LABORATORY SAFETY AND REGULATIONS

Objectives:
 Discuss safety awareness for clinical laboratory personnel.
 List the responsibilities of employer and employee in providing a safe workplace.
 Identify hazards related to handling chemicals, biologic specimens, and radiologic materials.
 Choose appropriate personal protective equipment when working in the clinical laboratory.
 Identify the classes of fires and the types of fire extinguishers to use for each.
 Describe steps used as precautionary measures when working with electrical equipment, cryogenic
materials, and compressed gases and avoiding mechanical hazards associated with laboratory
equipment.
 Select the correct means for disposal of waste generated in the clinical laboratory.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT

- Public Law 91-596, better known as the
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
- enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1970.
GOAL:
 federal regulation to provide all employees (clinical
laboratory personnel included) with a safe work
environment.
 Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(also known as OSHA) is authorized to conduct
onsite inspections to determine whether an employer
is complying with the mandatory standards. Safety is
no longer only a moral obligation

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
 UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
 “All human blood, tissue, and most fluids are handled as if known to be infectious for the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other bloodborne pathogens. “

HAZARD COMMUNICATION
- ensure that the hazards of all chemicals used in the workplace have been evaluated and that this
hazard information is successfully transmitted
- OSHA “HazCom Standard,”
 it defines hazardous substances and provides guidance for evaluating and communicating
identified hazards.
- Primary means of communication are through proper labeling, the development and use of safety data
sheets (SDSs), and employee education.

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN LABORATORIES

- “OSHA Lab Standard.” - address the shortcomings of the Hazard Communication Standard
appointment of a chemical hygiene officer and the development of a chemical hygiene plan to reduce or
eliminate occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals.

OTHER REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES

- Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
- Toxic Substances Control Act.
- Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, formerly National Committee
NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 1
for Clinical Laboratory Standards [NCCLS]) provides excellent general laboratory safety and infection control
guidelines
- voluntary accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission (TJC; formerly the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Health Care Organizations [JCAHO]) and the Commission on
Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

SAFETY AWARENESS FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY

Employer's Responsibilities
 Establish laboratory work methods and safety policies.
 Provide supervision and guidance to employees.
 Provide safety information, training, PPE, and medical surveillance to employees.
 Provide and maintain equipment and laboratory facilities that are free of recognized hazards and
adequate for the tasks required.

Employee's Responsibilities

 Know and comply with the established laboratory safe work practices.
 Have a positive attitude toward supervisors, coworkers, facilities, and safety training.
 Be alert and give prompt notification of unsafe conditions or practices to the immediate supervisor and
ensure that unsafe conditions and practices are corrected.
 Engage in the conduct of safe work practices and use of PPE.

SIGNAGE AND LABELING

 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed a standard hazard identification system
(diamond-shaped, color-coded symbol)

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 2

NOTE: All in-house prepared reagents and solutions should be labeled in a standard manner and include the
chemical identity, concentration, hazard warning, special handling, storage conditions, date prepared,
expiration date (if applicable), and preparer's initials.

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 3

SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- All laboratories are required to have
 safety showers- deliver 30 to 50 gallons of water per minute at 20 to 50 pounds per square in.
(psi) and be located in areas where corrosive liquids are stored or use
 eyewash stations- accessible (i.e., within 100 ft or 10 s travel) in laboratory areas
 fire extinguishers
 Other items that must be available for personnel- fire blankets, spill kits, and first aid
supplies.
- Mechanical pipetting devices must be used for manipulating all types of liquids in the laboratory,
including water.
- “Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited.”

CHEMICAL FUME HOODS AND BIOSAFETY CABINETS

FUME HOODS
- required to contain and expel noxious and hazardous fumes from chemical reagents.
- Velocity - 100 to 120 ft per minute

BIOSAFETY CABINETS
- remove particles that may be harmful with potentially infectious biologic specimens.

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 4

 CHEMICAL STORAGE EQUIPMENT
 Safety carriers - transport glass bottles of acids, alkalis, or organic solvents in volumes larger than 500
mL
 Safety cans - storing, dispensing, or disposing of flammables in volumes greater than 1 quart.
 Steel safety cabinets - storage of flammable liquids, and
 Specially designed, explosion-proof refrigerators – store flammable materials.
 Gas cylinder supports or clamps - must be used at all times
 Larger cylinders - transported with valve caps on, using handcarts.

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 5

 PPE AND HYGIENE
1. Safety glasses, goggles, visors, or work shields-
protect the eyes and face from splashes and impact.

2. Gloves and rubberized sleeves - protect the hands and

arms when using caustic chemicals.
 polyvinyl or other nonlatex gloves - for people with latex
allergies.
 Nitrile gloves- wider range of compatibility with organic
solvents

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 6

 3. Laboratory coats- preferably with knit-cuffed sleeves,
should be full length and buttoned and made of liquid-resistant
material.

4. Proper footwear – “closed-toe’ shoes

5. Respirators - may be
required
 Respirators with high-
efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters

NOTE: “Hand washing is a crucial component of both infection

control and chemical hygiene.”

