Reacting To Spills; Document: 333D012G 5 - Baker SterilGARD III Advance Operator's Manual

Document: 333D012G
movements. Since all of the equipment you need is already in the cabinet, it will not be necessary to move
your arms in and out through the air barrier.
3. Because opening and closing doors in the laboratory causes air disturbance which might interfere with cabinet
airflow, this kind of activity should be kept to a minimum while the cabinet is in use. Personnel should also
avoid walking by the front of the cabinet while it is in use.
4. Avoid using floor-type pipette discard canisters. It is important that your used pipettes be discarded into a
tray or other suitable container inside the cabinet. This reduces the temptation to move in and out of the work
area unnecessarily.
5. Because of the restricted access, pipetting within the cabinet will require the use of pipetting aids.
6. Use good aseptic technique. Procedures done with good technique and proper cabinet methods will not
require the use of a flame. If, however, a safety officer approves the use of flame after evaluating the
circumstances, then a burner with a pilot light such as the "Touch-O-Matic" should be used. Place it at the
rear of the work area where the air turbulence caused by the flame will have the least possible effect. Flame
disturbs the unidirectional airstream and also contributes to the heat load. If the cabinet blower is
unintentionally turned off, the flame could also damage a filter.
7. Tubing for a burner within the cabinet should be resistant to cracking or puncture. Material such as Tygon
tubing is not acceptable for this use.
8. Never operate your cabinet while the viewscreen alarm indicator is on. The operating position of the sash
provides an 8" or 10" [203.2 or 254mm] access opening. This restricted opening permits optimum operating
conditions for the cabinet. Because operators will not all be the same height, it is suggested that the operator
use a chair that may be adjusted for height.
9. After a procedure has been completed, all equipment that has been in contact with the research agent should
be enclosed, and the entire surface decontaminated. Trays of discarded pipettes and glassware should be
covered. The cabinet should then be allowed to run for at least three minutes with no activity so that the
airborne contaminants will be purged from the work area. Next, make sure that all equipment is removed
from the cabinet.
10. After you have removed all materials, culture apparatus, etc., decontamination of the interior surfaces should
be repeated. Check the work area carefully for spilled or splashed nutrient that might support bacterial
growth. Never use the cabinet to store supplies or laboratory equipment.
11. We recommend that the cabinet be left running continuously to ensure containment and cleanliness. If the
user elects to turn the cabinet off at the end of a work session, the window should be closed completely. The
sash alarm will be silenced when the window is in the fully closed position.

Reacting to Spills

Spills should be cleaned immediately to prevent cross contamination to the work and to avoid any damage to the
stainless steel surfaces.
It is recommended that the researcher, in coordination with their consulting safety professional, have a written plan
available in case of an accidental exposure or spill. The safety plan should include all of the emergency procedures to
be followed in the event of an accident. All employees who use the cabinet should be familiar with the safety plan.
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