LABORATORY SAFETY

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi), MSMT cand.

Our Lady of Fatima University – Pampanga Campus
College of Medical Laboratory Science
Clinical Chemistry 1 (BCM 314)
Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
Occupational Safety
and Health Act [OSHA]

PUBLIC LAW 91-596

 Enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1970
 OSHA: authorized to conduct on-site
inspections
 GOAL: to provide all employees
(clinical laboratory personnel included)
with a safe work environment
“safety is no longer only a moral obligation
but also a federal law”

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

OSHA standards:
1. Bloodborne pathogen standard
2. Formaldehyde standard
3. Laboratory standard
4. Hazard communication standard
5. Respiratory protection standard
6. Air contaminants standard
7. Personal protective equipment standard

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Bloodborne Pathogens
[29 CFR 1910.1030]
 Applies to all exposure to
blood or other potentially
infectious materials

 It defines terminology
relevant to such exposures

 Mandates the development

of an exposure control plan

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Bloodborne Pathogens
[29 CFR 1910.1030]
EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN:
SPECIFIC PREVENTATIVE MEASURES:
 Exposure evaluation
 Engineering controls
 Work practice controls
 Administrative oversight of the program

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Bloodborne Pathogens
[29 CFR 1910.1030]
EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN:
CATEGORIES OF EXPOSURE ARE THE FOLLOWING:
 CATEGORY I: daily exposure to blood and body fluids
 CATEGORY II: regular exposure to blood and body fluids
 CATEGORY III: no exposure to blood and body fluids

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Bloodborne Pathogens
[29 CFR 1910.1030]
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS:
 All human blood, tissue, and most
fluids are known to be infectious
A. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
B. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
C. Other bloodborne pathogens

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Bloodborne Pathogens
[29 CFR 1910.1030]
 DIRECTIONS FOR decontamination
 Safe handling of potentially infectious
laboratory supplies and equipment
 Employee information and training
 Requirement for HBV vaccination or
formal declination within 10 days
 Postexposure medical evaluation,
counseling, and recommended testing or
postexposure prophylaxis

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS STANDARD:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Hazard Communication
[29 CFR 1910.1200]
OSHA HazCom Standard
 ensure that the hazards of all chemicals
used in the workplace have been evaluated
 defines hazardous substances and provides
guidance for evaluating and communicating
identified hazards

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Hazard Communication
[29 CFR 1910.1200]
PRIMARY MEANS OF COMMUNICATION:
1. Proper labeling
2. Development and use of MSDSs
3. Employee education

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

SAMPLE CHEMICAL LABEL:
(1) Statement of hazard;
(2) Hazard class;
(3) Safety precautions;
(4) National Fire Protection
Agency (NFPA) hazard code;
(5) Fire extinguisher type;
(6) Safety instructions;
(7) Formula weight;
(8) Lot number

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION [NFPA]:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

M.S.D.S
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET:
1. Product name and
identification 9. Spill and disposal procedures
2. Hazardous ingredients 10.PPE recommendations
3. Permissible exposure limit 11.Handling
4. Physical and chemical data 12.Emergency and first aid
5. Health hazard data and procedures
carcinogenic potential 13.Storage and transportation
6. Primary routes of entry precautions
7. Fire and explosion hazards 14.Chemical manufacturer’s name,
8. Reactivity data address, and telephone number
15.Special information section

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Hazard Communication
[29 CFR 1910.1200]

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Occupational Exposure to
Hazardous Chemicals in
Laboratories [29 CFR 1910.1450]
OSHA Lab Standard
 It was intended to address the shortcomings
of the Hazard Communication Standard
 REQUIRES CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER AND CHEMICAL
HYGIENE PLAN reduce or eliminate occupational
exposure to hazardous chemicals

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Occupational Exposure to
Hazardous Chemicals in
Laboratories [29 CFR 1910.1450]

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

SAFETY EQUIPMENTS:
1. Safety showers:
 30-50 gallons of water per
minute at 20-50 (psi)
2. Eyewash stations:
 within 100 feet or 10 s travel
3. Fire extinguisher
4. Fire blankets
5. Spill kits
6. First aid supplies:
 gauze, band aid, alcohol,
betadine, micropore, burn ointment,
and petroleum jelly
7. Mechanical pipetting device:
 mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited
8. Screw capped tubes

