MARCELINO, RONELA A.

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY(LAB)
BSMLS 3-YA-6

1. Give examples of biological, chemical, fire, electrical and mechanical hazards in the clinical
laboratory.
* BIOLOGICAL HAZARD - potential exposures to allergens, infectious zoonotic (animal diseases
transmissible to humans), and experimental agents such as viral vectors.

* CHEMICAL HAZARD - Cleaning agents and disinfectants, drugs, anesthetic gases, solvents, paints, and
compressed gases

* FIRE HAZARD - flash fires, explosion, rapid spread of fire, and high toxicity of products of combustion
(heat, smoke, and flame).

* ELECTRICAL HAZARD - electric shock, arc blasts, electrocutions, fires and explosions

* MECHANICAL HAZARD - moving equipment, bumping into stationary objects, and falls resulting from
tripping or slipping

2. Why it is necessary to add acid to water and not water to acid?

- If you add water to acid, you form an extremely concentrated solution of acid initially and the solution
may boil very violently, splashing concentrated acid. If you add acid to water, the solution that forms is
very dilute and the small amount of heat released is not enough to vaporize and spatter it.

3. How do you prevent aerosolization during centrifugation?

- Use a cooled loop for insertion into a culture.

- Ensure the loop is completely closed.

- Use short loops: the shank should be no more than 6 cm long to avoid vibrations.

- Use a micro‐incinerator or pre‐sterilized plastic loops rather than flaming a loop in an open flame.

4. What is the immediate step to be done if your skin comes in contact with chemicals.

- immediately flush the contaminated skin with water

5. How are volatile solvents handled in the laboratory?

- Store solvents in strong, sealed containers.

- Clearly identify and labels the containers.

- Establish procedures and evacuation routes in case of a fire or a solvent spill.

- Wear protective clothing.

- Use a respirator.

SOURCES:

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4612-3320-6_15

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHAquickfacts-lab-safety-electrical-hazards.pdf

https://www.ou.edu/campussafety/fire-marshal/policies/lab_fire_safety

https://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/laboratory-hazards-and-risks-18238

https://faq-blog.com/how-to-prevent-aerosolization-during-centrifugation