concerning incoming/outgoing materials list requirements that must be met.
     • Materials to be sent outside of the U.S. may be subject to export control laws and regulations.

Shipping Hazardous Materials

The University of Alabama is responsible for complying with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations as they apply to all areas of our campus. If you intend on shipping potentially hazardous material (including: chemicals, biological materials, or dry ice) please read the information below.

Anyone who offers for shipment (via land, air, etc.) hazardous materials must have the appropriate DOT and/or IATA training, even if the transporter/carrier (UPS, FedEx, etc.) completes the necessary paperwork. Examples of these materials include, but are not limited to (Items in bold are specific to work with biologicals):

• Laboratory chemicals, cryogenic materials, dry ice, and samples containing flammable, toxic, explosive, radioactive, oxidizer, and/or corrosive materials
• Paints, stains, thinners, refrigerants, aerosols, medicines, pesticides, disinfectants, fuels (diesel, gasoline, ethanol, etc.)
• Biological specimens, human blood or tissue, animal tissues, serums, antibodies, etc.
• Equipment containing hazardous materials, such as mercury, compressed gases, batteries (wet, lithium, and dry batteries containing sodium, potassium hydroxide), etc.
• Equipment containing a radiation source or potentially capable of producing a radiation field

Please contact EHS Lab Safety at 205-348-5905 or by email for additional guidance and assistance with hazardous material shipments, as regulations and restrictions vary related to the material being shipped and the destination of the shipment.

NOTE: If you are shipping a hazardous material that is a commercially available product, it is often more cost-effective to purchase the material at the location to which you wish to ship. For example, if you are planning field research, requiring the use of hazardous chemicals, you may find it easier and less expensive to have a vendor ship the chemicals directly to your destination.