Biological Incident Response Procedures

Personal Injury or Illness

In case of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, you must act fast to prevent possible serious health problems. Follow these key steps after the exposure:

A. Any person sustaining a puncture injury or cut from potentially contaminated sharps should:

  1. Expose, express (encourage bleeding if the wound is small) and thoroughly flush the wound area with soap and water for 15 minutes
  2. Apply an antiseptic, and cover with sterile dressing.
  3. If soap and water are not available, then an antiseptic (solution, wipe, spray) should be used.
  4. If emergency care is needed either call 911 or proceed to the nearest medical facility for treatment.
  5. If non-emergency care is needed by an employee or student employee, proceed to MU Urgent Care at 3916 S. Providence Rd. (573) 882-1662 (M-F 8:00am - 8:00pm). After these hours report to MU University Hospital Emergency Room. 
    1. NOTE: Principal Investigator or Supervisor must complete and sign "Report of Injury" Form (UM-WC1) and give to injured staff member to present to medical personnel at University Work Injury Services.
  6. Students (not student employees) with a non-emergency injury should report to Student Health Services or call 882-7481.
  7. The PI or Supervisor must contact EHS (882-7018) as soon as practically possible to report the incident.
  8. The Principal Investigator or Supervisor must also report the injury (within 24 hours) to the Workers' Compensation program by sending the "Report of Injury" Form (UM-WC1) to the MU Workers' Compensation Coordinator.

B. Splashes of blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) to the eyes, nose, mouth, or intact skin.

  1. Wash any area exposed to blood or OPIM with tepid water and soap for at least 5 minutes.
  2. Alcohol-based hand rinses, gels, foams (containing 60+% alcohol) should be used when water is not available.
  3. If splashes are to the eyes, irrigate eyes with clean water or commercially available eyewash solution for 15 minutes.
  4. If emergency care is needed either call 911 or proceed to the nearest medical facility for treatment.
  5. If non-emergency care is needed by an employee or student employee, proceed to MU Urgent Care at 3916 S. Providence Rd. (573) 882-1662 (M-F 8:00am - 8:00pm). After these hours report to MU University Hospital Emergency Room. 
    1. NOTE: Principal Investigator or Supervisor must complete and sign "Report of Injury" Form (UM-WC1) and give to injured staff member to present to medical personnel at University Work Injury Services.
  6. Students (not student employees) with a non-emergency injury should report to Student Health Services or call 882-7481.
  7. The PI or Supervisor must contact EHS (882-7018) as soon as practically possible to report the incident.
  8. The Principal Investigator or Supervisor must also report the injury (within 24 hours) to the Workers' Compensation program by sending the "Report of Injury" Form (UM-WC1) to the MU Workers' Compensation Coordinator.