1: Laboratory Safety and Regulations

electric shock, toxic vapors, compressed gases, flammable liquids, radioactive material, corrosive substances, mechanical trauma, poisons, risks of handling biologic materials

Clinical laboratory personnel are exposed daily to a variety of real or potential hazards such as

safety conscious

Each clinician should develop an understanding of the risks associated with these hazards and must be "?" at all times.

hazards

Safety begins with the recognition of ?

unsafe acts and unsafe environmental conditions

accidents can be traced directly to two primary causes:

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

This was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1970

Public Law 91-596

Law/Code of OSHA

provide all employees with a safe work environment

Goal of OSHA

True

T/F: OSHA is authorized to conduct on site inspections to determine whether an employer is complying with the mandatory standards

False

T/F: Safety is only a moral obligation

Bloodborne Pathogens

This standard applies to all exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials in any occupational setting.

\[29 CFR 1910.1030]

Bloodborne Pathogens Code

Exposure control plan

This plan covers specific preventative measures including exposure evaluation, engineering controls, work practice controls, and administrative oversight of the program

Universal precautions and Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Two foremost infection control measures

all human blood, tissue, and most fluids are handled as if known to be infectious for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens.

The universal precautions concept states that

10

There is also a requirement for HBV vaccination or formal declination within ? days of assuming duties that present exposure.

postexposure medical evaluation, counseling, and recommended testing or postexposure prophylaxis

In the event of an actual exposure (bloodborne pathogen), the standard outlines the procedure for ? ? ?

Hazard Communication

This subpart to OSHA's Toxic and Hazardous Substances regulations is intended to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals used in the workplace have been evaluated and that this hazard information is successfully transmitted to employers and their employees who use the substances

HazCom Standard

defines hazardous substances and provides guidance for evaluating and communicating identified hazards

proper labeling, development and use of Safety Data Sheets, employee education

primary means of (hazard) communication are through:

Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

This second subpart to OSHA's Toxic and Hazardous Substances regulations is also known as the "OSHA Lab Standard."

Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories

intended to address the shortcomings of the Hazard Communication Standard regarding its application peculiar to the handling of hazardous chemicals in laboratories, whose multiple small-scale manipulations differ from the industrial volumes and processes targeted by the original HazCom Standard.

chemical hygiene officer; chemical hygiene plan

The Lab Standard requires the appointment of a ? and the development of a ? to reduce or eliminate occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals.

chemical hygiene plan

This plan is required to describe the laboratory's methods of identifying and controlling physical and health hazards presented by chemical manipulations, containment, and storage; detail engineering controls, PPE, safe work practices, and administrative controls

Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the Toxic Substances Control Act

other federal regulations relating to laboratory safety

True

T/F: The employer and the employee share safety responsibility.

written safety policy

to ensure clarity and consistency, safety management in the laboratory should start with a ? policy

True

T/F: the employer has the ultimate responsibility for safety and delegates authority for safe operations to laboratory managers and supervisors

False

T/F: the employee has the ultimate responsibility for safety and delegates authority for safe operations to laboratory managers and supervisors

Laboratory supervisors

essential members of the safety program

Establish laboratory work methods and safety policies. Provide supervision and guidance to employees. Provide safety information, training, PPE, and medical surveillance to employees. Provide and maintain equipment and laboratory facilities that are free of recognized hazards and adequate for the tasks required.

Employer's Responsibilities

Employee conduct

a vital factor in the achievement of a workplace without accidents or injuries

Know and comply with the established laboratory safe work practices. Have a positive attitude toward supervisors, coworkers, facilities, and safety training. Be alert and give prompt notification of unsafe conditions or practices to the immediate supervisor and ensure that unsafe conditions and practices are corrected. Engage in the conduct of safe work practices and use of PPE.

Employee's Responsibilities

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

They developed a standard hazard identification system (diamond-shaped, color-coded symbol), which has been adopted by many clinical laboratories.

health hazard

blue quadrant

flammable hazard

red quadrant

reactivity/stability hazards

yellow quadrant

special information

white quadrant

statement of hazard

based on sample chemical label: 1

hazard class

based on sample chemical label: 2

safety precautions

based on sample chemical label: 3

NFPA hazard code

based on sample chemical label: 4

fire extinguisher type

based on sample chemical label: 5

safety instructions

based on sample chemical label: 6

formula weight

based on sample chemical label: 7

lot number

based on sample chemical label: 8

safety showers, eyewash stations, and fire extinguishers

All laboratories are required to have ? ? ? and to periodically test and inspect the equipment for proper operation.

