Question

Write a complete step-by-step plan for dealing with broken glassware on the floor or lab table. Write your plan in list form in the order in which steps should be taken.

Answer 1

- Stop work immediately and warn people nearby (shout “broken glass!”). Do not walk through the area or handle fragments until you are ready and protected.
- Quickly assess the situation:
- Is anyone cut or injured?
- Is the glass contaminated with chemicals, hot, radioactive, or biologically contaminated?
- Is the spill large or involving hazardous materials that require a spill team?
- If someone is injured, provide first aid at once:
- Wear gloves, control bleeding with sterile gauze/clean cloth, do not press glass further into a wound.
- Flush with water if appropriate for minor debris.
- Seek medical attention immediately for puncture wounds or large cuts; document the injury.
- If the broken glass is contaminated with a hazardous chemical, reactive material, radioactivity, or large volume of biological agent, stop and call your lab supervisor/EHS/spill response team before proceeding. Follow the applicable spill or incident protocol and the material’s SDS.
- Put on appropriate PPE before cleanup: safety goggles or face shield, cut-resistant (or heavy) gloves, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes. Use additional PPE (lab coat, respiratory protection) as required by the contaminant or lab SOP.
- Isolate the area: block access, place a barrier or sign so others will not disturb the glass or step in it.
- Pick up large pieces first using tongs, forceps, or by scooping with stiff cardboard or a dustpan while wearing heavy gloves. Never pick up broken glass with bare hands.
- Sweep smaller pieces and shards with a brush and dustpan; do not use a household vacuum cleaner (it can spread fragments and/or aerosolize contaminants).
- Collect fine fragments by wiping the area with a damp disposable paper towel or disposable wet wipes (or by using sticky tape) and place the used towels/wipes into the designated puncture-resistant waste container.
- Place all broken glass, gloves used for handling it, paper towels, and any disposable cleanup materials into a rigid, puncture-resistant container with a tight-fitting lid (commercial sharps/rigid “broken glass” container). Do not put loose shards into regular trash bags. If glass is chemically/biologically contaminated, use the waste container designated for that hazard and label it per your lab’s hazardous waste procedures.
- If the glass or surface was contaminated, decontaminate the work surface following the chemical’s SDS or the lab’s decontamination protocol (appropriate neutralizer or cleaning solution; for biological material, use an approved disinfectant and observe contact time).
- Clean and decontaminate reusable tools (brush, dustpan, tongs) or dispose of them if contaminated beyond safe cleaning. If reusable, clean while wearing PPE and then disinfect.
- Close and securely seal the puncture-resistant disposal container and label it if required by local policy. Arrange for proper disposal per institutional hazardous waste/sharps procedures.
- Remove PPE carefully to avoid self-contamination, dispose of disposable PPE into the appropriate waste container, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Record and report the incident to your supervisor and complete any required incident/accident reports. If an injury or exposure occurred, follow up with occupational health as required.
- Restock cleanup supplies and sharps/rigid containers so the bench/area is safe for reuse.

Do not: handle broken glass with bare hands, use a regular trash bag for loose shards, use a vacuum unless specifically approved for glass cleanup in your facility, or attempt to neutralize unknown chemical contamination without guidance. Follow your institution’s specific SOPs and EHS guidance when in doubt.