BOSLab COVID-19 Training

Overview

Purpose

These sector specific COVID-19 workplace safety standards for Laboratories are issued to provide owners and operators of laboratories and workers and contractors working in laboratories with instructions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 as laboratories re-open. Workers must continue to telework if feasible.

These standards set minimum requirements only and are not exclusive or exhaustive. The public health data and matrix for disease prevention change frequently and the responsible party of the Laboratory is accountable for staying abreast of any updates to these requirements.

Standards for responsible laboratories in Massachusetts

No activity in Laboratories shall occur without meeting the State mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces. These standards apply to all Laboratories in operation until rescinded or amended by the State. The operator of each laboratory shall be responsible for meeting these standards.

The following workplace specific safety standards are organized around four distinct categories covering Social Distancing, Hygiene Protocols, Staffing and Operations; and Cleaning and Disinfecting.

Overview

Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

When physical distancing (6ft) is not possible - use a face shield

Cleaning and disinfection

Preparing bleach disinfectant

Disinfection Protocol

You must pass a training quiz and sign a compliance agreement before using the space

Resources & References

Thank you and be well!

Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID-19 is a new respiratory disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Symptoms of this infection may appear 2-14 days after exposure and include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

However, it’s possible for people with COVID-19 to spread the virus to others up to 48 hours before they have symptoms.

Call your healthcare professional if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19.

You can also call 2-1-1 to learn more about:

COVID-19 prevention, symptoms, and treatment
Information about testing
Guidance for people planning or returning from travel

Prevention

Many of the things you do to help prevent colds and the flu can help protect you against other respiratory viruses, including COVID-19:

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.
Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

Even if you do not have symptoms, stay home as much as you can and practice social distancing if you must go out. That’s because you can be sick with COVID-19 and spread the illness to others as much as 48 hours before you have symptoms.

There are currently no vaccines available to protect against this novel coronavirus infection.

If you suspect you have or test positive for COVID-19 or come into contact with someone who does

Self-quarantine for 14-days to prevent further spread
Inform the BOSLab board - your identity will be kept anonymous:
- Identify all members you have been in close proximity to or have shared space with for an extended time (>15 min) in the past 14 days.
- The board will inform individuals of a potential exposure and request they self-isolate for at least 5 days

In the event of a potential exposure

CDC guidelines suggest the following:

BOSLab will be shutdown and well ventilated for at least 24 hours
After ventilating the space, BOSLab will be deep cleaned and disinfected

At BOSLab

Personal Safety

If you or someone you know feels unwell - stay home!

Although allergy season is here, please exercise caution.

Stay home if you are sneezing or feel unwell.

If you are exposed to COVID-19 inform the BOSLab board ASAP (board@boslab.org) so that we can deep clean and inform those that may have been exposed at BOSLab. Your identity will be kept anonymous.

Wear a mask at all times at BOSLab

Wearing a mask will prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must wear a mask even when you are alone to prevent contamination of the space.

BOSLab will have K95 masks for purchase if you forget your own.

Masks may be briefly removed while seated at a table. Avoid talking to reduce respiratory droplets. Sanitize your hands before and after touching your mask.

Wash/Sanitize your hands often

Use established hand washing guidelines.

Use hand sanitizer as soon as you enter the space.

Physical Distancing

Stay at least 6ft away from others

Stations in the lab have been indicated with blue tape in the event space and lab.

Please communicate equipment needs to others in the space.

When physical distancing (6ft) is not possible - use a face shield

When lab protocols and/or procedures necessitate working closely with others and it is not possible to stay 6 ft apart, we require all individuals to wear a face shield in addition to a mask.

We encourage you to plan ahead to reduce the amount of time necessary for close contact.

Face shields are located in the personal protective equipment station.

After use, please disinfect the face shield by spraying the interior and exterior with 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol.

Reduced occupancy

No more than 5 people in the lab+event space at once

A maximum of 3 people in the lab

You must schedule your time at BOSLab ahead of time at: boslab.skedda.com

If you cannot make your scheduled time please cancel your reservation immediately so other members can use your time slot.

Please coordinate with other members using the Slack channel: #space-scheduling

⚠️Non-members, including friends and family, are not permitted at BOSLab until further notice⚠️

Work efficiently to reduce contact time

Plan experiments and do calculations at home

Practice "mise en place" by gathering tools, equipment and reagents to your workstation before starting.

Visualize your workflow before starting to reduce errors and movement around the lab

Increase ventilation

Open doors to allow a breeze and increase effective air volume of the space

Screens are required to meet BSL-1 safety requirements

Avoid turning on heat/air conditioning as this may spread aerosols inside

Do not leave ground floor of lab unattended when doors are open

Cleaning and disinfection

Overview

After using the lab/event space you must clean and disinfect the space to reduce the chance of accidentally exposing others to COVID-19. Cleaning zones have been defined for the space.

