Laboratory Safety: A Report by K. M. B. Acua and M. C. G. Aquitania of 4EMT Laboratories are: 1. obligated to identify hazards 2.

implement safety strategies 3. audit previous existing practices to determine effectiveness Hazards: 1. Biological - expose an unprotected individual to bacteria, viruses, parasites - through ingestion, inoculation, tactile contamination, inhalation - 1987: HIV concern prompted the Center for Disease Controls (CDC) to update its 1983 Guidelines for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals with the release of its Universal Precautions - Universal Precautions blood and body fluid precautions be consistently used for all patients regardless of their blood-borne infection status - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines occupational exposures as reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane, or percutaneous contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of an employees duties - Potentially infectious for HBV, HIV, HCV:
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Blood Semen Vaginal secretions Pericardial fluid Peritoneal fluid Synovial fluid Pleural fluid Amniotic fluid Saliva Tears CSF Urine Breast milk Any unfixed tissue samples Mouth-pipetting Consumption of food in lab Spills / splashes in unprotected skin Needle sticks Inoculating loops Spills on lab counters Expelling spray from needles o Centrifugation of infected fluids Worker has cuts or open wounds Anticipates hand contamination Performing skin punctures During phlebotomy training

OSHA requires wearing gloves

o

o
o o

Handwashing is highly recommended. Protective gear

o o o o o Gloves Masks Protective eyewear Face shields Lab coats Eating Drinking Smoking Applying cosmetics Wearing contact lenses

Refrain from
o o o o o

Disinfectant: 10% solution of household bleach is effective and economical in inactivating HBV in 10 minutes and HIV in 2 minutes Prewashing removes concentrated amounts of proteins. 600 000 800 000 needlestick and other percutaneous injuries are estimated to occur each year.

Lab-associated infections
o o o o

Aerosol contamination
o o o

2. Chemical OSHA (Occupational Standard Hazards Association) - 32M workers exposed to 575000 potential hazardous chemicals in work place (OSHA 1994; Federal Register 29CFR 1910.1200, 1983) - Estimated 40,000-50,000 manufacturing workers & 38,000 nonmanufacturing workers experience chemically related illnesses a year - 14000 nonmanufacturing workers are injured; 102 fatalities - Chemical chronic disease: about 17000 - Cancer cases: over 25000 - Death due to cancer: 13,000/year

Laboratory Safety: A Report by K. M. B. Acua and M. C. G. Aquitania of 4EMT Prevention: Right-to-know potential chemical hazard are they exposed & protective measure - Hazard Communication Standard (Federal Register 29CFR 1910.1200; 1983) o Chemical Handling Chemical should never be mixed together unless instructions are properly followed. ACIDS: Always added to water during dilution To avoid sudden splashing caused by rapid heat generation Wearing of goggles is necessary. Preparation of chemicals should be done under the fume hood. Disposal of chemical should be properly consulted. o Chemical Labeling 29 CFR 1910.1200 (f) Requires that all chemicals in the workplace be labeled. The information which must be present includes the name of the chemical and warnings about any hazards the material may present. This requirement may be implemented in a variety of ways. Two systems: NFPA Hazard Identification System and the Hazardous Materials Identification Guide

o Material Safety Data Sheets 29 CFR 1910.1200 (g) A document that gives detailed information about a material. This includes any hazards associated with the material. MSDSs must be immediately available to employees at locations where hazardous materials are used. o Hazard Determination 29 CFR 1910.1200 (d) The employer must identify and maintain a list of all hazardous chemicals used in the workplace. o Written Implementation Program 29 CFR 1910.1200 (e) Mandates that the employer develop a written plan, the Hazard Communication Program, detailing how the requirements of the HCS are implemented by the employer. o Employee Training 29 CFR 1910.1200 (h)

Laboratory Safety: A Report by K. M. B. Acua and M. C. G. Aquitania of 4EMT Requires that the employer provide to the employees training covering handling of hazardous materials, use and interpretation of both MSDSs and Hazard Communication labels, and information about the HCS. o Trade Secrets 29 CFR 1910.1200 (i) Sets forth the conditions under which a manufacturer may withhold information about a material, and the conditions under which such information must be divulged to health care providers. Chemical Hygiene Plan (Federal Register 29CFR 1910.1450; 1993) Requirement for all facilities that uses hazardous chemicals. Purpose: Appropriate work practices Standard operating procedure Personal Protective Equipment Engineering controls, such as fume hood and flammables safety cabinets Employee training requirements Medical consultation guidelines Chemical Hazard Communication Plan (excerpt from Henrys Clinical ) 1. Written hazard communication program 2. Maintain inventory of all chemicals with chemical and common name of appropriate 3. Manufacturer must assess and supply information about chemical or physical hazard (flammability, explosive, aerosol, flashpoint, etc.) 4. Employers must maintain Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) in English 5. MSDS must list all ingredients of a substance greater than 1%, except for known carcinogens if greater than 0.1% 6. Employers must make MSDS available to employees upon request 7. Employers must ensure labels are not defaced or removed and post appropriate warnings 8. Employers must provide information and training (right-toknow) 9. OSHA permissible exposure limit, or other exposure limit value 10.Designate responsible person(s) for the program 3. Ergonomic Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. [OSHA] Ergonomics, also known as human engineering or human factors engineering, the science of designing machines, products, and systems to maximize the safety, comfort, and efficiency of the people who use them. [Microsoft Encarta 2009. 19932008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.] Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being

Bl Laboratory Safety: A Report by K. M. B. Acua and M. C. G. Aquitania of 4EMT o and overall system performance cumulative trauma disorders are carpal the International tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Human o (definition adopted by in 2000). Ergonomics Association error may also be a contributing factor.
Less exposure to biologic and chemical hazards does not define a safe environment to work. Increasing demands on understanding how human and methods and principles to prevent ergonomic-related problems in the workplace assists in developing conducive place for employees. Thus, OSHA presented a guideline enforcing safety policy. Ergonomic-related problems are results of long term repetitive motion tasks, unusual awkward postures, forceful movements, vibrations, stress at workplace and poor environment setup. This leads to cumulative trauma disorder, a condition where a part of the body is injured due to repeatedly overusing or causing trauma. (ABOUT.COM: http://ergonomics.about.com/od/repetitiv estressinjuries/f/whatisctd.htm) Common Prevention and awareness are the solution in managing these disorders. 4. Fire - Upon discovery of fire: o Rescue o Alarm o Contain o Extinguish - Types of Fire: o A = Wood, paper, clothing o B = Flammable org. chemicals o C = Electrical o D = Combustible metals - Classes of Fire Extinguishers o A = Water o B = Dry chemicals, CO2, Foam, Halon o C = Dry chemicals, CO2, Halon o ABC = Dry chemicals

BIOHAZARD

CORROSIVE

ENVIRONMENTAL

EXPLOSIVE

POISON

FLAMMABLE

HARMFUL

OXIDIZING

Laboratory Safety: A Report by K. M. B. Acua and M. C. G. Aquitania of 4EMT

RECYCLABLE

RADIOACTIVE

IONIZING GRADATION

FIRE BLANKET

EYE WASH

FIRST AID

EYE PROTECTION REQUIRED

FACE PROTECTION REQUIRED

GLOVES REQUIRED

PROTECTIVE CLOTHNG REQUIRED

USE PROTECTIVE FOOT WEAR