Laboratory Safety Flashcards
Key to preventing such injuries or accident is a
Well-defined Safety Programs
Issued a final rule of exposure to blood-borne pathogens standard
December 1991—Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The rule that protects the laboratory workers became effective in
March 6,1992
Original Term for Standard Precautions
Universal Precautions
Current term for Universal Precautions
Standard Precautions
Aims to remind that ALL BLOOD, BODY FLUIDS, and UNFIXED TISSUE are considered potentially Infectious
Standard Precautions
Best way to break the chain of infection
Handwashing
Steps for hand washing
- Wet hands with warm water
- Apply antimicrobial soap
- Rub to form a lather, create friction, and loosen debris
- Thoroughly clean between fingers, including thumbs, under fingernails, and rings, and up to the wrist for atleast 15 seconds.
- Rinse hand in a downward position
- Dry with a paper towel
- Turn faucet off with a clean paper tower to prevent recontamination.
Hands must be washed:
1.If there is visible contamination of blood and body fluid
2.Before and after work
3.After gloves are removed and in between glove changes
4.Before leaving the laboratory
5.Before eating and drinking
6.Before and after all the activities that entail hand contact with mucous membranes, eyes, or breaks in skin.
Eating, drinking, smoking and applying cosmetics
Prohibited in the clinical laboratory working area
Hands, pens, other fomites
Kept away from the worker’s mouth
Food, drinks, medications
Not kept in the same refrigerator as laboratory specimen
Mouth pipetting
Is prohibited
Not manipulated in any way; must be placed in a puncture resistant and leak proof container
Needles and other sharp objects
Should be performed behind plastic shields or wearing goggles/ eyewear to avoid splashing
Transferring liquids, removing caps, filling hemocytometers, making dilutions
