Lab Safety/Handwashing/Donning and Doffing

• Employer and employee share safety responsibility
• Employer has ultimate responsibility for safety and delegates authority for safe operations to supervisors
• Safety management in the laboratory should start with a written safety policy
• Laboratory supervisors are essential members of the safety program
• Biological: Infectious agents - bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infectious
• Sharps: Needles, lancets, broken glass - cuts, punctures, or blood-borne pathogen exposure
• Chemical: Preservatives and reagents - exposure to toxic, carcinogenic, or caustic agents
• Radioactive: Equipment and radioisotopes - radiation exposure
• Electrical: Ungrounded or wet equipment, frayed cords - burns or shock
• Fire or Explosive: Bunsen burners, organic chemicals - burns or dismemberment
• ROT - in breaking the chain of infection
• Susceptible - infected host in continuing infection cycle
• Fume Hoods - used when chemical reagents may produce hazardous fumes
• Biological Hoods - remove particles that may infect the person working with biologically infected specimen
• Father of Handwashing - Ignac Semmelweis
• MSDS: Physical and chemical characteristics, fire and explosion potential, reactivity potential, health hazards & emergency first aid procedures, methods for safe handling and disposal
• Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation of combustible material or fuel
• Healthcare Fire Safety: R (rescue), A (alarm), C (contain), E (extinguish)
• Fire Extinguisher: P (pull), A (aim), S (squeeze), S (sweep)
• Phlebotomist Preparation: Requisition form, wearing gowns and gloves, extensive handwashing, carrying necessary equipment to the patient area
• Regulations 

  • OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Bloodborne pathogens 
  • Universal precaution 
  • Hazard communication
  • Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals 
• Occupational safety and health act

  • Public law 91-596 (OSHA act) 
  • Their goal is to provide all employees with a safe work environment.
  • Authorized to conduct on-site-inspection to determine whether an employer is complying with the mandatory standards.
• Bloodborne Pathogens

  • OSHA bloodborne pathogen compliance directive, published november 5, 1999
  • Establishes the responsibilities of personnel service firms to provide hepatitis B vaccinations post exposure evaluation and follow-up and record keeping on their employees. 
• Universal Precaution 

  • All human blood, tissue and most fluids are treated as if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other blood borne pathogens
• Hazard communications

  • AKA “OSHA HazCom standard”
  • 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.
• Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals

  • AKA “OSHA Lab standard”
  • Intended to address the shortcomings of the hazard communication standard regarding its application peculiar to the handling of hazardous chemicals in laboratories.
  • Requires the appointment of a chemical hygiene officer and the development of a chemical hygiene plan.
• Safety Equipment

  • Safety showers (delivers 40-50 gallons per minute at 20-50 psi)
  • Eyewash stations
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Blankets
  • Spill kits
  • First aid supply
• Biological Hazard

  • Health care setting as a source of potential pathogen
  • ROT - in breaking the chain of infection
  • Susceptible - infected host in continuing infection cycle
• Handwashing

  • Safety management in the laboratory should start with a written safety policy. Laboratory supervisors, who reflect the attitudes of management toward safety, are essential members of the safety program.
• Sharp Hazard 

  • Includes needles, lancets, and broken glassware
  • Must be disposed in puncture – resistant containers
  • Use mechanical device to pick-up sharps
• Chemical Hazard

  • Chemical spills
  • Chemical handling
  • Chemical hygiene plan as required by OSHA
  • Chemical labeling
• Signage and Labeling

  Hazards-identification System

  • Developed by National Fire Protection association (NFPA)
  • Diamond shaped, color coded symbol
  • Show magnitude of severity from 0-4
• Radioactive Hazard 

  • Radioactive is encountered in the clinical laboratory when procedures using radioisotopes are performed.
  • Radioactivity present in the clinical laboratory is very small 
  • Time
  • Distance
  • Shielding
• Electrical Hazard 

  Actions to take if electrical shock occurs:

  • Shut off the source electricity.
  • If the source of electricity cannot be shut off, use non-conducting material (eg., hand inside a glass breaker) to remove the source of electricity from the victim.
  • Call for medical assistance.
  • Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if indicated.
  • Keep the victim warm.
• Fire/Explosive Hazard

  • Fire is a chemical reaction that involves the rapid oxidation of combustible material or fuel, with the subsequent liberation of heat and light.
  • Elemental Essential to Begin Fire
  • Fuel
  • heat/ ignition source
  • Oxygen
  • Reaction chain - burning continues and even accelerates.
  • Healthcare Fire Safety : R (rescue), A (alarm), C (contain), E (extinguish)
  • Fire Extinguisher : P (pull), A (aim), S (squeeze), S (sweep)
• Physical Hazard

  • Physical hazards are not unique to the laboratory, and routine precautions observed outside the workplace apply.
• Fire Type - Extinguishing Material

  • Class A - Wood, paper, clothing
• Fire Type - Extinguishing Material

  • Class B - flammable organic chemicals
• Fire Type - Extinguishing Material

  • Class C - electrical
• Fire Type - Extinguishing Material

  • Class D - combustible metals