Maintaining Biological Safety Signs and Labels

Research, Environmental Health and Safety   |   Approved May 14, 2015

Purpose

Maintain accurate posting of required biohazard signs and labels affixed to equipment and materials used to store or transport potentially infectious materials.

Applicability

Laboratory personnel in all laboratories including tissue culture rooms, cold rooms, and common equipment rooms are required to maintain signs.  

All biological hazards must also be labeled at all times.  Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin (from a biological source) that can affect human health. It can also include substances harmful to other animals.

Instructions

1. Review biohazards currently located in laboratory. 
2. Ensure labels for all equipment and materials used to store or transport potentially infectious material must be labeled with the universal "Biohazard" symbol. The label must be orange or red-orange with the biohazard symbol in a contrasting color.  A Biohazards sign needs to contain the symbol as well as the word “biohazard.”  
3. Lab personnel can contact EHS directly at 6-7055 for recommendations or may wish to work with previous campus partners:
   • VWR 
   • Fisher Scientific