Wet (Cadaver) Anatomy Lab Safety

Bellin College DPT students will participate in wet (cadaver) anatomy lab at St. Norbert College Gehl-Mulva Science Building through a partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin. The following safety policies pertain to the wet (cadaver) lab.

This information must be reviewed prior to the beginning of the Anatomy term (reviewed by the Sr. Anatomist conducting the lab). A copy of this material and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must also be made available in the Anatomy lab.

The bodies have gone through a chemical embalming process:

Embalming is done with an aqueous mixture of isopropyl alcohol, glycerine, phenol, formaldehyde, and methanol. Hydrite Blend 4396 (MSDS available) is diluted approximately 50% with water, and that is the solution with which the bodies are embalmed. The final dilution of embalming fluid contains approximately 27% isopropyl alcohol, 17% glycerin, 2.5% formaldehyde, and 7.5% phenol.
Approximately 5 gallons of a 10% alcohol (ethanol/methanol) and water solution have been added to the humidor.

Some individuals can detect formaldehyde odors as low as 0.04 ppm.

FORMALDEHYDE HEALTH HAZARDS/SYMPTOMS OF OVEREXPOSURE

Route of entry	Acute symptoms	Chronic Symptoms
Inhalation (Primary route of entry)	May cause eye, nose, throat irritation; eye tearing; coughing; chest tightness	May cause headaches, rhinitis, nausea, drowsiness, respiratory impairment, kidney injury, pulmonary sensitization, and tissue damage. Linked to sleeping disorders, irritability, memory deficits, loss of concentration and mood alterations. IARC classifies formaldehyde as a Class 1 human carcinogen for nasopharyngeal cancer. Its role in lung cancer has not been substantiated.
Skin Exposure	May cause irritation, white discoloration, hardness, and numbing; some develop sensitization dermatitis, characterized by the sudden eruption of blisters on eyelids, neck, face, hands, or arms.	May cause numbness or itching rash, fingernail damage, hardening or tanning (discoloration) of the skin, sensitization. Once sensitized, symptoms can be seen with very low doses.
Eye Contact	Irritation and tearing as airborne concentration of formaldehyde vapors increase; direct contact with concentrated solutions can cause severe corneal injury and loss of vision; direct contact with dilute concentrations that can cause discomfort and irritation that may diminish over time and if treated promptly.	NA

PHENOL HEALTH HAZARDS/SYMPTOMS OF OVEREXPOSURE

Route of entry	Acute symptoms	Chronic Symptoms
Inhalation	May cause eye, nose, throat irritation; not typically a significant route of entry, as phenol is not very volatile.	Systematic disorders such as digestive disturbances, nervous system effects, and possibly by skin discoloration and eruptions; chronic phenol poisoning is characterized by vomiting, difficulty swallowing, excess salivation, diarrhea, anorexia, headache, fainting, vertigo, mental disturbances and possibly skin eruptions. Prolonged exposure may result in deposition of dark pigment in the skin.
Skin Exposure (Primary route of entry)	May cause irritation, white discoloration, hardness, and numbing; some develop sensitization dermatitis, characterized by the sudden eruption of blisters on eyelids, neck, face, hands, or arms.
Eye Contact	Concentrated phenol solutions are severely irritating to the eye and cause conjunctival swelling; cornea becomes white and loses sensation; can cause chemical burns from exposure.

10% ETHANOL (ALCOHOL) HEALTH HAZARDS/SYMPTOMS OF OVEREXPOSURE:

Route of entry	Acute symptoms	Chronic Symptoms
Inhalation	May cause respiratory tract irritation, central nervous system depression, headache, nausea, dizziness, narcosis.	Not expected via inhalation route; chronic symptoms from ethanol overexposure typically due to ingestion
Skin Exposure	May be harmful if swallowed; can cause skin irritation.	Alcohols defat the skin, and may produce dermatitis
Eye Contact	Liquid causes eye irritation; stinging.	NA

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL HEALTH HAZARDS/SYMPTOMS OF OVEREXPOSURE:

Route of entry	Acute symptoms	Chronic Symptoms
Inhalation	May cause respiratory tract irritation; central nervous system depression, headache, nausea, dizziness	Not expected via inhalation route; chronic symptoms from ethanol overexposure typically due to ingestion
Skin Exposure	May be harmful if swallowed; can cause skin irritation/drying skin.	Alcohols defat the skin, and may produce dermatitis
Eye Contact	Liquid causes eye irritation; stinging.	NA