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

FUME HOODS
CHEMICAL FUME HOODS:
 Contain and expel noxious and
hazardous fumes
 A piece of tissue paper placed
at the hood opening will
indicate airflow direction
 Hood should never be operated
with the sash fully opened,
and a maximum operating sash
height should be established
and conspicuously marked

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

FUME HOODS
CHEMICAL FUME HOODS:
 Containers and equipment
positioned within hoods should
not block airflow
 Periodically, ventilation should
be evaluated by measuring the
face velocity with a calibrated
velocity meter.
 Velocity at the face of the
hood should be 100 to 120 feet
per minute and fairly uniform
across the entire opening

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

FUME HOODS
CHEMICAL FUME HOODS:
 Smoke testing is also
recommended to locate no flow
or turbulent areas in the
working space

 As an added precaution,
personal air monitoring should
be conducted in accordance
with the chemical hygiene plan
of the facility

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BIOSAFETY CABINETS
BIOSAFETY CABINETS:
 BSCs remove particles that may
be harmful to the employee who
is working with potentially
infectious biologic specimens.

 CDC and the NIH have described

four levels of biosafety which
consist of combinations of
laboratory practices and
techniques, safety equipment,
and laboratory facilities.

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BIOSAFETY LEVELS

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
PREVENTION STRATEGIES:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

TYPES OF HAZARDS
A. CHEMICAL HAZARDS
B. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
C. PHYSICAL HAZARDS
 ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
 IONIZING RADIATION
 NON-IONIZING RADIATIONS
 NOISE
D. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
E. MECHANICAL HAZARDS

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
FIRE SAFETY
FIRE:
 A chemical reaction that involves the
rapid oxidation of a combustible
material or fuel, with the subsequent
liberation of heat and light

 FIRE TETRAHEDRON:
(1) Fuel, (2) Heat or
ignition source, and (3) Oxygen (air)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Procedures to follow
in the event of a fire emergency

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
CHEMICAL HAZARDS:
I. FLAMMABLE/COMBUSTIBLE CHEMICALS
 FLAMMABLE: flash point below 37.8°C (100°F)
 COMBUSTIBLE: flash point above 37.8°C (100°F)
II. CORROSIVE CHEMICALS
III. REACTIVE CHEMICALS
IV. CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

TERMINOLOGY
FLASHPOINT: EXOTHERMIC REACTION:
 A temperature at which  Some strong acids or
sufficient vapor is given bases react with water to
off to form an ignitable generate heat
mixture with air

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
FLAMMABLE AND
COMBUSTIBLE SOLVENTS: FLAMMABLE GASES
 Acetone  Hydrogen
 Benzene
 Ethanol FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
 Heptane
 Isopropanol  Paraffin
 Methanol
 Toluene
 Xylene

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
CORROSIVE CHEMICALS:
 Injurious to the skin or eyes by direct
contact or to the tissue of the respiratory and
gastrointestinal tracts if inhaled or ingested
o ACIDS: (1) Acetic, (2) Sulfuric,
(3) Nitric, (4) Hydrochloric acid
o BASES: (1) Ammonium hydroxide,
(2) Potassium hydroxide,(3) Sodium hydroxide

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
REACTIVE CHEMICALS:
 Substances that, under certain conditions,
can spontaneously explode or ignite or that evolve
heat or flammable or explosive gases

 Hydrogen is liberated if alkali metals

(sodium or potassium) are mixed with water or
acids, and spontaneous combustion also may occur

 Mixture of oxidizing agents, such as peroxides, and

reducing agents, such as hydrogen, generates heat
and may be explosive

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS:
 Substances substances that have been determined to
be cancer-causing agent

 Benzidine is a common example of a known carcinogen

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
STORAGE GUIDELINES

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS:
 Expose an unprotected individual
to bacteria, viruses, parasites,
or other biological entities that
can result in injury

 Exposure occurs from ingestion,

inoculation, tactile contamination,
or inhalation of infectious
material from patients or their
body fluids/tissues, supplies or
materials they have been in contact
with, or contaminated needles, or
by aerosol dispersion.

