Laboratory Safety and Hazards Flashcards
Chemical Waste Disposal
- Flush water-soluble substances down the drain with large
quantities of water - Strong acids and bases should be neutralized before
disposal - Foul-smelling chemicals should never be disposed down
the drain - Flammable solvents → collected in approved containers
- Flammable material → specially designed incinerators
- Solid chemicals → landfill
Composed of combustible metals that can be extinguished by dry chemicals, sand, or dry powder.
Class D Fire Type
Biological/Biochemical Waste Disposal
All biological waste (EXCEPT URINE) should be placed in appropriate containers labeled with a biohazard symbol.
Healthcare facilities developed procedures to control and monitor infections occurring within facilities.
Infection Control
Consists of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses.
Infectious agents
Classified according to flash point → the temperature at which sufficient vapor is given off to form an ignitable mixture
with air.
Flammable / Combustible Chemicals
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires that all Healthcare institutions post evacuation routes and detailed plans to follow in the event of a fire.
Fire Hazard
Composed of grease, oils, or fats that can be extinguished by liquid designed to prevent splashing and cool the fire.
Class K Fire Type
Composed of wood, paper, or clothing that can be extinguished by water.
Class A Fire Type
All sharp objects must be disposed in puncture-resistant, leak-proof container with the biohazard symbol.
Sharp Hazard Safety
Urine Disposal
Decontaminate the sink by 1:5 or 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite (bleach solution). Disinfection of the sink should be performed daily. Empty urine containers can be discarded as
nonbiologically hazardous waste. Incineration, inactivation, burial, chemical disinfection, encapsulation in a solid matrix
Specimens should be capped during centrifugation.
True
Chemicals should never be mixed together unless specific instructions are followed, and they must be added in the order specified. (Important when combining acid and water)
Chemical Handling
OSHA Blood-Borne Pathogen standard requires written ‘Exposure Control Plan”.
True
From an animal or insect bite.
Vector
Centrifuges → must be balanced to distribute the load equally.
Mechanical Hazards
R.A.C.E.
Rescue
Alarm
Contain
Extinguish/Evacuate
Equipment should not be operated with wet hands. All electrical equipment must be grounded with three-pronged plugs. Designated hospital personnel monitor electrical equipment closely; however, laboratory personnel should continually observe for any dangerous conditions, such as frayed cords and overloaded circuits. Equipment that has become wet should be unplugged and allowed to dry completely before reusing. All equipment also should be unplugged before cleaning.
Electrical Hazards
When skin contact occurs, the best first aid is to flush the area with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes and then seek medical attention.
Chemical spills and exposure
Hazardous material symbol
NFPA 704
Regular exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
Category II
Waste Disposal Technique
- Incineration
- Recycling
- Landfill burial
- Flushing down the drain
Any blood, blood fluid, or other potentially infectious material spills must be cleaned up by:
Spill cleanup kit
Common aqueous detergent
10% bleach using appropriate contact time
The host inhales material from the reservoir.
Droplet
P.A.S.S.
Pull Pin
Aim Nozzle
Squeeze Trigger
Sweep Nozzle
Infectious agents must have a way to exit the reservoir to continue their chain of infection. This can be through the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes, and in blood or other bodily fluids.
Portal of exit
The unprotected host touches the patient, specimen, or a contaminated object.
Direct contact
Exposure to radiation during pregnancy does not endanger the fetus.
False
Employers do not have to offer HBV vaccine to all personnel (Category I and II).
False
Equipment and radioisotopes
Radioactive Hazards
Hazardous chemicals should be labeled with a description of their particular hazard, such as poisonous, corrosive,
flammable, explosive, teratogenic, or carcinogenic.
Chemical Labelling
Caused by an electrical anomaly that can be extinguished by dry chemicals, carbon dioxide, foam, or Halon.
Class C Fire Type
All areas where radioactive materials are used or stored must be posted with caution signs, and traffic in these areas should be restricted to essential personnel only.
Radiation Safety
Blood and body fluid precautions should be consistently used for all patients.
CDC (Universal Precaution 1985)
Can be another patient during invasive procedures, visitors, and healthcare personnel when exposed to infectious specimens or needlestick injuries.
Susceptible host
Types of Safety Hazards
Biological
Sharp
Chemical
Radioactive
Electrical
Fire/explosive
Physical
Location of potentially harmful microorganisms, such as a contaminated clinical specimen or an infected patient. A place where infectious agents can live and possibly multiply.
Reservoir
Proper hand hygiene, correct disposal of contaminated materials, and wearing PPE are of major importance in the laboratory.
Chain of infection
Composed of flammable organic materials that can be extinguished by dry chemicals, carbon dioxide, foam, or Halon.
Class B Fire Type
Means of Transmission (Biological Hazards)
Direct contact
Airborne
Droplet
Vehicle
Vector
Injurious to the skin or eyes by direct contact or to the tissue of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract if inhaled or ingested.
Corrosive Chemicals
OSHA also requires all facilities that use hazardous chemicals to have a written chemical hygiene plan (CHP) available to employees.
Chemical Hygiene Plan
Safety Equipment
Safety showers / eye wash station
Fire extinguisher
Fume hood
Biosafety cabinets
PPE
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Physical and chemical characteristics
Fire and explosion potential
Reactivity potential
Health hazards and emergency first aid procedures
Methods for safe handling and disposal
Primary routes of entry
Exposure limits and carcinogenic potential
Ingestion of a contaminated substance.
Vehicle
Inhalation of dried aerosol particles circulating on air currents or attached to dust particles.
Airborne
No exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
Category III
Pertains to needles, lancets, and broken glassware/glass slides.
Sharp Hazards
Equipment and other soiled inanimate objects will serve as reservoirs, particularly if they contain blood, urine, or other bodily fluids.
Fomites
Not unique to the laboratory, and routine precautions observed outside the workplace apply.
Physical Hazards
Spontaneously explode or ignite or that evolve heat or flammable or explosive gases.
Reactive Chemicals
Can be the same as the portal of exit, which includes the mucous membrane of the nose, mouth and eyes, breaks in the skin, and open wounds.
Portal of entry
Daily exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
Category I
Refers to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans.
Biological Hazard
Two Primary Causes of Accidents
Unsafe activities
Unsafe environmental conditions
Blue in HAZMAT
Health Hazard
Red in HAZMAT
Fire Hazard
White in HAZMAT
Specific Hazard
Yellow in HAZMAT
Reactivity
All sharp objects must be disposed in puncture-resistant, leak-proof container with the biohazard symbol.
True
Green in Segregation of Hospital Bio-Medical Waste
General Waste
Red in Segregation of Hospital Bio-Medical Waste
Infected Plastics
Yellow in Segregation of Hospital Bio-Medical Waste
Infected Waste
Blue in Segregation of Hospital Bio-Medical Waste
Glassware
