MLSP SAFETY LAB

• Agencies ensuring safe working conditions:

  • OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • CLSI: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute
  • CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • CAP: College of American Pathologists
  • TJC: The Joint Commission
• OSHA ensures safe working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and providing training

  • CLSI promotes national and international laboratory standards
  • CDC controls infectious diseases and provides consultation
  • CAP's Laboratory Accreditation Program utilizes practicing professionals as inspectors
  • TJC accredits laboratories and aims to improve healthcare quality
• Types of safety hazards:

  1. Biological: infectious agents like bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites

  2. Sharps: needles, lancets, broken glass leading to cuts or blood-borne pathogen exposures

  3. Chemical: exposure to toxic, carcinogenic, or caustic agents

  4. Radioactive: equipment and radioisotopes causing radiation exposure

  5. Electrical: ungrounded or wet equipment, frayed cords leading to burns or shock

  6. Fire/Explosive: Bunsen burners, organic chemicals causing burns or dismemberment

  7. Physical: wet floors, heavy boxes, patients leading to falls, sprains, or strains
• Chain of infection for biological hazards:

  • Universal precautions: all patients are considered possible carriers of blood-borne pathogens
  • Standard precautions: safety measures like handwashing, gloves, and occupational health protocols
• Standard precautions for safety:

  • OSHA standards require employees to practice standard precautions
  • Use of lab coats, gowns, face and respiratory protection, gloves, and sharps disposal containers
  • Prohibition of recapping needles and eating in work areas
• Handwashing steps:

  1. Wet hands with warm water

  2. Apply antimicrobial soap

  3. Rub to form a lather, clean between fingers and rings for at least 15 seconds

  4. Rinse in a downward position

  5. Dry with a paper towel and turn off faucets with a clean paper towel
• Sharp hazards precautions:

  • Use puncture-resistant containers
  • Do not recap needles towards the body
• Chemical hazards precautions:

  • Flush skin contact areas with water for at least 15 minutes
  • Know the location of emergency showers and eye wash stations
  • Do not neutralize chemicals on skin, follow proper handling procedures
• NFPA Hazard Diamond:

  • Provides information on physical and chemical characteristics, fire hazards, reactivity potential, health hazards, and safe handling methods
• Types of fire extinguishers:

  • Class A: for wood, paper, clothing - uses water
  • Class B: for flammable organic chemicals - uses dry chemicals, CO2, foam, or halon
  • Class C: for electrical fires - uses dry chemicals, CO2, or halon
  • Class D: for combustible metals - uses sand or dry powder
  • Class ABC: uses dry chemicals for various fires