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS:
 All blood samples and other body
fluids should be collected,
transported, handled, and processed
using universal precautions

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY
AVOID THE FOLLOWING:
1. Mouth pipetting
2. Consumption of food
3. Smoking
4. Applying cosmetics
5. Potential needle stick
6. Leaving unprotected skin,
membranes, or open cuts

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY
AEROSOL CONTAMINATION
1. Inoculating loops (flaming a loop)
2. Spills on laboratory counters
3. Expelling a spray on needles
4. Centrifugation of infected fluids

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

DECONTAMINATION AGENTS

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
NONIONIZING RADIATION:
 A type of electromagnetic radiation that does
not carry enough energy to ionize atoms

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
NONIONIZING RADIATION:
 It is generated through nuclear reactions,
by very high temperature, via production of high
energy particles or due to acceleration of charged
particles by electromagnetic fields.

 TYPES OF IONIZING RADIATION:

(1) Cosmic rays, (2) X-rays, (3) Gamma rays,
(4) Beta particles, (5) Ultraviolet

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
NOISE:
 Anything that has the potential
to cause hearing loss

 Exposure to an equivalent sound

pressure level of more than 85 dB
over an 8-hour period workday

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS:
1. Cumulative trauma disorders
2. Carpal tunnel syndrome
3. Tendonitis
4. Tenosynovitis
5. Bursitis
6. Ganglion cyst

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS:
 Injuries involving the musculoskeletal and/or nervous
system in response to long term repetitive twisting,
bending, lifting, or assuming static postures for an
extended period of time

 Constant or excessive repetitive actions, mechanical

pressure, vibrations, or compressive forces on the
arms, hands, wrists, neck, or back

 Human error by pushing beyond one’s limits or when

productivity limits are set too high

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
I. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME – compression
and entrapment of nerve from wrist to hand
II. TENDONITIS – inflammation of the tendon
III. TENOSYNOVITIS – inflammation or injury
to synovial sheath that surrounds a tendon
IV. BURSITIS – inflammation of one of the bursa
of synovial fluid
V. PRIMARY CONTRIBUTORS FOR REPETITIVE STRAIN
DISORDERS –(1) position or posture; (2)
applied force; (3) frequency of repetition

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
ASSOCIATED HAZARDS:
1. Death
2. Shock Direct
3. Burns
4. Fire
5. Explosion

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

MECHANICAL HAZARDS
SOURCES OF HAZARDS:
1. Centrifuges
2. Autoclave
3. Homogenizer
4. Glasswares

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

COMPRESSED GASES HAZARDS
ASSOCIATED HAZARDS:
1. Danger of fire
2. Explosion
3. Asphyxiation
4. Mechanical injuries

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

CRYOGENIC MATERIAL HAZARDS
ASSOCIATED HAZARDS:
1. Fire
2. Explosion
3. Asphyxiation
4. Pressure build-up
5. Embrittlement of materials
6. Tissue damage similar to
that of thermal burns

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

CRYOGENIC MATERIAL HAZARDS
LIQUID NITROGEN:
 One of the most widely used cryogenic
fluids (liquid gases) in the laboratory

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

WASTE MANAGEMENT
 Collection, transport, processing
or disposal, managing and monitoring
of waste materials

 FOUR BASIC WASTE DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES:

1. Landfill burial
2. Incineration
3. Flushing down the drain to the sewer system
4. Recycling or resource recovery

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

TRASH BINS

TYPES OF TRASH BINS

Red Sharps and broken glass

Yellow Infectious wastes and syringe barrels

Black Dry, non-infectious wastes and papers

Green Wet, non-infectious wastes

Orange Radioactive wastes

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

LABORATORY SAFETY:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

GET ¼ SHEET OF PAPER

NELVEN M. GALLEGO, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

REFERENCES:
 Bishop, Michael L. et.al. Clinical Chemistry: Principles,
Procedures, Correlation’s, 6th edition.Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams, Philadelphia, USA, ©2010.

 Burtis, Ashwood, and Bruns. Tietz Textbook of Clinical

Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics 6th edition;
Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. USA ©2012.

 Mcpherson, Richard A. and Matthew R. Pincus.

Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management
byLaboratory Methods 22nd edition. Saunders, an
imprint of Elsevier Inc. USA ©2011.

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

LABORATORY SAFETY

Prepared by:
Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi), MSMT cand.
Our Lady of Fatima University – Pampanga Campus
College of Medical Laboratory Science
Biochemistry (CHM 123)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)