GOUNA TECHNICAL NURSING INSTITUTE

Procedure Number:
00-00-000
Category: Administrative Procedures

Guideline Name Guidelines for Clinical lab Safety

Purpose

The guidelines aim to regulate different hazardous procedures which might affect negatively
on health. Moreover, these guidelines aim to minimize safety hazards related to the use of
clinical labs, provide a safe educational area and prevent near misses. The guideline is
related to the following polices:
• Clinical lab policy
• Simulation Lab Policy
• Incident management policy
• Guidelines for Equipment Storage, Borrowing and Maintenance
• Policy on protecting faculty, students, and patients from infection

Guidelines for
1. General Guidelines
2. Sharp Disposal
3. Laboratory Safety from Electrical Hazards
4. Management of Mercury Spillage
5. Textile Cleaning
6. Battery Disposal

1. General Guidelines
• Wastes should be collected daily from the lab by the housekeepers under
supervision of the lab facilitator / responsible Clinical Instructor.
• Housekeeping is responsible for the following:
1. Collection of the waste at the same day the clinical lab was used.
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2. Assure cleanliness of the clinical lab at the end of the day.

2. Wastes must be separated and sealed in the appropriate bag (red, black or
sharp box) (leak proof).
3. Bags shall be replaced with a new one immediately after the removal of waste.
4. Wastes must be transported to the disposal at the same day of collection as per
the agreement with the identified hospital.
2. Sharps Disposal
Any sharp material which can directly puncture or penetrate the skin causing wounds or
transmitting infection including needles, lancets, syringes, scalpels and glass must be
disposed of in sharp boxes. Each lab should contain at least 6 sharp boxes sealed and
fixed to the wall.
2.1. Characteristics of a safe sharp box (See Figure 1)
• Enhanced (Heavy-duty) plastic
• Resistant to leak
• Cannot be penetrated by needles or glass
• Possesses a sealing hub for closure in case if not used
• Always stable and positioned upright
• Clearly labelled to warn against the hazardous nature of the content

(National Health Service UK, 2018)

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Figure 1Disposable sharp box

N.B: FDA & the Egyptian Ministry of Health recommend using the enhanced plastic sharp
box. If plastic sharps boxes are cannot be sourced, then alternatives that meet the safety
requirements outlined in 1.1 will be acceptable. Accordingly, Each Lab Facilitator must
check the quality of the box to ensure it matches the specified criteria as outlined in 1.1
before receiving it from the storage.

2.2. General Sharp box Safety

• Put sharp disposal boxes in visible place where it is expected to be used, including
clinical labs, classes where clinical sessions are planned and offices where use of
sharps is expected.
• Ensure that there is a stock of 10 sharps boxes in each lab.
• Sharp boxes should not be located on tables, on the floor, under tables. It should
be in a well-lit area and in a safe disposal level (usually fixed by a bracket on wall
at waist level height) (See Figure 2).
• Sharp box must be assembled correctly as per guidance on the box by the Lab
Coordinator

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• A temporary lock should be sealed when not in use

Figure 2 Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare -sharps box position

2.3. Disposal of Sharp Box

• It should be disposed when ¾ full or reaches the capacity line (never use above
this line)
• The sharp box should be sealed via the permeant lock
• Sharp Box will be then labeled (Lab Number, Date and signature)
• Lab facilitator should make sure that sharp boxes are maintained and disposed of
as per these guidelines and is responsible for the disposal procedure out of the
lab.

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• Lab facilitator ensures that the sharp boxes are handed to the assigned
housekeeping to transfer it to the incinerator at identified hospital.
3. Laboratory Safety from Electrical Hazards
• Always review the manufacturers manual before using electrical devices for safety.
• Make sure that all cords are secured, in good condition and uncluttered (using
Plastic Fuse).
• Never use cords of different devices for different purposes.
• Try to plug one piece in a single port. If two pieces are plugged in, make sure to
use a fuse power strip (see Figure 3)
• Remove used devices from electricity after 2-3 minutes of shut down process. All
devices and manikins should be removed from electricity source at the end of the
day.
• Check cords near to water supplies periodically (especially under air conditioning
devices).
• Never plug or unplug pieces with wet hands.
• Never disable safety alarms in the devices.

