RISK MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY Flashcards
The process of ensuring and maintaining personal as well as environmental health and safety in the laboratory.
Risk management
First step of risk management
Identification of hazard in the workplace
What to do with unidentifiable, questionable, old or obsolete reagents and chemicals
Set aside for disposal
Proper way of handling toxic substances that generates aerosols
Use fume hoods or suitable containment devices
Used to protect hands and forearms
Gloves and gown
Is it allowed to eat in the laboratory?
No
Is it okay to wear sandals in the laboratory?
No
Is it okay to bring pets in the laboratory?
No
Is it okay to use phone in the laboratory?
No
Can you play music in the laboratory?
No
How often does the emergency materials be checked?
Monthly
Where to store combustible chemical materials?
Heat-resistant cabinets
How to store acids and bases?
Store separately
Proper way of tissue disposal
Stored in formalin and dispose by incineration or by putting them through a “tissue grinder”
Used chemicals must not be released into soil, drains and waterways. True or false?
True
Main categories of hazards
Chemical
Physical
Biological
Examples of chemical hazards
Cleaning agents
Disinfectants
Drugs
Anesthetic gases
Solvents
Paints
Compressed gases
How to properly store explosive chemicals?
Never store after use
Terms used to define the maximum allowable airborne concentration of a chemical to which a worker may be exposed.
Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs)
Proper labeling of chemicals includes information such as:
Chemical name and, if a mixture, names of all ingredients
Manufacturer’s name and address
Date purchased or made
Expiration date, if known
Hazard warnings and safety procedures
Chemicals that cause reversible inflammatory effects at the site of contact with living tissue
Irritants
Chemicals that can cause destruction or irreversible alterations when exposed to living tissue, or destroy certain inanimate surfaces
Corrosive chemicals
Chemical that cause allergic reactions in some exposed workers, not just in hypersensitive individuals.
Sensitizers
Substances that induce tumors
Carcinogens
Examples of carcinogenic chemicals
Chloroform
Chromic acid
Formaldehyde
Nickel chloride
Potassium dichromate
Examples of carcinogenic dyes
Auramine
Basic fuchsin
Any dye derived from benzidine
Congo red
Diaminobenzidine
Substances capable of causing death by ingestion, skin contact or inhalation at certain specified concentrations.
Toxic materials
Example of toxic materials
Methanol
Chromic acid
Osmium tetroxide
Uranyl nitrate
How to minimize hazards from accidental breakage of apparatus or spills of toxic substances in the fume hood
They should be stored in pans or trays made of polyethylene or other chemically resistant material.
What to do with material that comes in contact with toxic substances
Dispose as toxic substances
How to store volatile substances having high chronic toxicity
Store in ventilated storage area
Any area used for storage of substances of high chronic toxicity must be maintained under negative pressure with respect to the surroundings. True or false?
True
How to store dangerous liquids?
Store below countertop height
Avoid storing chemicals above eye level
Why is it that storage of chemicals above eye level must be avoided?
To minimize the risk of bodily exposure in case a bottle is dropped and broken.
Is it okay to store flammable liquids in refrigerator or freezer?
No, unless suitable for explosive atmosphere
How to store leftover flammable liquid
Dispose! Do not keep any leftover flammable liquid.
Flammable liquids should be stored in
Cabinets and safety containers that are approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
More significant route of exposure from chemicals
Skin
General rule of diluting acid
Always add acid into the water
Hypochlorite solutions are classified as what type of chemical
Irritants and corrosives
Is it okay to autoclave bleach solutions?
Not okay
Why should we not combine chlorine solutions
Combining these chemicals could result in release of chlorine gas, which can cause nausea, eye irritation, tearing, headache, and shortness of breath.
Substance used to produce substances with temperatures below -153°C (-243°F)
Cryogens
Example of cryogens
Liquid nitrogen
Can we handle cryogens with bare hands?
No
How to properly dispose dry ice
Allow it to sublimate or evaporate to the atmosphere in a well-ventilated area where CO2 vapor cannot build up.
