Faculty of allied medical sciences

Lab SAFETY

Dr. Eman El-AttarMLCC 203

ILOs

Understand Safety program

Know Lab hazards

Know Safety Equipment

To know spill response

To know safety symbols

Safe laboratory procedures and training are needed for

everyone !

Lab safety must be taught to :

– all employees, including service groups– Undergraduate & graduate students– professors– visitors

REVIEW LABORATORY SAFETY WHEN:

• new employees

• new procedures

• a change in procedures

• new equipment

10 activities leading to errors

1. Time pressure

2. Distracted environment

3. High workload

4. First time

5. First working day after days off

6. Half an hour after wake up or meals

7. Absence of supervision

8. Over confidence

9. Communication errors

10.Work stress

Types of Lab hazards

– Biological

– Chemical

– Fire

– Electrical

– Radiological

LABORATORY PROCEDURES MUST BE SITE SPECIFIC !

based on your lab needs, conditions, and equipment

General consideration when design a lab

• Location?

• Rooms?

• Ventilation?

• Signs ?

• Type of lab : Pathology, Chemistry, Biology, Radiation,….. ?

TYPES OF LABORATORIES

• Pathology

• Chemistry

• Biology

• Radiation

Laboratory Policies and Procedures

Must be:written and available

General Rules:

– no food or drink allowed in the laboratory

– no mouth pipetting

– individuals not allowed to work in the laboratory alone

– wear required personal protective equipment

– no smoking in laboratory

– maintain good housekeeping habits

General Rules:

– Open toed shoes and sandals, jewelery, loose clothes are not acceptable footwear

– Hair and scarves should be tied back

– Clothes : natural fibers as cotton

– Wear required personal protective equipment

General Rules:

– Report ALL accidents immediately, even if you think it is minor

– Chemicals must be labeled for : contents, hazards, name of owner and date.

– Before you leave your work area each day, check :

• Overnight operations are properly set-up • Waterlines are adequately clamped• Heat sources & electricity are turned off• Hoods are closed• Chemicals and biological agents are stored properly

General Rules:

– Remove your gloves before using instruments, telephone, and leaving the laboratory

– Never suck pens or chew pencils

– Always wash your hands before you leave and especially before eating

– Never touch your face, mouth or eyes

GLASSWARE PROCEDURES

• Storage

• Proper use

• Cleaning

• Cleaning up broken glassware

• Disposal of broken glassware

Glassware Handling

Is this what your lab looks like?

Glassware handling cont

• Or does it look like this?

Procedures for handling chemicals

– proper labeling, including wastes– proper storage

• storage cabinets• store compatible chemicals together• rooms properly vented & correct temperature

• Maintain a current inventory

• Purchasing procedures

• Proper handling

– use label or MSDS

– never test by taste or odor– acids poured into water never vice versa– take precautions & use proper equipment when stirring or heating

flammable liquids– follow “industry standards” for labeling all chemicals– Heavy bottles are put on the ground light ones put on shelves.

• Placing chemicals according to the following rules:» Flammable : below and away from heat

» Oxidizers : away from Acids.

» Explosives : away from heat

» Acids: good ventilation & away from bases.

» Bases : away fom acids & H2O

» Toxic

» Combustible : away from heat

Handling and Using Lab Equipment

– Proper installation

– Training on proper use

– Manuals or written procedures available

– Inspections

– Maintenance

– DOCUMENT

EQUIPMENT INCLUDES:

• Meters

• Refrigerators

• Autoclaves

• Scales

• Hoods

• Drying oven

• Compressed gas cylinders

• Bunsen burners

Lab Equipment

Which hood ?

