FINALS

• Policy

  Statement or memo that outlines the institution's position on an administrative or operative issue
• Procedure

  An instructional document that provides explanations and step-by-step directions on how to perform a task, test, or process
• Policy Manual

  A manual that contains policies that apply to the general and overall operations of the institution
• Procedure Manual

  A manual containing procedures that apply to specific work tasks and duties
• Procedure Manuals


  • Standardization of tasks and tests performed
• Policy


  Statement or memo that outlines institutional position, decision to take in case of issue, e.g. not accepting hemolyzed samples, for administrative or operative issues
• Procedure


  Instructional document that gives explanation and step-by-step directions how to perform task/test/process
• Manuals


  Can be both policy and procedure or separate
• Policy Manual


  Contains policies applicable to general and overall operation of institution
• Procedure Manual


  Contains procedures applicable to specific work tasks/duties
• Procedure Manuals


  • Used to standardize tasks and tests performed, reference or recommended method of international bodies, not always used by some laboratories (e.g. no capability)
• Policy Statement


  General statement about intent and philosophy of company, what company actually believes in
• Contents of Policy Manual

  • Administrative organization (positions), employment & personnel policies, adherence and enforcement of safety & health practices/procedures, disaster plans, confidentiality & release of patient information, security & access to facilities, solicitation, dress code and grooming, house and safety rules, laboratory organization and reporting relationships, writing, review, and authorization/procedure, supply requisition, reporting and releasing test results
• Procedure Manuals


  AKA Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), term coined from military services
• Types of Procedure Manuals

  • External Manuals (Specimen Collection Manuals, Laboratory Service Manuals), Internal Manuals (Administrative Manual, Technical Manuals, Safety Manuals, Quality Manuals, Equipment Manuals)
• Job Aids or Quick Guide

  Shortened version of procedure, placed on strategic parts of laboratory, includes words and pictures
• Work Instructions


  No pictures, just words
• Process Flowchart


  Graphical representation of a procedure, institutional standard, created by Frank Gilbreth (1921)
• Standard Operating Procedure Components

  • Heading, Policy, Process Flowchart, Material and Equipment, Pre-analytical Guidelines, Analytical Guidelines, Post-analytical Guidelines, Safety and Waste Management, Quality Assurance
• Employer


  Obligated morally and legally to see that employees have the training, support, equipment, workload, resources, environment, and oversight necessary to perform in a safe and secure manner
• Hazards


  • Physical
  • Chemical
  • Radiological
  • Biological
  • Ergonomic - positions
  • Socio-cultural - environment, exposure, and people you are with
• Risk


  A potential that a chosen action will lead to an undesirable outcome, Probability of harm from occurring given a specific situation, Risk = Hazard + Situation/Action
• Fire Safety


  1. General fire prevention

  2. Storage and handling of flammable substances

  3. Fire-fighting strategies
• Three ingredients of a fire

  • Ignition source or heat energy
  • Oxygen
  • Fuel
• If you remove one of the three ingredients, there is no fire
• All fire safety plans focus on or target the three ingredients of a fire
• Fuel


  Flammable material that begins the process of combustion, When fuel is heated past its flash point, it enters the gas-phase and releases vapor pressure that can ignite in air and support combustion
• Heat Energy


  Produced during combustion because the reaction is exothermic, The reactions are ongoing which releases more than enough heat to make the fire self-perpetuating
• Oxygen


  Supports burning due to oxidation, Gases released by fuel heat up, break apart, and recombine with oxygen, This is what causes burning to begin
• Uninhibited chain reactions make the fire self-sustaining as heat is constantly being produced
• Fire Safety - Handling of Flammable Substances

  • Maximum of 10 gallons of flammable liquids can be used or stored in the open, outside of a safety room, cabinet or safety can per 5000ft² (464 m²)
  • 60 gallons of flammable liquids can be stored in a safety cabinet per 5000ft² (464 m²)
  • 25 gallons may be stored in NFPA-approved safety cans per 5000ft² (464 m²)
• Safety can

  Used for more than 1 pint of class A flammables (ether, isopentane), more than 1 quart of class B flammables (acetone, ethanol, methanol), more than 1 gallon of other flammables (xylene, mineral oil)
• If testing protocols require that the purity of the chemical be maintained by the use of glass bottles, then the chemical must be purchased in as small a unit quantity as practicable and stored in a safety cabinet when not in use
• Flammable gas cylinders should be stored separately from other flammable material
• Persons working with flammable materials must be properly trained in handling, storage, processing, cleanup, and accidental control, and have the appropriate equipment to safely perform their duties
• Fire-Fighting Strategies


  • Construction
  • Fire-fighting Equipment
  • Training and practice
• Construction factors to consider

  Structure of a building, Materials used in construction, Layout plan for entrances and exits, Storage of flammable materials
• The Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514) guides the Bureau of Fire Protection in enforcing the law to maintain public safety and economic development by preventing and suppressing all types of damaging fires
• The National Building Code of the Philippines (RA 6541) ensures the developers will follow the implementation of the latest technical knowledge on building design, construction, occupancy, maintenance, and use
• Fire-fighting Equipment


  • Fire-resistant building materials
  • Automatic sprinklers
  • Self-closing doors
  • Fire hydrants
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Fire blankets
  • Sand, absorbent substances