Lab. Safety

A source of danger which can be defined as “a

condition or situation that exists in the work environment that

could result in physical harm, injury and or damage”

HAZARD:

Relates to exposure to the danger and is defined as

“the probability of any injury or loss occurring from the

hazard”

RISK:

DIFFERENT HAZARDS PRESENT IN THE LABORATORY

 BIOLOGICAL (viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi)

 PHYSICAL (noise, vibration, temperature)

 ERGONOMIC (work area layout, equipment design, instrument layout.)

 CHEMICAL /SUBSTANCES (exposure to cyanide, acids, caustic soda, lead)

 RADIATION (excessive ultraviolet exposure from the sun or welding, infra-red from drying or heating processes)

 PSYCHOLOGICAL (work load, shift arrangement, workplace violence)

Managing risks means

Forward thinking

Responsible thinking

Balanced thinking

Maximizing opportunity and minimizing threats

Identifying and understanding the risk points

Analyzing risks

Asses based on the probability and severity/impact

Evaluating risks

Pick the highest risk and decide how to mitigate them

Controlling risks

Check if the mitigation is effective

Monitoring risks

Systemic approach to identify hazards, evaluate risk and incorporate appropriate measures to manage and mitigate risk for any work process or activity

Risk assessment

Hazard identification

Risk Assessment

Exchange of information involving risk

Risk communication

Policies and management decisions on risk

Risk management

How often must the risk assessment be reviewed

atleast once every 3 yrs

after an accident

When there is significant change in work processes

Information on safety technology or requirement made known

Minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient, in any setting where healthcare is delivered

Standard precaution

Application of safety and containment measures to minimize or prevent exposure from infectious handling it in the lab, building occupants and the environment.

Biosafety

Institutional security measures designed to prevent the loss, misuse, diversion, intentional/deliberate release of pathogens and toxins

Biosecurity

 Universal precautions are an approach to infection control

to treat all human blood and body fluids as if they were

known to infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne

pathogens

BIOSAFETY

Ways of promoting biosafety

1. administrative control

2. engineering control

3. PPE

How is Biosecurity promoted

Physical security

Personnel security

Pathogen security

Information security

Transport secuirty

Access control, intrusion detection, alarm assessment

Physical security

Bg, check, periodic investigation, personnel reliability programme

Personnel security

Detailed inventory, acceptance and collection records, inactivation and disposal records

Pathogen security

Confidentiality, passwords, back-ups, protocols in record keeping

Information security

3-way packaging system, Chain of custody, International Air. Transport authority

IATA (Certified personnel)

Transport security

Is a written program stating the policies, procedures and responsibilities that protects workers from the health hazards associated with the hazardous chemicals used in that particular workplace.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Chemical Hygiene Plan must be reviewed

Annually