Most obvious physical hazards
Slips and falls
Indicator of improper posture when working
Pain
Ideal sharp container
Puncture-resistant & leak proof containers
When should we replace a sharp container
When 3/4 is full
Why do we need to replace sharp containers when 3/4 is full?
To prevent overfilling
Is it okay to remove the cover of of sharps container?
No
Can we transfer the content of sharps container?
No
Substances whose vapors will ignite at or above a certain temperature (or flash point) or in the presence of an ignition source.
Combustibles
OSHA defines “flash point” as
100°F (38°C)
Department of Transportation defines “flash point” as
141°F (or 60.5°C)
Substances that have flash points below flash point temperature
Flammables
Where do we need to place the infectious materials when dealing with laboratory fire
Placed into autoclaves, incubators, refrigerators, or freezers for containment.
Types of electrical hazards
Electric shock
Arc blasts
Electrocution
Fires and explosions
Causes of electrical hazards
Faulty electrical equipment/instrumentation or wiring
Damaged receptacles and connectors
Unsafe work practices.
Damaged electrical cords can lead to
Shocks or electrocution
How to avoid electrical hazards
Equip all electrical power outlets with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
How to repair damages on extension cords
Discard! Never repair / shorten and install new plug
What to do when you see a person being electrocuted
Do not touch them! Use non-conductive materials to pry them away from the contact
Refers to anything that can cause disease in humans, regardless of their source.
Biological hazards
Which is less infective, fresh or fixed specimen?
Fixed specimen
Why does fixed specimen carry less risk?
Because infectious agents are deactivated by histological fixation
Does complete alcohol penetration enough to kill prions?
No
Infectious agents that cause spongiform encephalopathies
Prions
Diseases caused by prions
Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD)
Kuru and scrapie
Mad cow disease
How to decontaminate tissue from patients with suspected CJD
Immerse the specimen in formalin for 48 hours, followed by treatment in concentrated formic acid for 1 hour, and additional formalin fixation for another 48 hours.
Biological safety cabinet(s) must be certified within
Last 12 months of use.
Amount of spill that can be safely handled by the immediate staff.
Small spills
What to do if the amount of spilled material is limited to a few grams or milliliters
Simply wiped off with towel or sponge, while protecting the hands
How to dispose towel or sponge used to wipe chemical spills?
Dispose to appropriate trash; do not put it into the general trash
What to do when significant spills of dangerous materials occur?
All personnel should evacuate the room or immediate vicinity where the accidental spilled occurred, and first aid must be given to anyone who has gotten splashed or is feeling the effects of vapors.
What to do when chemical spill is large?
Area must be sealed off and an experienced emergency response team must be called.
Most common accidents requiring first aid
Ingestion
Eye contact
Extensive skin contact
How long do we need to wash the affected area when accidental skin contact with hazardous chemicals occur?
15-30 minutes
How to wash hazardous substance that is not readily water-soluble
Use soap with the water wash
Distance between emergency eyewash station and working area
No more than 100 feet
Recommend water temperature of emergency eyewash station
15-35°C
Is it okay to use portable eyewash bottles?
No
Why is it not recommended to use portable eyewash bottles?
They pour too little liquid and may become contaminated with microorganisms.
Ergonomic risk factors
Awkward or sustained postures
Highly repetitive movements
Excessive force or strain
Contact stresses
Vibration
Occur when body parts are positioned away from their neutral position.
Awkward posture
Sustained contact between a body part and an external object.
Contact stress
Period of time that a body part is exposed to an ergonomic risk factor.
Duration
Repeated performance of motion that includes other ergonomic risk factors such as force and/or awkward posture.
Repetition
Occur when a body part is held in a single position over a long period of time.
Static posture
Interval of rest when using microscope
Every 15 minutes
Interval of stretching when using microscope
30-60 minutes
Harmless by themselves, they may present a serious fire risk when in contact with suitable substances.
Oxidizers
Primary example of this hazard is picric acid
Explosives