30 to 50; 20 to 50

It is recommended that safety showers deliver ? gallons of water per minute at ? pounds per square in. (psi)

Fume hoods

These are required to contain and expel noxious and hazardous fumes from chemical reagents; should be visually inspected for blockages

False

T/F: The hood should be operated with the sash fully opened

Biological safety cabinets

These remove particles that may be harmful to the employee who is working with potentially infectious biologic specimens

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health

They have described four levels of biosafety

High Efficiency Particulate Air

Biosafety cabinets contain these filters

BSC CLASS I

BSC CLASS

BSC CLASS II

BSC CLASS

BSC Class III

BSC CLASS

BSC Class II Type A2

BSC CLASS

BSC Class II Type B1

BSC CLASS

0; 100; 1,2,3; 75

BSC I: HEPA recirculated, exhausted, BSCL, FV

70; 30; 2,3; 75

BSC IIA: HEPA recirculated, exhausted, BSCL, FV

30; 70; 2,3; 100

BSC II B1: HEPA recirculated, exhausted, BSCL, FV

0; 100; 2,3; 100

BSC II B2: HEPA recirculated, exhausted, BSCL, FV

N/A; 100; 3,4; N/A

BSC III: HEPA recirculated, exhausted, BSCL, FV

Safety Carriers

always be used to transport glass bottles of acids, alkalis, or organic solvents in volumes larger than 500 mL

Steel safety cabinets

required for the storage of flammable liquids

True

T/F: Only the amount of chemical needed for that day should be available at the bench

eyes, skin, respiratory and digestive tracts

The parts of the body most frequently subject to injury in the clinical laboratory are the:

Safety glasses, goggles, visors., work shields

protect the eyes and face from splashes and impact

safety glasses, goggle, visors/work shields, gloves, full-length buttoned down lab coat; masks; closed-toe shoes

PPEs

True

T/F: It is the employer's responsibility to clean and maintain any PPE used by more than one person.

Handwashing

a crucial component of both infection control and chemical hygiene; done after removing gloves

universal precautions

All blood samples and other body fluids should be collected, transported, handled, and processed using ?

False

T/F: Antiseptic gels and foams can take the place of an actual hand wash

True

T/F: specimens should remain capped during centrifugation, or several minutes should be allowed to elapse after centrifugation is complete before opening the lid

Alert others in area of the spill. Wear appropriate protective equipment. Use mechanical devices to pick up broken glass or other sharp objects. Absorb the spill with paper towels, gauze pads, or tissue. Clean the spill site using a common aqueous detergent. Disinfect the spill site using approved disinfectant or 10% bleach, using appropriate contact time. Rinse the spill site with water. Dispose off all materials in appropriate biohazard containers.

Safe cleanup of spills includes the following recommendations:

exposure control plan

available to all employees whose duties may result in reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials; This plan must be discussed with all employees and be available to them while they are working

airborne pathogen

The CDC guidelines require the development of a tuberculosis infection control program by any facility involved in the diagnosis or treatment of cases of confirmed infectious TB; what pathogen is being identified

CDC Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Tuberculosis in Health Care Facilities

The purpose of this guidelines is to encourage early detection, isolation, and treatment of TB active cases.

infectious substances & Diagnostic specimens

two types of specimen classifications for shipment

infectious substances

Known or suspect infectious specimens that can be readily transmitted to humans or animals

diagnostic specimen

specimen that are tested as routine screening or for initial diagnosis

Hazard Communication Standard

In the August 1987 issue of the Federal Register, OSHA published the new

Right to Know Law

ensure that health hazards are evaluated for all chemicals that are produced and that this information is relayed to employees; Employees must be informed of the health risks associated with those chemicals.

Plan and implement a written hazard communication program. Obtain SDSs for each hazardous compound present in the workplace and have the SDSs readily accessible to employees. Educate all employees annually on how to interpret chemical labels, SDSs, and health hazards of the chemicals and how to work safely with the chemicals. Maintain hazard warning labels on containers received or filled on-site

To comply with the regulation (Hazard Communication Standard), clinical laboratories must

Safety Data Sheet

a major source of safety information for employees who may use hazardous materials in their occupations.

Identification

Section 1:

Hazard identification

Section 2:

Ingredients information

Section 3:

First aid procedures

Section 4:

Fire-fighting procedures

Section 5:

Accidental-release measures

Section 6:

Handling and storage

Section 7:

harmful chemicals

symbol

Exposure controls and personal protection

Section 8:

Physical and chemical properties

Section 9:

Stability and reactivity

Section 10:

Toxicological information

Section 11:

Ecological information

Section 12:

Disposal considerations

Section 13:

Transport information

Section 14:

Regulatory information

Section 15: