Appendix 11: Hygiene Plan

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Scope of application

This hygiene plan applies to the BSL2 wet laboratory located in CLA J26. The laboratory manager is Dr Jakub Tkaczuk.

The biological organisms used for the research purposes in the lab are listed below:
- Coliforms - Fungi

Disclosure / Circulation of information.

The hygiene plan is posted in the laboratory. Compliance to the plan is documented.

Significance

Compliance with the hygiene plan fosters personal safety and health at work in addition to the quality of research. Cleaning agents and disinfectants are selected to fulfill their functions described in this hygiene plan, i.e., the required effectiveness and user-friendliness is warranted. Occupational safety, health and environmental protection are the criteria for selecting the products.

General rules

  • When handling disinfectants, always wear suitable gloves. Take into account potential allergies triggered by the gloves.
  • Use only cold water to prepare the disinfectant solution to avoid vapors that can irritate the respiratory system. If necessary, prepare under the laboratory fume hood.
  • Use the recommended dilution and concentration.
  • Let the disinfectant soak and work for the prescribed time.
  • Consider the useful life of disinfectants, according to the data provided by the manufacturer. If preparing disinfectant with cleanser, renew every new day.
  • Surface disinfectant is usually wiped, not sprayed.
  • After wiping with disinfectant, the surfaces can be used as soon as disinfectant dries.
  • Use only the disinfectants within their shelf life. The shelf life of an unused dosed surface disinfectant solution, e.g., 0.5%, in a closed storage container, e.g., spray bottle, is usually between 14 and 28 days. Check for accurate data in information provided by the manufacturer.
what (surface, object, equipment) when (frequency, time point, interval) with what (cleaning agents and disinfectants to be used) how (clean, disinfect, sterilize, wipe, wash, spray, soak, etc.) remarks
hand cleaning when leaving the laboratory soap at the sink wash hands see main protection plan
hygienic hand disinfection after contamination disinfectant at the sink spray, wipe
lab clothing after 14 days of use or after contamination autoclave + laundry ETH laundry services
safety cabinet daily disinfection with air circulation turned off
replace HEPA filters after 7 years		 disinfectants spray, wipe
lab glassware after finished labwork
after contact with organisms		 autoclave + dishwasher disinfect, wash if in contact with chemicals, neutralize first
work surfaces daily after use
after contamination		 ethanol 70%
suitable disinfectant		 disinfect, wipe
refrigerator every 6 months
after contamination		 ethanol 70% disinfect, wipe
microbiological incubator every 6 months
after contamination		 ethanol 70%
suitable disinfectants		 disinfect, clean, spray, wipe
centrifuge every 6 months
after contamination		 ethanol 70%
suitable disinfectants		 disinfect, clean, spray, wipe
floor no contamination - standard cleaning procedure by ETH staff
after contamination - disinfection before conventional cleaning		 conventional floor cleaning agents clean, wipe
waste for which a risk of injury exists monthly
as required		 autoclave in safe packaging, e.g., sharp container
biological waste after production autoclave

Regulations for disinfectant use

trade name / substance range of use effective against1 dilution for use contact time additional documents2 remarks
70% EtOH (ethanol) hand disinfection
surface disinfection		 B, Mb, F, bV 70% 10 min safety information
chlorine bleach culture supernatants B, Mb, F, b&ubV, bV 0.5% - 2% 6 - 15 min

Footnotes

  1. B - Bactericide, Mb - Mycobactericide (Tuberculocidal), F - Fungicides, b&ubV - enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, bV - enveloped viruses, Bs - Bacteria spores.↩︎

  2. directions of use, safety datasheet, storage location.↩︎