High-touch surfaces in the event and lab space must be disinfected using cleaners certified by the EPA to be effective on the COVID-19 virus.

A freshly made and properly diluted bleach solution is the preferred disinfectant for hard non-porous surfaces in the space. Bleach is cost effective and readily available, where other surface cleaners (Clorox wipes, alcohol, etc.) have become expensive and hard to obtain.

Please do not use cleaners other than bleach on surfaces as they may react with the bleach and form a harmful gas.

⚠️You must coordinate cleaning duties with other members when working in a group or co-working ⚠️

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Disinfection Supplies

BOSLab has provided the following supplies:

Mask (for purchase)
Nitrile gloves
Lab coat
Safety google
Hand sanitizer
Hand Soap
Bleach
Ethanol & isopropyl alcohol

Preparing bleach disinfectant

The EPA and CDC recommend a diluted bleach solution with a final sodium hypochlorite concentration of 0.12%

Bleach loses its effectiveness quickly and a fresh bleach solution must be made daily. Most of the bleach at BOSLab has a 6% initial concentration of sodium hypochlorite

Personal protective equipment (PPE - eye protection, gloves, lab coat) must be worn while preparing bleach solution and sanitizing the space.

BOSLab will provide a pail and towels for disinfection. Also, measure the appropriate volumes of bleach and water using the provided containers.

Bleach can corrode metals and damage fabric. Do not apply bleach solution to electronics, fabrics or wood. 70% ethanol applied to a paper towel (not sprayed) may be used for disinfecting computer equipment.

You should never eat, drink, breathe or inject disinfectant into your body or apply directly to your skin as they can cause serious harm. Do not wipe or bathe pets with these products or any other products that are not approved for animal use.

Recommendation - Use 10 mL of 6% bleach to make 500 mL of disinfectant in the provided bleach bucket

Disinfection Protocol

Note: electronics and fabrics must not be cleaned with bleach.

See below the list of the zones and high touch surfaces that must be disinfected

Wash hands with soap and water
Put on your personal protective equipment: safety googles, gloves and a lab coat.
First, clean visibly dirty surfaces and objects with soap and water (for example: dried buffers on lab benches, dried coffee or food on tables, etc). Surface contaminants will reduce the effectiveness of the bleach.
Rinse cleaned surfaces with damp towel
Next, prepare diluted bleach solution (see table above, final dilution 0.12%). Using the provided bucket, add tap water up to the red line (0.5L). Measure 10 mL of Clorox bleach using the manual serological pipette and dispense bleach into the bucket of tap water. Soak clean towel in bleach solution (towels provided).
Gently squeeze excess liquid from towel to prevent dripping while maintaining enough moisture to disinfect surfaces
Wipe high-contact surfaces in occupied cleaning zones with bleach towel. Electronics and fabrics must not be cleaned with bleach. We have covered wooden tables in the event space.
A contact time of 5 minutes is recommended. You may let the disinfectant dry on the surface, but food preparation surfaces must be rinsed before any contact with food.
Place wet "used" towels in the black dish pan.
Disinfect bleach incompatible objects and surfaces in occupied zones using 70% ethanol
- Do not directly spray electronics - dampen a paper towel and then wipe electronics
- A 1 minute contact time is suggested for effective 70% ethanol disinfection - do not wipe with dry paper towel
Document completion of cleaning using the form "BOSLab Disinfection List of High Touch Areas" located on the clipboard at the disinfection station. You must record: the date, time, cleaned zones, and who did the cleaning (initials). This helps BOSLab meet Massachusetts requirements.

Disinfection station at front door

Please leave used bleach towels in collection bucket and dispose of bleach solution in sink at the end of the day.

The state requires logging all cleaning to ensure compliance with state regulations.

Disinfection List of High Touch Areas

Deep Cleaning

Weekly, BOSLab will be closed for 3 hours for deep cleaning. Deep cleaning will include the disinfecting of high touch surfaces, chairs, benches, tables, floors and lab equipment. In the event that a member tests positive for the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, or is suspected of having COVID-19, BOSLab will be closed for 24 hours and then a deep cleaning of the space will be performed.

You must pass a training quiz and sign a compliance agreement before using the space

Click here for Training Quiz & Agreement

If you have any questions please reach out to Wendy or Kellen.

In person COVID-19 training is also available if needed.

Resources & References

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/covid-19-disinfecting-with-bleach

MA - Laborory COVID-19 Safety Standards - Phase 1

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts

https://www.nih.gov/coronavirus

Thank you and be well!

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