PMLS LEC 2, LABORATORY SAFETY

Laboratory Safety

Practices ensuring safety in laboratory environments.

Agencies that provide safety standards to minimize occupational risks

World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute of Health (NIH), Department of Health (DOH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

Fire Hazard

Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the probability of the occurrence of fire, or which may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with firefighting operations and the safeguarding of life and property

Class A Fire

Ordinary Combustibles like Paper, Wood, Plastics, and Fabric

Class B Fire

Flammable Liquids and Gases/Chemicals

Common Volatile Solvents

Acetone, Alcohols, Ethers, Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Heptane, Compressed Gases

Class C Fire

Electrical equipment. May start from frayed wires, malfunctioning equipment or old electrical systems that spark and ignite flammable chemicals or combustible materials located near it.

Class D Fire

Flammable and combustible metals

Class E Fire

Fires that cannot be extinguished.

Fire Extinguishers

A device that can be used to put out fires

Water

Used only for class A fires

Dry Chemical

For classes A, B, and C fires, it is the most common all-purpose fire extinguisher.

CO2

For classes A, B, and C fires.

PASS

Operating of fire extinguishers.

Fire Hose

A flexible portable tube manufactured from watertight materials that is used to transport water from a source or pump to the point where it is discharged to extinguish fire.

Fire Blanket

Used to extinguish flames on a person's clothes or body.

Electrical Hazard

Possibility of exposure to electrical shock and fires caused by electricity.

Ergonomic Hazard

Factors in the work-place environment that can harm the musculoskeletal system due to the constant, repetitive actions, mechanical pressure, vibrations, or compressive forces on the arms, hands, wrists, neck, or back.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Related to repetitive pipetting, keyboard use, resting wrists/arms on sharp edges like the laboratory counter.

Back Pian/Sciatica

May be due to prolonged seating especially when using uncomfortable chairs.

Rotator Cuff Syndrome

Cumulative injury caused by multiple microtears that result in weakness/tears of the shoulder.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of the tendons caused by excessive or unusual use of the joint

Aching Feet

Caused by prolonged standing

Reducing Ergonomic Hazard

Engineering changes, education to enhance awareness and teach various hand, arm, leg, back, and neck exercises, and improvement in work practice or shift length.

Glassware Hazard

Risks associated with broken or contaminated glass.

Chemical Hazard

Any liquid, solid, or gas that can cause physical or health injury to a laboratory employee.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

A written safety plan for the use of hazardous chemicals indicating specific work practices, procedures, and PPE that must be used to ensure that employees are protected.

Detailed Hazard Information/Hazard Communication Standard Label

Includes exposure symptoms, appropriate first-aid procedures on exposure, and spill response procedures.

Hazard Communication Standard Pictogram

Symbols that may be used in a hazard communication label.

National Fire Protection Association Symbol

Color-coded diamond symbol that indicates the type of hazard a type of chemical presents.

Rating No. 4 - Blue

Can be lethal

Rating No. 3 - Blue

Can cause serious or permanent injury

Rating No. 2 - Blue

Can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury

Rating No. 1 - Blue

Can cause significant irritation

Rating No. 0 - Blue

No Hazard

Rating No. 4 - Red

Will vaporize and readily burn at normal temperature

Rating No. 3 - Red

Can be ignited under almost all ambient temperatures

Rating No. 2 - Red

Must be heated or high ambient temperature to burn

Rating No. 1 - Red

Must be preheated before ignition can occur

Rating No. 0 - Red

Will not burn

Rating No. 4 - Yellow

May explode at normal temperatures & pressures

Rating No. 3 - Yellow

May explode at high temperature or shock

Rating No. 2 - Yellow

Violent chemical change at high temperatures or pressures

Rating No. 1 - Yellow

Normally stable. High temperatures make unstable

Rating No. 0 - Yellow

Stable

White (ALK)

alkaline

White (ACID)

acidic

White (COR)

corosive

White (OX)

oxidizing

White (☢)

radioactive

White (₩)

reacts violently or explosively with water

White (₩ OX)

Reacts violently or explosively with water and oxidizing agents.

Safety Data Sheet

Previously known as material safety data sheet or MSDS, is an insert that comes with every hazardous chemical used in the clinical laboratory. It is presented in a consistent, user-friendly, 16-section format.

Dilute

When disposing strong corrosive chemicals in the sink, make sure to (blank) it first

Biological Hazard/Biohazard

Indicates the presence of an infectious material or agents that present a risk or potential risk to the health of humans or animals.

☣

Biohazard symbol

Biohazard in Direct Contact

Specimen collection, specimen handling and transportation, specimen processing.

Biohazard for the Environment

Bioterrorism, handling during research, coming into contact with infected people or animals.