(OSHA Guidelines, 2011)

Figure 3 fuse power strip

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4. Mercury Spillage Guidelines

Mercury is a highly toxic material which is used in healthcare sector in some devices such
as sphygmomanometers, thermometers and laboratories. Thus, we need to proceed with
the following after orientation of the faculty & students:
• All devices which contain mercury should be contained within the clinical lab
areas only.
• During Clinical hospital experience, no mercury devices shall be transported
to the hospital.

4.1. Required Kit for Mercury Spillage:

• Four to five ziplock-type bags
• Waste bags (2 to 6 mm thick)
• Plastic container with lid that seals. (35 mm film canister for example)
• Nitrile or latex gloves
• Paper towels
• Cardboard strips (index cards for example)
• Eyedropper or syringe (without needle)
• Face mask
• Duct or other sticky tape (30 cm or so)
• Flashlight
• Powdered Sulphur or zinc (this can easily be obtained at a pharmacy)

N.B: When commercial mercury spillage kits are unavailable, a kit will be created
by the Lab Facilitators

4.2. Mercury Disposal

• Try to minimize the area around the spillage.
• Open windows to maximize oxygen within the room.
• Put on a mas and pair of clean gloves.
• Use the brush to collect the small globules together to form a larger one.

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• Aspirate the molecules using the syringe and then discard in the waste receptacle.
• Cover the spillage site with the mix of Microfine Sulphur Powder and Calcium
Hydroxide using the brush in the kit.
• Mix the powder with molecules to be mixed with Mercury and then brush it to the
scoop.
• It should be discarded into the same waste receptacle and immediately sent to
identified hospital by the housekeeping.
4.3. Mercury Disposal Kits: (1 per each lab)
• Each clinical Lab should contain one kit to quickly collect the disposed mercury
before it enters the ordinary waste stream.
• Mercury Spillage Kits should be replaced according to the manufacturer
instructions.
• The Lab Facilitator is responsible for checking the Mercury Spillage Kits for
expiration and is responsible to liaise with the Purchasing Officer to replace
items/kits when required.
• Children, pregnant women and immunocompromised population should stay away
from areas with spillage to avoid inhaling the substance.
• Students shall be allowed to use the Mercury spillage kit only supervised by clinical
instructors and after being oriented to its use during course orientation weeks.
(NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 2018)
5. Textiles Laundry
Textiles include linen, covers and towels which could be washed and reused. This is a
part of infection control chain within the clinical facilities. Textiles do not cause infection
transmission if it is handled properly. Those are the required steps for textiles laundry in
GTNI.

The Lab Facilitators are responsible to (As Required) :

• Determine the textile need to be sent for laundry.

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• Remove the linen from beds occupied by dolls and ensure that textiles are free of
sharps.
• Count the linen and send them by type and number to Financial and Administrative
Department via e-mail.
• The Financial and Administrative Department assigns a housekeeper to collect the
linen bag from the clinical lab after the lab facilitator collects them.
• Clinical Instructor should ensure that the housekeeper is wearing gloves while
collecting the textiles in a red bag.
• The Lab Facilitator receives the linen after cleaning in the following day.
(The National Egyptian Manual for Infection Control, 2016)

6. Battery Disposal: (1 box for Lab 2 & 3) – (Lab 1 & 4 each one has a box)
Batteries are used in many devices within GTNI and need to be replaced on regular
basis according to use. Batteries are considered as heavy metal wastes which need to
be collected correctly for disposal to avoid its hazards especially on children

• An enhanced plastic box will be fixed in each clinical lab (like sharp box)
• Personnel should ensure the presence of extra battery before removal of old
batteries
• Disposal of battery will be immediately in the battery box
• At the end of the academic year, each clinical lab facilitator needs to send a sealed
battery box to the Financial and Administrative Department.
• Financial and Administrative Department is responsible for contacting El-Gouna
Recycling Center to take the boxes for disposal
(International Committee of the Red Cross, 2011)

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Related Policies / Procedures

• Clinical lab policy
• Simulation Lab Policy
• Incident management policy
• Guidelines for Equipment Storage, Borrowing and Maintenance
• Policy on protecting faculty, students, and patients from infection

Related Templates
NA

Approval Authority Head of Nursing Department

Governing Authority Curriculum Committee
Submitted By Mr. Hossam Hablas
Date of Submission: 24-03-2020
Date of Endorsement: 27-04-2020
Date of Approval: 27-04-2020
Dates
Date of Commencement: 1-05-2020
Date of Last Review:
Date of Upcoming Review: 1-05-2024

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