GLYCERIN HEALTH HAZARDS/SYMPTOMS OF OVEREXPOSURE:

Route of entry	Acute symptoms	Chronic Symptoms
Inhalation	Low hazard; not volatile; inhalation of a mist may cause respiratory tract irritation .	Not expected via inhalation route unless a mist is formed
Skin Exposure	May cause skin irritation.	No info found
Eye Contact	May cause eye irritation.	No info found

Emergency Safety Information

Familiarize yourself with the locations of eyewash stations, emergency showers, and telephone. In the event of skin exposures, wash thoroughly with soap and water. Contact Health and Wellness Services (form for reporting an accident is on-line) and inform your instructor.

In event of eye contact, flush eyes for 10-15 minutes. Contact Health and Wellness Services (form for reporting an accident is on-line) and inform your instructor.

In event you develop symptoms you believe are consistent with exposure to phenol, formaldehyde, or ethanol, notify your instructor and Health and Wellness Services. Remove yourself from the lab and go to an area of fresh air.

Spills or Medical Assistance: In the event of a spill or emergency medical assistance is needed, call Campus Safety from any phone inside Gehl Mulva Science (GMS) building (x3260).

Fire Alarms: A flashing strobe and alarm requires you to immediately close the humidor; leave the anatomy lab and building via the closest exit ; gather on the grass outside of the building where it is safe to do so. Do not re-enter the building until you are notified it is safe to do so (“All Clear”).

Tornado Alarms: An alarm would sound with an audible message that can be heard inside and outside of the building. The “Alertus” notification system, located in the Atrium would flash and display the warning message with instructions about what to do. This means that you immediately close the humidor; move to lower levels/hallways that have no exterior windows, and stay there until the “All clear,” or the horns stop alarming. You may seek shelter in any interior corridor location.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The following PPE is required as part of the Anatomy lab:

Safety glasses when in the anatomy lab and you (or your classmates) are dissecting.
Double glove with nitrile gloves when working on the cadaver. Change your gloves at least every two hours, or more frequently if your hands become immersed in embalming fluid. DO NOT USE latex gloves, as latex does not provide appropriate protection.
Closed-toe shoes must be worn in the lab; no sandals, flip flops or other shoes that expose bare feet are allowed.
Scrubs are to be worn while working on the bodies, or any clothes dedicated to the gross lab that will not be worn elsewhere. Street clothes are not allowed, unless covered by a lab coat.

General Safety Considerations

Please keep your dissection area clean and organized. At the end of lab, wipe down exterior handles and any exterior soiled surfaces of the humidor with paper towels. If embalming fluid leaks on the floor it can erode the floor surface over time so, please use the mop in the housekeeper’s closet to clean up spills at the end of lab.

If you are using an iPad, cover the iPad with a ziplock bag to prevent contamination. That can be removed at the end of class, and you can use your iPad screen through the bag.

Glycerin is very slippery; wipe up any inadvertent spills quickly to avoid falls.
Wash hands thoroughly before and after removing gloves. Always wash hands prior to leaving the lab. Do not leave the lab with your gloves on!!
No food or drink is permitted in the lab.
Do not leave your clothing, books, instruments, or personal belongings in the lab.
Briefcases, bookbags, or backpacks should not be brought into the cadaver areas.
Long hair must be tied back and dangling jewelry should be removed.
Know the location of the nearest eyewash, shower, and telephone.
Know the exit door location and closest exit route, should there be a fire alarm in the building.
Do not work alone in the lab.
Report all injuries to the instructor and complete an on-line accident report.
Keep the laboratory clean and clean up any spills immediately.
Never leave scalpel blades unsheathed where they can injure yourself or a classmate.
When using sharp instruments, always carry them with the tips pointing down and away from your body. Always cut away from your body. Never try and catch falling sharp instruments. Grasp sharp instruments only by the handle(s).

Waste Disposal

All used scalpel blades or disposable needles must be placed inside the red sharps containers for disposal. Do not fill the container more than ¾ full; notify the Chemical Hygiene Officer (x4019) for disposal.