Laboratory Safety and Regulations Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering laboratory safety standards, regulatory acts, chemical hazard categories, waste management, and emergency procedures.

Occupational Safety and Health Act

Enacted by the U.S. Congress in $1970$ as Public Law $91-596$ to provide all employees with a safe work environment.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Authorized to conduct on-site inspections to determine if an employer is complying with mandatory safety standards.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

The time and concentration a person can be exposed to formalin in an $8$-hour work day, normally $0.75$ parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air ($0.75\,ppm$).

Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL)

The maximum exposure to a high concentration of formalin ($2\,ppm$) which should only last for $15$ minutes.

Teratogens

Chemicals that can cause chromosomal abnormalities or genetic malformations to a fetus.

Carcinogens

Substances capable of causing cancer after prolonged exposure, such as xylene which can cause aplastic anemia.

Universal Precaution (UP)

Instituted by the CDC in $1987$, it considers all patients to be possible carriers of blood-borne pathogens.

Body Substance Isolation (BSI)

Guidelines that consider all body fluids and moist body substances to be potentially infectious; notably, they do not recommend handwashing after glove removal unless visual contamination is present.

Standard Precautions

Published in $1996$ to replace BSI, these recommend hand washing before and after handling a patient, specimen, or the patient’s surroundings.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Formerly known as MSDS, this is the major source of safety information for employees using hazardous materials, containing $15$ specific sections of data.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

A mandatory plan under the OSHA Laboratory Standard detailing engineering controls, PPE, and work practices to protect employees from toxic chemicals.

The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)

Formerly known as the National Committee For Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), it provides infection control guidelines.

The Joint Commission (TJC)

Formerly known as JCAHO, this organization publishes yearly accreditation manuals for hospitals.

Republic Act 9003

Also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of $2000$, it categorizes waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, non-recyclable, and special/hazardous waste.

Safety Showers

Required laboratory equipment that must release $30$ to $50$ gallons of water per minute at a pressure of $20$ to $50\,psi$.

Eyewash Stations

Safety equipment that must be located within $10$ seconds of travel for personnel.

Spill Disinfection Contact Time

The amount of time a disinfectant must remain on a spill site, specifically $2\,minutes$ for HIV and $10\,minutes$ for HBV.

Neutralizers

Sodium bicarbonate is used for acid spills, while boric acid is used for base spills.

Flashpoint

The temperature at which a chemical gives off sufficient vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air.

Corrosive Chemicals

Chemicals with a $pH$ of $<2$ (strong acid) or $>12.5$ (strong base).

Alpha Particles

Large ionizing radiation particles that can be stopped by skin or paper but cause tissue damage if inhaled or ingested.

Beta Particles

Negatively charged electrons with limited penetrating power, emitted by isotopes like $^{3}H$, $^{14}C$, and $^{32}P$.

Gamma Rays

Electromagnetic radiation with great penetrating ability and no mass or charge, produced by $^{125}I$ and $^{131}I$.

Film Badge

A monitoring device worn by personnel that can detect high levels of beta, gamma, and x-ray radiation.

Dosimeter

A device used to measure all types of radiation except low energy beta radiation.

Time-Weighted Average (TLV-TWA)

The maximum allowable exposure to a toxic chemical over an $8$-hour work day.

Ceiling Value Form (TLV-C)

The concentration of a chemical agent that must never be exceeded; it is calculated as $5$ times the TWA.

Class A Fire

Fire involving ordinary combustible solid materials such as paper, wood, plastic, and fabric.

Class B Fire

Fire involving flammable liquids, gases, or combustible petroleum products.

Class C Fire

Fire involving energized electrical equipment.

Class D Fire

Fire involving combustible or reactive metals such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium.