Laboratory Safety

• microbiology laboratory practices were first established in

  1913
• absence or free from hazard

  safety
• events that may lead to injuries and diseases

  hazard
• source: infectious agents

  possible injury: bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic infections

  biologic
• source: needles, lancets, broken glass

  possible injury: cuts, punctures, blood borne


  sharps
• source: preservatives and reagents

  possible injury: exposure to toxic, carcinogens or caustic agents

  chemical
• source: ungrounded or wet equipment

  possible injury: burns or shock

  electrical
• source: open flames, organic chemicals

  possible injury: burns or dismemberment 


  fire/explosive
• source: wet floors, heavy boxes, patients

  possible injury: falls, sprain, strains

  physical
• ensure that all lab personnel have a thorough working knowledge of the hazards of the chemical which they work with

  hazard communication standard
• color: fire hazard

  red
• color: reactivity hazard

  yellow
• color: special hazard

  white
• color: health hazard

  blue
• this plan includes guidelines on:

  • proper labeling of chemical containers
  • manufacturers material safety data sheets
  • written chemic safety training and retraining programs

  chemical hygiene plan
• provided in the laboratory to prevent inhalation of toxic fume

  fume hood
• Class A: Wood, Paper, Clothing: Water
• Class B: flammable organic chemicals: Dry chemicals, Carbon dioxide, FOAM, Halon
• Class C: Electrical: Dry chemicals, Carbon dioxide, Halon
• Class D: Combustible Metals: Sand and Dry powder
• Class K: Grease, Oil, Fats: Liquid designed to prevent splashing and cool the fire
• when fire is discovered, all employees are expected to take the actions in the acronym _?

  RACE
• rescue anyone in immediate danger

  Rescue
• activate the institutional fire alarm system


  Alarm
• close all doors to potentially affected areas

  Contain
• attempt to extinguish the fire, if possible or evacuate, closing the door

  Extinguish/Evacuate
• Fire drills should be conducted quarterly or yearly
• no extension cord should be used in the laboratory
• understanding how microorganism are transmitted

  biosafety
• consist of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses

  infections agents
• location of potentially harmful microorganism, the place where the infectious agent can live

  reservoir
• way to exit the reservoir


  portal of exit
• how disease is transmitted

  mode of transmission
• ingestion of contaminated substances (food/water)

  vehicle borne
• Lab gown, Mask, Gloves

  donning of PPE
• Gloves, Lab gown, Mask

  Doffing PPE
• all materials contaminated with potentially infectious agents must be decontaminated before disposal

  autoclave or incinerator
• contaminated cotton, gloves, etc

  biohazard container
• contaminated culture tubes and glassware used to store media and other glassware should be placed in these areas for decontamination and washing

  discard shelves, carts, bins
• any non contaminated materials, paper, trash should be discarded in these containers

  trash cans