MLSP121WEEK2

• Safety requirements in a laboratory include: Safety Manual, Safety Equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Safety Training, Incident Reporting, Safety Audit, Safety Officer
• Types of safety hazards:

  • Biologic hazards: infectious agents such as bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections
  • Sharps hazards: needles, lancets, broken glass leading to cuts, punctures, or bloodborne pathogen exposure
  • Chemical hazards: exposure to toxic, carcinogenic, or caustic agents
  • Radioactive hazards: radiation exposure
  • Electrical hazards: ungrounded or wet equipment, frayed cords leading to burns or shock
  • Fire/Explosive hazards: open flames, organic chemicals leading to burns or dismemberment
• • Physical hazards: wet floors, heavy boxes, patients leading to falls, sprains, or strains
• Biologic hazards involve the Chain of Infection:

  • Transmission of microorganisms
  • Source: Specimen/Patient
  • Transmission through direct contact, inhalation, ingestion
  • Host
• International Safety Guidelines and Regulations include:

  • Universal Precautions (UP) developed by CDC in 1987 for blood-borne pathogens (HIV, HBV, HCV)
  • Standard Precautions (SP) combining UP and BSI
  • Appropriate use of PPEs based on Biosafety Level of facility, specific tasks, or specimens handled in the laboratory
  • Hand hygiene through hand washing or alcohol-based antiseptic cleaners
  • Biologic waste disposal with biohazard symbol on waste containers and daily sodium hypochlorite flush
• Sharps hazards involve:

  • Needles, lancets, broken glass wares
  • Puncture-resistant containers conveniently located in work areas
  • Needle Prick Injuries Reporting & PEP procedures
• Chemical hazards include:

  • Chemical spills requiring skin/eye contact flush with water and medical attention
  • Chemical Hygiene Plan with appropriate work practices, PPE, employee training
  • Chemical labeling with hazard labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Radioactive hazards involve radioisotopes in the lab, with precautions for radiographers and pregnant individuals to avoid exposure
• Electrical hazards require precautions such as not touching the person, removing the electrical source, turning off circuit breakers, and using nonconductive materials
• Fire/Explosive hazards require evacuation routes, detailed plans, and the RACE protocol for rescue, alarm, containment, and extinguishing fires
• Physical hazards include running in rooms and hallways, wet floors, lifting heavy objects, not pulling back long hair, avoiding dangling jewelry, not wearing open-toed shoes, and maintaining proper body positions