This document provides an overview of safety policies and procedures for working in the Gross Anatomy Laboratory. It describes expectations for professional conduct, common safety hazards, and safety precautions including the use of personal protective equipment. Proper handling and disposal of cadaver materials, cleanliness protocols, and responses to injuries or emergencies are outlined. Students are expected to treat cadavers and human materials with dignity and respect at all times.

1. Gross Anatomy Laboratory
Safety and Policy Session
Kerrie Lashley, MS
Gross Anatomy Laboratory Manager

2. Learning Objectives
1. Describe expectations concerning professional
conduct in the Gross Anatomy Laboratory
2. Recognize common safety hazards in the
Gross Anatomy Laboratory
3. Describe laboratory safety precautions and
procedures for working in the Gross Anatomy
Laboratory

3. Overview
• General Information
• Comportment
• Safety
• Cadaver Care and Maintenance
• Cleanliness
• Instrument Safety
• Injuries and Medical Emergencies

4. General Information

5. Gross Anatomy Laboratory (GAL)
Staff
Kerrie Lashley, Gross Laboratory Manager
Nicole Bennett, Anatomical Curator
Keviette Potts, Anatomical Curator

6. Entrance to the GAL
• Key code access • Enter the side for PT students

7. Storage
• Storage bins
By the entrance of the lab
Scrubs, shoes, goggles and
some personal items

8. Instructions
• Signs
Code of Conduct
 Posted in main lab area
Clean Sink
 No gloves
Dirty Sinks
 Cleaning tools
 Gloves should be worn
Safety Procedures
 Posted on the entry
doors and walls of the
GAL
 Spills or Biological Hazard

9. Prohibited Areas in GAL
ONLY authorized laboratory staff are allowed in the
coolers in GAL

10. ONLY staff and faculty are allowed in the office
Prohibited Areas in GAL

11. Schedule
• Gross Laboratory is opened 24hrs w/ one
EXCEPTION
 MONDAYS the gross lab has weekly
maintenance from 5:00-8:00am
• Gross Anatomy Session Lead will announce if there
are any changes to the gross lab schedule

12. Comportment

13. Rules
The rules of the anatomy laboratory are based
upon PATIENT PRIVACY, RESPECT, SECURITY,
SAFETY, and MAINTENANCE. These rules will be
observed in the laboratory AT ALL TIMES.

14. It’s an Honor
• You should remember how privileged you are to be
able to dissect the human body
• Most of the cadavers were willed to the Medical
School for the benefit of teaching and learning the
structure and function of the human body
• These individuals have given themselves so that
you may learn

15. • Treat the cadaver with dignity at ALL times
• Please RESPECT the INDIVIDUAL that you are dissecting
• Never make unnecessary cuts
• The genital area must remain appropriately draped at all
times, unless working in this area
• Never remove the ID tag from the cadaver or the body bag
RESPECT

16. RESPECT con’t
• Inappropriate or improper behavior and/or
comments within and outside the laboratory
is/are unacceptable.
• The articulated skeletons, skulls and isolated
bones are to be afforded the same respect as
the cadavers

17. NO visitors are allowed in the lab
• Do not share the key code with unauthorized personnel
NO photography, videos or recordings at anytime are
allowed
• If found in violation of this rule, your program will not be
allowed to use the Gross Anatomy Laboratory in the future.
Under NO circumstances may human material or any lab
materials be removed from the lab
Privacy of the Deceased

18. Safety

19. General Personal Safety
• Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics are
strictly PROHIBITED in the lab
• Food and drink should NEVER be stored on the
shelves, bench tops or in your storage bins
• Long hair, ties, scarves and jewelry should be secured
• Keep pens and pencils OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!!

20. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE should be worn where indicated
PPE includes:
 Scrubs
 Shoes (Close-toe shoes ONLY)
 Goggles
 Aprons
 Gloves (MUST be worn throughout the dissection period)
 Masks( With or Without Shields)
Scrubs and disposable aprons
 Should be worn in the lab to protect you and your clothing from contamination
 Scrubs and aprons should not be worn outside the laboratory
Gloves
 DO NOT wear gloves outside of the laboratory
 MUST be worn when in contact with the cadaver
 MUST be worn when using any tools and materials that come in contact with
preserved specimens
 When using study materials such as iPads, skeletal models, bones, medical images (X-
rays, MRIs)
PLEASE USE CLEAN GLOVES!!

23. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH
SOAP AND WATER AT THE
CLEAN SINK AREA

24. Chemicals Used in Lab
• Formalin (37% formaldehyde)
• Phenol
• Glycerol
• Ethanol
• Methanol
• Water
• Thymol
These chemicals are used to “fix” or “preserve” the cadaver
through the process of embalming. These chemicals are also in
the WETTING SOLUTION.

25. Routes of formaldehyde exposure
• Inhalation
• Oral
• Skin Contact
• Eye Contact

26. Formaldehyde Safety
Risks associated with formaldehyde exposure:
• Carcinogen
• Cause irritation to the eyes nose and throat
• Wheezing
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Coughing
• Skin irritation
• Contact dermatitis (not contagious)
Use cool compression, OTC ointments, lotions and
moisturizer
Following the universal precautions will protect you from
the irritating effects of the embalming fluids i.e. PPE

27. Formaldehyde Exposure
• Pregnant and lactating women should consult their physician
regarding the inhalation of chemical agents used in the lab
prior to taking gross anatomy lab.
• If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, lactating or
become pregnant during the Gross Anatomy course, you
MUST notify the Gross Anatomy Laboratory Director/ Course
Instructor IMMEDIATELY
• You will not be allowed to enter/participate in the Gross
Anatomy Laboratory until you have taken the FIT TEST
 Conducted by Health and Emergency Management
Services (HEMS)
FIT TEST
• fitting for an OSHA approved respirator
This also applies to those who may
have upper respiratory problems
and those who have developed an
adverse reaction to the embalming
fluid

28. Other Solutions used in the Lab
3 spray bottles
• BLUE (labeled Downy)
 Mask/reduce the pungent
cadaver odor
• RED (labeled WETTING SOLUTION)
 Contains Formaldehyde
 Keeps the cadaver moist
 Keeps mold from growing
 Spray away from your face
 Spray as close to the cadaver as
possible
 Wear goggles and a mask
w/shield.
• GREEN (labeled DISINFECTANT)
 Clean general working area after
each use
 Clean anything that came into
contact with preserved
specimens

29. Cadaver Care & Maintenance

30. • ALL cadaver waste materials ( tissue, bones, skin) must
be disposed of in the caddie assigned to your dissection
tank.
• The caddie has a RED biohazard bag inside and all
materials from your cadaver must be placed inside
biohazard bag within the caddie.
 DO NOT put anatomical material in the caddie
w/o a biohazard bag. Your group will be
responsible for the cleaning of the caddie if this
occurs.
• DO NOT discard your gloves, tissue paper, yarn/string or
any other type of material inside the caddie. This is ONLY
for materials from your cadaver.
• If you are unsure about what goes inside the caddie,
please ASK the gross laboratory staff or faculty.

31. • Cloth is provided to keep the cadaver and
dissected organs moist
 When leaving the cadaver for a period of time,
please cover the cadaver
• Any areas NOT being dissected should remain
covered with cloth that has been moisten with
WETTING SOLUTION
• When there is an excess of fluid in the body
bag, you MUST use the Wetvac to suction the
excess fluid
• The cadaver tanks MUST be closed at the end
of each laboratory

32. Transporting Organs/Prosections
• Organs/Prosections MUST be placed on a tray
• ALL organs/prosections MUST have an index
card with the tag# in the tray at ALL times
Prohibits organs from being lost or mixed
• DO NOT mix/swap organs with other tanks

33. Cleanliness

34.  Any materials (papers, gloves,
disposable gowns, paper towels) that
have come in contact with preserved
specimens and/or fluids MUST be
disposed of in the trash bins with the
RED biohazard bags.
Any other materials may be disposed of
in the regular trash
Trash

35. Trays & Surfaces
• Wash the trays with soap and water, dry them
with paper towels and return them to
designated area
• Any surface that came in contact with
preserved specimen/fluids MUST be wiped
with DISINFECTANT.

