C - Lesson 10 Laboratory Safety Flashcards
are numerous but can be avoided with knowledge of safe working practices and simple rules.
Laboratory risks and hazards
Common laboratory risks and hazards that may arise from improper work procedures and practices include:
➢ Accidental ingestion of a hazardous or an infectious substance
➢ Cuts due to incorrect handling of glassware
➢ Accidentally dropping containers of hazardous and infectious substances ➢ Implosions of vessels being evacuated which may lead to exposure to the reagents inside the vessel or the fragments of shattered glass
➢ Explosions of vessels operating under internal pressure with the same effects as implosions
➢ Flammability, toxicity, physical and infection risks presented by some wastes
Affect the morale and threaten the emotional health of the party involved
LABORTORY SAFETY MANAGEMENT
are expensive in terms of lost wages & medical treatment
Injuries
impair the ability to serve
Injuries
HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT IN THE LABORATORY “THE PERFECT SET UP FOR AN ACCIDENTS”
✓ Infectious environment
✓ Potent body fluids
✓ Toxic and flammable chemicals
✓ Toxic and hazardous waste
✓ High turnover of laboratory staff
✓ High stress, overworked laboratory staff
✓ Dangerous equipment
✓ Inadequate training/ Do not follow procedure
Agencies that Issue Guidelines/Standards
- Center for Disease Control (CDC)
- International Organization of Standards (ISO)
- National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
Standards & Guidelines for hospitals & laboratories primarily related to infection control and safe work practices
- Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Standards to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services
- International Organization of Standards (ISO)
Standards on all aspects of laboratory practice developed through a voluntary consensus process
- National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)
Regulates employee safety in the workplace
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Technical Standards for Blood Banks
- American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
A. Standards
- Respiratory protection standard
- Hazard Communication Standard
- Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
- Blood-borne Pathogens Standard
- Formaldehyde Standard
Requires a respiratory protection plan
- Respiratory protection standard
Requires employers to inform employees about hazardous substances in the workplace and to educate and train them in safe and proper handling
- Hazard Communication Standard
Requires a Chemical Hygiene plan to minimize personnel exposures to hazardous chemica
- Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Mandates stringent work practices and procedures to minimize worker exposure to bloodborne pathogens
- Blood-borne Pathogens Standard
Requires monitoring of Formaldehyde exposure, engineering control, personal protective equipment, training, emergency action plan
- Formaldehyde Standard
“Right –to-Know-Law”
Hazard Communication Standard
“Laboratory Standard”
Occupational Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
B. Functions
- Ensures safety of workers in all areas
- Enforces regulations for worker safety
- Responds to complains of non-compliance of regulations
have the potential to cause injury, illness or harm, which include physical, chemical, biological
Hazards
may be people, the environment, geographical areas, or weather conditions.
Hazards
can be any factors within the environment that can harm the body without necessarily touching it.
Physical hazards
Radiation: including ionizing, non-ionizing (EMF’s, microwaves, radiowaves, etc.)
Physical hazards
High exposure to sunlight / ultraviolet rays
Physical hazards
Temperature extremes – hot and cold
Physical hazards
Constant loud noise
Physical hazards
- Clinical laboratory shall be well-ventilated, adequately lighted, clean and safe
PHYSICAL FACILITIES
- Working space shall be sufficient
PHYSICAL FACILITIES
- Adequate water supply
PHYSICAL FACILITIES
: structurally safe and sound to prevent collapse
Buildings
: withstand normal load, typhoons and strong winds
Roof
: sufficient strength
Foundations and floors
▪ to sustain safely the loads
Foundations and floors
▪ Shall not be overloaded
Foundations and floors
submitted to building official for examination and approval
Plans
▪ proposed new construction
Plans
▪ alterations
Plans
▪ substantial repairs
Plans
Space Requirements
- Workrooms
- Maximum number of persons
- Adequate spaces between machinery and equipment
▪ air-conditioned
▪ process allows free movement
- Workrooms
- Workrooms Height
existing heights of not less than
at least 2.7 meters (8 ft. 10 in.)
2.4 meters
Maximum number of persons
one person per 11.5 cubic meters (400 cu. ft.)
Adequate spaces between machinery and equipment
▪ Not less than [?] to allow normal operation, maintenance or repair
▪ [?] of materials under process
60 cm (24 in)
Free flow
General Ventilation
- Clean fresh air shall be supplied
- Mechanical ventilation shall be provided.
Clean fresh air shall be supplied
a. Average rate:
20-40 m3 (700-1400 ft3)/hour/worker
Clean fresh air shall be supplied
b. to effect a complete change of air
▪ Sedentary workers:
▪ Active workers:
4x/hour
8x/hour
Mechanical ventilation shall be provided.
Air Movement:
workers shall not be subjected to objectionable drafts
Infected Sharps & Others
Infected Sharps & Others
➢ Use special [?]
red sharps container w/ secure lid and hard sides
➢ Do NOT handle needles
Infected Sharps & Others
➢ Contaminated Needles and sharps
Infected Sharps & Others
➢ Collection tubes, Pasteur pipettes
Infected Sharps & Others
Broken glass, used glass
Infected Sharps & Others
Ingredients of fire:
✓ Ignition source ✓ Oxygen ✓ Fuel
- Keep flammable substances in separate rooms/storage cabinets
Fire Prevention Plans
- Use of fire resistant building products and equipment
Fire Prevention Plans
- Regulation of flammable materials/chemicals
o Storage volume
o Where it is stored
o How it is used
- Appropriate equipment
o Ventilated hoods
o Transporting aids
o Working space
Fire fighting strategies
- Construction:
structure, lay-out
Fire fighting strategies
- Training and practice:
drills, evacuation plan, assistance
RACE Program
Rescue
Alarm
Contain fire
Evacuate and Fight the Fire
Report the fire
Alarm
Fire alarm
Alarm
Phone
Alarm
Close doors
Contain Fire
Secure flammables, acids and alkali
Contain Fire
Secure equipment
Contain Fire