Technical emergencies

• Secure the research materials.
• Leave the facility.
• Check that the facility is hermetically closed.
• Report the incident immediately to the IBC and the maintenance service.
• The supervisor, advised by the IBC, must define and apply the decontamination plan for the affected area (if deemed necessary) before resuming normal activity.

If a power outage affects primary containment equipment (e.g. BSC), and there is no available UPS or generator, the area must be evacuated by following the steps below.

• Leave the facility, opening the door as little as possible and closing it quickly.
• Report the incident to the maintenance service and the IBC.
• A power outage continues to be regarded as an incident for at least 90 minutes, and no-one must return to the area in that period. When the 90 minutes have passed it may be necessary to initiate the emergency procedure again.
• Do not enter the laboratory until the supervisor or the head of maintenance consider it safe.
• Once power has been re-connected or the equipment is working correctly, personnel must put on PPE and clothes before entering the facility.
• Once inside the laboratory, decontaminate the surface of any area that may be affected.
• Decontaminate the whole interior surface of the BSC before resuming work.
• If the BSC was in use when the power outage happened, the incident investigation form must be completed and sent within 48 hours.