SARS-Coronaviruses and Highly Pathogenic Influenza Viruses
Section 2: Reporting of events and illnesses
All events and illnesses will be reported. The extent of reporting is dependent on the assessed risk to the individual and the environment.
2.1: Reporting of events
2.1.1 All events entered into the Event Log (Sections 1.1.3 and 1.1.4) will be reported by the employee to the Supervisor/Principal Investigator. Exposure events will be immediately reported to the Supervisor/Principal Investigator, whereas all other events will be reported upon completion of the work.
2.1.2 All exposure events will be assessed by the Supervisor/Principal Investigator in conjunction with the Biosafety Officer to initially evaluate the exposure risk and need for notification of the Wadsworth Center Administration. Those judged to have a low, moderate or high risk must be reported to the Laboratory Chief or Division Director. A Wadsworth Center Incident Report will be filed by the employee. Examples of such events include, but are not restricted to: a needle-stick injury, a spill outside the biological safety cabinet while the individual is wearing full personal protective equipment and negative pressure is maintained, or a failure in the exhaust system leading to positive pressure of the laboratory. The Laboratory Chief/Division Director will notify the Wadsworth Center Administration and the Safety Office.
2.1.3 If the Wadsworth Center senior administration (WC Director, WC Deputy Director or the Division Director) considers it warranted, the Risk Assessment Group will be notified of the exposure event.
2.1.4 If the Supervisor/Principal Investigator or Biosafety Officer believes there is a high risk of exposure and cannot immediately reach the Wadsworth Senior Administration, the Risk Assessment Group must be notified directly.
2.2: Reporting of illnesses
2.2.1 Personnel who have worked in the BSL-3 laboratory will report any fever or respiratory symptoms to the Supervisor/Principal Investigator or Laboratory Chief. If the clinical signs are compatible with the laboratory pathogen or the employee has worked in the BSL-3 laboratory within the last 14 days, the Supervisor/Principal Investigator will, in turn, make an immediate report to the Division Director, who will notify Wadsworth Center senior administration.
2.2.2 If the Wadsworth Center senior administration (the Director, Deputy Director or Division Director) considers that it is warranted, the Risk Assessment Group will be notified of the illness and any associated exposure event.
2.2.3 If the Supervisor/Principal Investigator believes there is a high risk of a work-related illness and cannot reach the Wadsworth Center senior administration, the Risk Assessment Group must be notified directly.