WEK 2 - LABORATORY SAFETY 1

What is the etymology of the word “safety” from Old French?

Sauf – meaning uninjured or unharmed

What is the Latin root of the word “safety”?

Salvus – meaning uninjured or healthy

What is the general definition of safety?

Absence of unwanted outcomes like accidents or incidents

According to Hollnagel (2014), what is the technical definition of safety?

System property that ensures harmful events are acceptably low

What is a hazard?

An agent that has the potential to cause harm to a vulnerable target

Give examples of hazards.

Needle, bacteria, radiation, chemical

What is medical technology?

Branch of laboratory medicine aiding in diagnosis, treatment, and health promotion

What is occupational safety?

General policies and regulations ensuring workplace safety

How was safety treated prior to the 1970s?

Safety was a self-obligation and personal responsibility

What law was passed in response to rising work-related deaths and injuries in the U.S.?

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

What did the US Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 establish?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

What is ISO 45001:2018?

Global standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

What did ISO 45001:2018 replace?

OHSAS 18001

What law serves as the labor code of the Philippines?

PD 442, 1974

Which article of the Labor Code of the Philippines refers to First Aid Treatment?

Article 156

Which article of the Labor Code addresses Safety and Health Standards?

Article 162

Which article of the Labor Code mandates Safety Devices?

Article 200

What executive order led to the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Center?

Executive Order No. 37 of 1987

Which organization released the 1989 Occupational Safety and Health Standards?

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

What law is known as the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act of 2018?

R.A. 11058

Which section of R.A. 11058 guarantees safety and health at work?

Section 5

What section of R.A. 11058 allows workers to refuse unsafe work without being threatened?

Section 6

Which section of R.A. 11058 requires reporting of accidents and dangerous occurrences?

Section 7

Which section of R.A. 11058 ensures provision of PPE free of charge?

Section 8

Which international standard specifies medical laboratory safety requirements?

ISO 15190:2020

What written plan outlines procedures and responsibilities to protect against hazardous chemicals?

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Which written procedure reduces exposure to bloodborne pathogens?

Exposure Control Plan

Which safety plan prevents exposure to tuberculosis in the workplace?

TB Control Plan

Which plan aims to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in the lab setting?

Ergonomics Plan

What is the first step in laboratory safety that involves identifying risks?

Hazard Recognition

Which law mandates training for safety practices in the workplace?

R.A. 11058 Section 5

What concept refers to the employee’s right to object to unsafe work situations?

Conscientious Objection

What is the document that outlines methods to reduce exposures and manage incidents of pathogen exposure?

Exposure Control Plan

Which plan is designed to address ergonomic risks due to repetitive or poor body mechanics?

Ergonomics Plan

Which plan includes guidelines for controlling airborne bacterial disease exposure?

TB Control Plan

What key element involves identifying hazards and documenting policies on how to deal with each one?

Hazard Identification

What are the additional important safety concerns besides hazard documentation?

Effective waste management, Bioterrorism response plan, Chemical terrorism response plan, Pandemic response plan

What type of hazard includes infectious agents like bacteria, fungi, viruses, prions, and parasites?

Biological Hazards

What are the possible sources of biological hazards in the lab?

Clinical specimens, Patients, Colleagues, Environment

What term refers to the six steps that describe how infections are transmitted?

Chain of Infection

What is the first element in the chain of infection?

Infectious Agent

What is the second element in the chain of infection?

Reservoir

What is the third element in the chain of infection?

Portal of Exit

What is the fourth element in the chain of infection?

Mode of Transmission

What is the fifth element in the chain of infection?

Portal of Entry

What is the sixth element in the chain of infection?

Susceptible Host

What safety principle treats all patients, specimens, and procedures as potentially hazardous?

Standard Precautions

From which two older guidelines did Standard Precautions originate?

Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation

What is the first element of Standard Precautions?

Hand Hygiene

What is the second element of Standard Precautions?

Use of PPEs

What is the third element of Standard Precautions?

Respiratory Hygiene

What is the fourth element of Standard Precautions?

Sharps Safety

What is the fifth element of Standard Precautions?

Safe Injection Practices

What is the sixth element of Standard Precautions?

Sterile Instruments and Devices

What is the seventh element of Standard Precautions?

Clean and Disinfect Environmental Surfaces

How long should proper hand washing take?

40 to 60 seconds

How long should hand rubbing with alcohol take?

20 to 30 seconds

Why can alcohol-based hand sanitizers not completely replace hand washing?

They are unable to kill spores

What precautionary measure involves the use of wearable equipment to protect against infectious agents?

Proper use of PPEs

What is the term for wearable equipment designed to protect lab workers from exposure to infectious agents?

Personal Protective Equipment

What type of gown is full-length, fluid resistant, has wrist cuffs, and must be completely buttoned?

Lab Gown

What mask is used for routine laboratory procedures and is made of 3 layers?

Surgical 3-ply Mask

What type of respirator is recommended for protection against airborne pathogens and is fluid resistant?

Surgical N95 Respirator

What type of protective equipment must be replaced for every patient and when visibly soiled?

Gloves

What materials are commonly used in manufacturing laboratory gloves?

Latex or Nitrile

What cannot substitute for hand hygiene despite offering barrier protection?

Gloves

Which mask layer provides soft lining for comfortable contact with the face?

Inner Layer

Which mask layer uses fine electrostatic filtering and has >95% efficiency against small particles?

Filter Layer

Which mask layer blocks large particles, droplets, and visible dust?

Outer Layer

What disinfectant and dilution is recommended for cleaning biological spills and laboratory countertops?

1:10 Dilution of Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)

When should laboratory countertops be disinfected?

At the end of each shift or after biological spills

What is the first step when encountering a biological fluid spill in the lab?

Do NOT mop or wipe immediately

What PPE-related action should be taken before addressing a biological fluid spill?

Wear approved PPE

What should you use to cover a biological spill before pouring disinfectant?

Absorbent paper

What should be used to collect sharp objects during a biological spill cleanup?

Forceps

After removing the initial paper towels from a spill, what should be sprayed on the area?

Disinfectant

How long should the disinfectant be left on the spill site before wiping?

15 minutes

Where should all disposable materials and PPEs be placed after spill cleanup?

Biohazard bag

What should be done to reusable items after a spill?

Decontaminate with disinfectant

What final step should be performed after removing PPE following a spill?

Handwashing

What type of injury involves a risk of bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and HBV?

Needlestick Injury

What is the immediate action to take after a needlestick injury?

Rinse area with soap and running water

What should NOT be done to the puncture site of a needlestick injury?

Do NOT force it to bleed

Who should you report a needlestick injury to immediately?

Safety Officer or Supervisor

What must be initiated within 24 hours after a needlestick injury?

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis

What should be performed on both the source and exposed individual after a needlestick?

Blood Testing for Infectious Diseases