Lab Safety, and Bloodborne Pathogens

From most effective to least effective: state the control measures to mitigate risk.

Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, admin controls, PPE

General lab safety protocols

-Lock labs when unoccupied

-Wash hands

-Decontaminate work surfaces before and after work, after spills

-Do not eat, drink, smoke, etc. in lab

-Do not use phones or earbuds

-Do not work alone

-Do not wear PPE out of the lab

-Report all spills to PI

-Report toxic, reactive, drain, or 4 liter + spills to DEHS

What can go down the sink?

pH 5-11, inactivated biologicals, disinfectants

What are the 4 L’s of chemical safety?

Lid, location, label, limit

How do you call for a pickup of waste?

Chematix

What does ‘blood’ refer to?

Blood, plasma, serum, serum albumin, platelets, blood components, products and medications derived from blood

What is OPIM?

Other potentially infectious materials:

-Other body fluids

-Human cells

-Viruses and bacteria

-Animal specimens

What is occupational transmission?

Exposure to bbp through direct contact. (Needlestick injuries, aerosol exposure, splash on broken skin.)

What does bbp risk base itself on?

-Type of pathogen

-route of exposure

-Amount of blood involved

-Viral load

What’s the most common form of bbp exposure?

Sharps injuries (recapping needles, cleaning up after procedures, disposing of needles, giving meds, handling trash)

Good sharp practices

-Never recap or bend needles

-Place sharps collection container close to work area

-Discard sharps immediately after use

-Never overfill the sharps container

-Quickly begin first aid after a needlestick injury

What bbp has the highest risk of infection?

Hep B

What 2 diseases increase transmission risk when exposed simultaneously?

HIV and Hep C

What are ways to prevent exposures?

-Exposure Control plan required by OSHA

-Engineering controls (Sharps container, biosafety cabinet, secondary containers, handwashing station, autoclave, safe needles)

-Administrative controls (safe operating procedures)

-Signs and labeling

-PPE