Substances with the Potential to Transmit Pathogens (according to CDC)

Blood & blood products, semen, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, CSF, urine, organs, breast milk, vaginal secretions, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, unfixed tissue specimen, saliva (with blood).

Laboratory-Acquired Infections

Infections, either symptomatic or asymptomatic, that are acquired through laboratory or laboratory-related activities as a result of working with infectious agents

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

A specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard.

Gloves

PPE made of vinyl or latex worn on hands, they must be worn during specimen collection, and should be changed between each patient.

Laboratory Coats

PPE clothing worn to prevent contamination

Facial barrier Protection and Occlusive Bandages

Masks, goggles, bandages, countertop shields. They are used if there is potential for splashing or spraying of blood or certain body fluids.

Bandage

Used to cover all skin disruptions in the face, neck, arms, and hands.

Nail Care

Nails should be no longer than 1/4 inch beyond the tip of the fingers to properly fit into the gloves.

Shoes

Should be rubber-soled, covering the entire foot and made of material that is impermeable to fluids

Electronic Devices

Should not be exposed to potential sources of infection.

Handwashing

Hands should be washed with soap and water or by hand antisepsis with an alcohol-based handrub even if hands are not visibly soiled.

Disinfection

A process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects.

Disinfecting Solution

Use 1:10 to 1:100 dilution of sodium hypochlorite solutions or household bleach with a contact time of at least 30-60 seconds although 10 minutes contact is best if possible.

Disinfecting Procedure

Performed at the beginning and end of a shift using 1:10 dilution while wearing gloves. Decontaminate non-disposable equipment by soaking overnight in 1:10 bleach solution and rinsing with methyl alcohol and water before reuse. Disposable glassware or supplies that came in contact with blood should be autoclaved before disposal.

Disinfecting procedure for spills

a. Wear gloves and a lab coat

b. Absorb the blood with disposable towels

c. Using diluted bleach at 1:10 solution, clean the spill site of all visible blood

d. Wipe down the spill site with paper towels soaked with diluted bleach

e. Place all disposable materials used in a biohazard container

General Infection Control Safety Practices

Are followed to reduce the risk of inadvertent contamination with blood or certain body fluids

Safety Manual

Each laboratory should have an up-to-date (blank) that is available for each personnel, and should contain a comprehensive listing of approved policies, acceptable practices, and precautions, including Standard Precautions.

Sharps Safety and Needlestick Prevention

Use closable, puncture-resistant and leak-proof container that is accessible, maintained upright, and not allowed to overfill. It should be colored red or labeled with the biohazard symbol. These containers should be located in patient areas and collection strays.

Specimen Processing Protection

Specimens should be transported in the laboratory in plastic, leakproof bags. Gloves should always be worn when handling samples.

Specimen Handling and Shipping Requirements

All specimens for transport should be placed in plastic bags for biohazardous specimen and the correct preanalytical temperature should be maintained throughout the transport.

Immunization

Preemployment health profiles with baseline screening of students and laboratory staff should include an immune evaluation for Hepatitis B, rubella, and measles at a minimum.

Screening Tests

Healthcare workers should be screened for tuberculosis using purified protein derivative (Mantoux) skin test or QuantiFERON TB Gold (QFT), rubella and hepatitis B.

Prophylaxis, medical follow-up, and records of accidental exposure

In any exposure incident, the exposed area should be immediately flooded with water or water and antiseptic for skin, report the incident to the supervisor and seek immediate medical attention.

HBV Exposure

HBIG is given within 23 hours for vaccinated individuals. HBsAg negative unvaccinated staff should include concurrent HBIG and HBV vaccine series.

HCV Exposure

Follow-up testing and initiation of immune globulne

HIV Exposure

4-week, two-drug regimen of HAART is initiated as soon as possible for those exposed to seropositive patients and follow-up tests for antibodies performed within 48 hours and repeated at 12 weeks and 6 months.

Proper Waste Disposal

Infectious waste must be disposed in biologic containers with a biohazard symbol, display the universal color: orange, orange & black, red, rigid, leak-proof, and puncture resistant and only used for blood and certain body fluids.

Safety Audit

A comprehensive record on six laboratory issues should be conducted annually (laboratory coats, fire extinguishers, biosafety cabinets and hoods, eyewash stations and safety showers, chemicals, safety data sheet).

Safey Audit - Laboratory Coats

Clean and used coats should be separated

Safety Audit - Fire Extinguishers

Should be up to date and not expired

Safety Audit - Biosafety Cabinets and Hoods

Annually Certified

Safety Audit - Eyewash Stations and Safety Showers

Should be within 100 feet or no more the 10-second walk from hazardous chemicals

Safety Audit - Chemicals

Annual Inventory

Safety Audit - Safety Data Sheet

A hard or electronic copy for each hazardous chemical should be available within 5 minutes or request