36. Work & Lab Spaces
• Keep ALL lab work areas neat and safe
• DO NOT leave items in the sinks, on the
tabletops, or at the sides of the room
• DO NOT use the CLEAN sink area to wash any
tools or items
• DO NOT turn on the garbage disposals
• DO NOT dispose of anatomical material down
the SINKS YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR KEEPING YOUR AREA
CLEAN

37. Instrument Safety

38. • Keep ALL dissection instruments
on the dissecting tray
• DO NOT leave instruments inside
the body bag
• DO NOT leave instruments on the
side of the tanks, sinks or chairs
• DO NOT leave instruments inside
of the cadavers
At the end of each lab make sure
you have all your instruments
accounted for before you close the
body up

39. Scalpels
• Be careful using scalpel blades or any sharp
instruments
• Wait for proper directions on how to put on the
scalpel blade from faculty

40. Scalpel Safety
• When the scalpel is not in use,
the scalpel MUST be placed
with the blade DOWN INSIDE
the Styrofoam block
Make sure that the scalpel
blade is not protruding out of
the opposite end of the
Styrofoam block

41. Transporting Scalpel
When transporting the scalpel,
make sure the blade is down
inside the Styrofoam block

42. How to Dispose of Scalpel Blades
• Dispose scalpel blades
ONLY in the RED
sharps/biohazard
containers
• NEVER dispose of
“sharps” in wastebaskets
or garbage cans
Read the instructions on the
container, they illustrate the
correct way to remove the
scalpel blade

43. Saws
• Take extreme precaution when
using the saw
• Make sure your gloves are not
soiled to prevent slipping
• Goggles and masks MUST be worn
when using the saw
• You MUST wait on proper
direction on how to operate the
saw from the faculty
• It gets loud so please follow
directions carefully

44. • The faculty will provide you with instructions
on how to use the different instruments in the
gross lab
• Make sure you pay attention to where you
place your hands and fingers and those of
your classmates

45. Other Instruments
Students MUST wear safety goggles when using
hammers, chisels and bone pliers

46. Injuries and Medical Emergencies

47. Eye Washing Stations
• If you splash preservative fluid,
disinfectant or specimen fragments
into your eyes, IMMEDIATELY notify
faculty/staff for assistance
• Rinse thoroughly with the eye wash
solution located on the walls of the
gross lab
• Faculty/staff will coordinate first aid
efforts and will document and notify
Occupational Health and Safety
(OHS) and/or call for emergency
medical assistance if needed

48. Cuts
• If you should cut, puncture, or wound yourself
with any instruments, notify faculty or staff for
assistance in thoroughly washing the wound.
• First aid efforts will be coordinated and OHS
will be notify and or a call for emergency
medical assistance if needed

49. All incurred injuries in the gross anatomy
laboratory, no matter how insignificant they may
appear, MUST be reported immediately to an
instructor and/or GAL staff.

50. After Hours
If there is a medical emergency after
normal working hours please contact
GWPD.

51. After Hour Minor Injuries
• Report to Occupational
Health and Safety
• Emergency On-Call List is
posted on the entrance
door of the gross lab
Updated monthly
• MUST report injuries to lab
director, staff member or
faculty

52. Evacuation
If it should become necessary to evacuate the
lab, follow the faculty and staff to a safe
location.

53. Enjoy Learning
Thank you!

54. Environmental
Occupational Health &
Safety
George Washington
University
Health and Emergency
Management Services
(HEMS)
Philips Hall Suite B-148
801 22nd St. NW
Washington, DC 20052
Tel: 2022532315
Important Contacts
Office of Laboratory Safety
George Washington
University
Ross Hall, Suite B-05
Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202-994-8258
labsafety@gwu.edu
Kerrie Lashley
Gross Anatomy Laboratory
Manager
School of Medicine & Health
Sciences
Ross Hall, Suite 710J
2300 Eye Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Tel: 202-994-2200
klashley81@gwu.edu