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

– proper equipment must be available

– training for the location so individuals know how and when to use equipment appropriately

– training on the correct maintenance & storage

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

1. First aid & medical treatment

2. Emergency equipment

3. Showers, Eye wash

4. MSDS

5. PPE

1- First Aid and Medical Treatment

• First aid kit available and properly stocked (nothing expired)

• Trained first aid attendant or

• Medical facilities within 15 minutes

• Emergency numbers posted

2- Emergency Equipment

• Fire blankets

• Fire extinguishers

• Emergency notification system

• Unrestricted means of communication

• Any other emergency equipment needed for your specific laboratory needs

3- Emergency Showers & Eyewash Stations

• Immediate washing of the skin and eye with generous amounts of water is the most effective first aid treatment for chemical burns (unless chemical reacts unfavorably to water-MSDS)

Emergency Showers and Eyewash Stations

• must be available• showers must be tested for proper operation

with results documented

Alternatives :

• Portable showers or eyewashes

• Attachments that connect to existing faucets

– must supply at least 15 minutes of continuous water

– must stay on until turned off

4- Material Safety Data Sheets, (MSDS)

– required for each chemical

– must be accessable for employees/student

– Must be reviewed

MSDS FILE

MSDS Information Includes:

• Nomenclature including chemical family and formula

• Hazardous ingredients• Physical data• Fire and explosion hazard• Health hazard• Spill and leak procedures• Special protection information• Storage and handling precautions

5- Personal Protective Equipment PPE

Lab MUST provide PPE for all employees at no cost to the employee

• Train them how to use PPE properly• Train them on the limitation(s) of PPE• train them on proper care, storage, and

useful life, and disposal of PPE

Appropriate PPE:

• aprons,lab coats

• Gloves: latex,nitrile,neoprene

• goggles, face shields, safety glasses

• respirators, dust mask

• noise protection

SPILLAGE

Clear up spillage promptly You will already have

determined how to do this as part of your risk assessment

Dispose of any hazardous material as toxic waste

Messy workers are usually Messy workers are usually poor workers!!poor workers!!

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

– Protection of employees and equipment

– inspect panels and plugs

– GFIs (specified by code)

– surge protectors

– inspection & reporting programs

FIRE SAFETY

• Fire Burns – Stop, Drop, and be covered with a fire blanket or soaked with water. Do not remove clothing stuck to victim. Get medical attention immediately.

• Make sure corridor fire doors and laboratory doors are kept shut at all times

DISPOSAL PROCEDURES

– chemical wastes

– organisms, diseases, animals

– glassware

– spills

– sharps

DISPOSAL PROCEDURES CONT.

• Trained persons to handle disposal• Meet all required rules and regulations• Proper collection containers• Waste collection contracts• Does not expose humans, animals, plants, etc

upon disposal - may include decontamination, sterilization, incineration, autoclaving

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN

• Labs should develop an emergency response plan BEFORE an emergency

• review with employees (students) make sure they understand the plan completely

Emergency Response Plan should include:

– recognizing emergencies

– lines of authority

– methods of communication

– safe sites and evacuation routes

– site security and control

INSPECTION OF LABORATORIES

• Develop inspection report appropriate for laboratory

• cover all areas related to laboratory

– personnel practices– operational practices– equipment– emergency protection equipment– materials inventory– miscellaneous

Lab Safety Symbols

• Glassware• Heat• Eye and Face• Sharps

• Electrical• Animal• Chemical• Fire

Lab Safety Symbols

• Flammable

• Explosive

• Toxic/Poison

• Irritant

• Corrosive

• Environmental

Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions

• Flammable – Any substance that will burn if exposed to an open flame.

• Explosive – A substance that may explode if exposed to heat or flame.

Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions

• Toxic/Poison – A substance that can lead to death if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed by the skin.

• Corrosive – A substance that can destroy or burn living tissue and can eat away at other materials.

Chemical Hazard Symbols and Definitions

• Irritant - A substance that causes inflammation upon contact with skin or mucous membranes.

• Environmental - Substances that are harmful to the environment. They must be disposed of properly, not washed down the drain.

REMEMBER

A tidy laboratory avoids accidents to everyone

ASSIGNMENTS

Describe in details what should be done in case of a biological fluid spillage as serum or urine

Tamer , Sayed & Samy

Describe in details what should be done in case of a acid spillage or any corrossive

Recommended textbook

•Illustrated textbook of clinical chemistry, William J. Marshall.•Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 5edition . Carl A. Burtis , Edward R. Ashwood, David E. Bruns.

 

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