Laboratory & Research Safety

Examples of biological hazards

  • Human or animal cells, body fluids, tissues
  • Laboratory animals
  • Viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions
  • Recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids (r/sNA) (including transgenic organisms)
  • Viral gene transfer vectors
  • Certain biologically-derived toxins
  • Needles used for biological procedures

How to report an incident

  1. Complete a Biohazard Incident Report Form and submit it to the Biosafety Officer within 24 hours. Depending on the type of biological exposure, additional reporting may be required. Contact the Biosafety Officer for assistance in reporting procedures and in determining what steps can be taken to avoid such exposures in the future.
  2. If the incident involved an injury, please also complete an Injury/Accident Claim Form and submit it to Dartmouth Risk Management within 24 hours.

    For more information on responding to and reporting emergencies or any accidents or incidents, please review the Dartmouth College Emergency Response and Biohazard Exposure Control Plan.

Responding to Biohazard Exposures


STEP 1: Begin first aid immediately
  • Wash contaminated skin thoroughly for 15 minutes (set a timer!) with an iodine solution (or antibacterial soap) and copious amounts of water
  • Irrigate contaminated eyes and mucous membranes for 15 minutes

STEP 2: Notify your PI/supervisor if available, otherwise, go to step 3
  • Also attempt to contact the BSO if able:
    • 603-646-9790 or 603-646-1762 if risk group 2, r/sNA, or otherwise urgent
    • biosafety@dartmouth.edu for less urgent exposures

STEP 3: Seek medical attention (no matter how insignificant the exposure may seem)
  • Report to Dick’s House (Hanover campus) between 7:30am-4:30pm 603-646-9400
  • Report to Occupational Medicine (DHMC) between 7:30am-4:30pm 603-653-3850; DHMC, Faulkner Building, Level 4 (near parking garage)
  • After hours, report to DHMC Emergency Room
  • Note: these are suggestions.  You can use any other provider of your choice, such as an urgent care clinic or your PCP
  • The medical provider can consult the BSO if needed (see above)

STEP 4: File a Biohazard Incident Report with the Biosafety Officer and submit an Accident Report with Risk Management, within 24 hours.
Reportable incidents include
  • Needle-stick, puncture wounds
  • Contact with eyes, mouth, nose
  • Inhalation of aerosolized material (large spill outside of a biosafety cabinet, centrifuge tube malfunction, etc.)
  • Contact with open wounds, scratches, cuts
  • Animal bites/scratches
  • Environmental release of a transgenic organism, microorganism, or plant product
  • Near-misses (an accident didn't occur, but the potential was present)