Patient Safety Monitoring in International Laboratories (SMILE) Program 1 Laboratory Safety A SMILE Program Presentation

Patient Safety Monitoring in International Laboratories (SMILE) Program

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Laboratory Safety

A SMILE Program Presentation


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Responsibility

Who is responsible for safety in laboratories clinics and hospitals participating in clinical

trials


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Responsibility

Employer Establishes necessary policies Standard Operating procedures and

Safety Plan Engineering and work practice controls Personal protective equipment (PPE) Safety equipment such as fire

extinguishers and eye wash stations Training


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Responsibility

Employee Knows and understands safety policies and

procedures Follows safety policies and procedures Reports unsafe conditions to the Safety Officer or

Laboratory Director


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Responsibility

Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility!


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Components of a Safety Program

Fire safety

Chemical Safety

Bloodborne Pathogens


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Fire Safety


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Fire Safety

The Fire Triangle

Chemical Reaction

Heat

Oxygen

Fuel


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Fire Safety

What should you do in case of a fire ?

Remember the acronym – RACE

Rescue – any people in danger

Alarm – activate the fire alarm

Contain – the fire by closing doors and windows

Extinguish – the fire if it is small enough


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Fire Safety

Types of Fire Extinguishers

A – Combustibles (paper, trash, cloth) B – Flammable liquids C – Electrical Equipment D – Combustible metals

(not Common)


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Fire Safety

How do you operate a fire extinguisher?

Remember PASS

Pull - the pin Aim – at the base of the Fire Squeeze - the handle Sweep - to cover the fire


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Fire Safety

Maintenance of Fire ExtinguishersFire extinguishers should be visually inspected on a monthly basis.

The inspection should assure that Fire extinguishers are: In their assigned place Not blocked or hidden Pressure gauges show adequate

pressure Pins and seals are in place No signs of damage The nozzles are free of blockages


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Chemical Safety


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Chemical Safety

How Do Chemicals enter the body?

Inhalation – breathing in (e.g. powders, fumes) Absorption – on skin or mucus membranes Ingestion – entry through the mouth Injection - through skin by foreign body


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Chemical Safety

Examples of Chemical Hazards Carcinogens – cancer Corrosives –burns Hepatotoxins –liver damage Mutagens-damage genetic materials in cells Nephrotoxins – Kidney damage Neurotoxins – damage to the nervous system Tertatogens – birth defects


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Chemical Safety

How can you obtain information about the Chemicals you use?


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Chemical Safety

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

The following Data Can be found on MSDS sheets……….

Name of ChemicalPhysical Characteristics and hazardsHealth informationFirst Aid required if there is a spill or

exposureDate of most recent update


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Chemical Safety

MSDS Sheets Continued……….

Need to check for updates annually Highlight the name of the chemical and the first

aid section for easy access in an emergency Organize in alphabetical order Must be available to everyone all of the time The internet is also a good way to access MSDS

sheets Instrument manufacturers usually have MSDS

sheets available on their websites.


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Chemical Safety

What should you do if there is a chemical spill?

RAFT

Rescue

Avoid the Chemical

Find the MSDS

Telephone


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Chemical Safety

Chemical Exposures

First AIDFlush with plenty of water

For at least 15 minutes Remove contaminated clothing

Seek medical Attention

Document incident


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Chemical Safety

Liquid NitrogenCharacteristics of Liquid Nitrogen

78% of atmosphere Colorless, Odorless, Tasteless,

Nontoxic Boils at -196 Degrees C Non Flammable


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Chemical Safety

Liquid NitrogenWhen returning to the gaseous state:

Can displace oxygen from the air Can lead to asphyxiation

Will not support Life


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Chemical Safety

Liquid Nitrogen – Precautions

Always wear safety equipmentAvoid use in a small enclosed areaAvoid prolonged breathing of vaporsAvoid rough handling of containersInstall O2 Monitors in LN work areas


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Chemical Safety

Liquid Nitrogen PPE

Full face shield with safety glasses Cryogenic gloves Arm protection Lab coat Cuff-less pants Close toed shoes


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Chemical Safety

Liquid Nitrogen Emergencies

Inhalation – Move person into the fresh air Eyes – Flush with water for 15 minutes Skin - soak affected area in tepid water Seek medical attention Document incident


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Chemical Safety

What’s Wrong with this picture?


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Chemical Safety

Carbon Dioxide – Dry Ice

Characteristics of Carbon Dioxide

Colorless, odorless, tasteless nontoxic Non flammable Can only be solid when the temperature is < -78oC


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Chemical Safety

Solid Carbon DioxideCan displace oxygen from airCan lead to asphyxiationWill not support life

High concentrations cause rapid circulatory insufficiency

NauseaHeadacheVomitingUnconsciousness


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Chemical Safety

Solid Carbon Dioxide – Dry Ice

Always wear safety equipmentAvoid use in a small enclosed areaAvoid prolonged breathing of vaporsVent Closed CO2 containers away from you

when opening


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Chemical Safety

Solid Carbon Dioxide – PPE

Full face shield with safety glassesCryogenic glovesLab coatClose toed shoes


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Chemical Safety

Solid Carbon Dioxide – Emergencies

Inhalation – Move person into the fresh air Eyes – Flush with water for 15 minutes Skin - soak affected area in tepid waterSeek medical attention Document incident


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Chemical Safety

Managing Chemicals in the Laboratory

Storage Hazard Communication MSDS Updates Acids and Bases in separate approved

cabinets Spill kits available


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Chemical Safety

What’s Wrong with this picture?


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SAFETY – Waste Disposal

Tips for safe disposal of laboratory waste:

Place all sharps in approved sharps containers Use goggles or full face shields to protect mucus

membranes from splashes when disposing of liquid waste or specimen tubes.

Refer to MSDS sheets for information on the safe disposal of chemicals


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What are bloodborne pathogens?Viruses, bacteria or other micro-organisms that are carried in the

bloodstream and are capable of causing disease.

Other body fluids that can spread bloodborne pathogens include: Blood products (plasma, platelets) Abdominal fluids Amniotic fluids Cerebrospinal fluids Vaginal secretions Semen


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Most Common Bloodborne Pathogens

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

HIV


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Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions replaces Universal Precautions – using Standard Precautions all

blood and body fluids are treated as infectious all of the time.


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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Gloves

Safety glasses/Goggles

Lab coats (should be fluid resistant)

Face shields


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PPE Continued…….

How much PPE should you use?

Wear as much or as little as you anticipate you will need to prevent blood and other infectious

materials from contact with your skin, mucus membranes and clothing.


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Blood borne Pathogens

General Safety RulesHandle sharps with care: Do not recap needles or other sharps Do not bend or break off needles Dispose of sharps in puncture resistant containers

DO Not:

Eat, drink, smoke, apply cosmetics, take medication in areas where you are working with blood and other body fluids


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What should you do if there is a blood or body fluid exposure ?

Follow the post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) plan Wash puncture wounds with soap and water Flush affected mucus membranes with water Inform Safety Officer or administrative staff member Seek medical attention Complete an incident report form


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Hand Washing

A basic but very important method of reducing your risk of infection.


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Hand WashingWhat song should you sing while you are

washing your hands so that you know that you have washed for enough time?


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Laboratory Safety

Questions and Comments


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Laboratory Safety

References:

1.PPD (May, 2005) – PowerPoint Presentation, Presented at the Washington DC GCLP Meeting.

2. WWW.safetylady.com

http://www.safetylady.com/

Documents

Patient Safety Monitoring in International Laboratories (SMILE) Program 1 Laboratory Safety A SMILE Program Presentation