Blood and Bodily Fluid Exposure and Needlesticks

• Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and warm water
• Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water
• Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants
• Immediately seek medical treatment
• Contact your supervisor and the EHS office at 336.758.3427.  Complete the Needle Stick/Bodily Fluid Exposure form with your supervisor and return the completed form to EHS.

Chemical Exposure

• Eye exposure – rinse eyes at Eyewash Station for 15 minutes. Call 911 or seek medical attention.
• Body exposure – Remove contaminated clothing and use Safety Shower and rinse body for 15 minutes. Call 911.
• For all chemical exposures, use the Chemwatch First Aid database for appropriate actions and advice to treating physician.

Laser Exposure

The major risk to laser users is damage to the eye from exposure to a laser beam.  The level of damage depends on the wavelength and power of the beam, as well as factors of beam divergence and diameter and the exposure duration.

Seek immediate medical attention if your eyes are exposed to the beam, or if thermal skin damage occurs due to beam exposure.

Radiological Exposure

Treat external or skin contamination by washing with mild soap and copious amounts of lukewarm water (cold water will shrink pores and seal material, hot water will open pores to contaminate more skin). Be mindful of the chemical composition of the contaminant as well; this could pose more of a health issue than the radiation.

1. Avoid organic solvents or abrasive soaps that make the skin more permeable to the radioactive material.
2. Wash for 2-3 minutes.
3. For contaminated hands, give special attention to areas between the fingers and around the fingernails.
4. Repeat no more than 3 or 4 times if contamination persists.
5. If this procedure fails, repeat washing using a soft hand brush.

When contaminated glassware/sharp instruments lacerate the skin, immediately rinse the wounded area thoroughly under a stream of lukewarm water.

Immediately notify Radiation Safety following ingestion or swallowing of radioactive material.