BIOLOGIC SAFETY

SPILLS
 Alert others in area of the spill.
 Wear appropriate protective equipment.
 Use mechanical devices to pick up broken glass or other sharp objects.
 Absorb the spill with paper towels, gauze pads, or tissue.
 Clean the spill site using a common aqueous detergent.
 Disinfect the spill site using approved disinfectant or 10% bleach, using appropriate contact time.
 Rinse the spill site with water.
 Dispose off all materials in appropriate biohazard containers.

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
- exposure control plan.
- “Blood and other body fluids from all patients as potentially infective”

AIRBORNE PATHOGENS
- CDC Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Tuberculosis in Health Care Facilities.
 purpose of the guidelines is to encourage early detection, isolation, and treatment of active
cases.
 Other specific pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, may be considered airborne
transmission risks.
- N-95 (filtration of 95% of particles >0.3 μm) or better.

SHIPPING
- Suspect Infectious Specimens - are labeled infectious substances if the pathogen can be readily
transmitted to humans or animals.
- Diagnostic specimens- tested as routine screening or for initial diagnosis

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 7

 CHEMICAL SAFETY
HAZARD COMMUNICATION
- Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, or GHS.
 specific criteria for classification of chemicals; a uniform system of chemical labeling, including
intuitive pictographs; and, replacing the existing Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) program
with the new SDS format.

SAFETY DATA SHEET

Section 1: Identification
Section 2: Hazard identification
Section 3: Ingredients information
Section 4: First aid procedures
Section 5: Fire-fighting procedures
Section 6: Accidental-release measures
Section 7: Handling and storage
Section 8: Exposure controls and personal protection
Section 9: Physical and chemical properties
Section 10: Stability and reactivity
Section 11: Toxicological information
Section 12: Ecological information
Section 13: Disposal considerations
Section 14: Transport information
Section 15: Regulatory information
Section 16: Other information, including date of preparation or last revision

OSHA LABORATORY STANDARD

Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
- also known as the laboratory standard, was enacted in May 1990
- to provide laboratories with specific guidelines for handling hazardous chemicals.

Storage and Handling of Chemicals

FLAMMABLE/COMBUSTIBLE CHEMICALS
- among the most hazardous materials
- Flammable liquid - flash point below 37.8°C (100°F),
- Combustible liquids- flash point at or above 37.8°C (100°F).

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 8

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.

REACTIVE CHEMICALS
- substances that, under certain conditions, can
spontaneously explode or ignite or that evolve heat or
flammable or explosive gases.

CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS
- cancer-causing agents.
- Benzidine – common example

CHEMICAL SPILLS
- If a spill occurs, the first step should be to
assist/evacuate personnel, and then confinement and
cleanup of the spill can begin.

RADIATION SAFETY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
- A radiation safety policy should include environmental and personnel protection.
- All areas where radioactive materials are used or stored must be posted with caution signs, and traffic
in these areas should be restricted to essential personnel only.

PERSONAL PROTECTION
- It is essential that only properly trained personnel work with radioisotopes.

NONIONIZING RADIATION

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 9

 FIRE SAFETY
THE CHEMISTRY OF FIRE
Fire Tetrahedron

CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES

Class A: ordinary combustible solid materials, such as paper, wood, plastic, and fabric
Class B: flammable liquids/gases and combustible petroleum products
Class C: energized electrical equipment
Class D: combustible/reactive metals, such as magnesium, sodium, and potassium

TYPES AND APPLICATIONS OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 10

 CONTROL OF OTHER HAZARDS
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
- Direct hazards of electrical energy - can result in death, shock, or burns.
- Indirect hazards- can result in fire or explosion.

 Use only explosion-rated (intrinsically wired) equipment in hazardous atmospheres.

 Be particularly careful when operating high-voltage equipment, such as electrophoresis apparatus.
 Use only properly grounded equipment (three-prong plug).
 Check for frayed electrical cords.
 Promptly report any malfunctions or equipment producing a “tingle” for repair.
 Do not work on “live” electrical equipment.
 Never operate electrical equipment with wet hands.
 Know the exact location of the electrical control panel for the electricity to your work area.
 Use only approved extension cords in temporary applications and do not overload circuits. (Some local
regulations prohibit the use of any extension cord.)
 Have ground, polarity, and leakage checks and other periodic preventive maintenance performed on
outlets and equipment.

COMPRESSED GAS HAZARDS

- danger of fire, explosion, asphyxiation, or mechanical injuries.

 Know the gas that you will use.

 Store tanks in a vertical position.
 Keep cylinders secured at all times.
 Never store flammable liquids and compressed gases in the same area.
 Use the proper regulator, tubing, and fittings for the type of gas in use.
 Do not attempt to control or shut off gas flow with the pressure relief regulator.
 Keep removable protection caps in place until the cylinder is in use.
 Make certain that acetylene tanks are properly piped (the gas is incompatible with copper tubing).
 Do not force a “frozen” or stuck cylinder valve.
 Use a hand truck to transport large cylinders.
 Always check cylinders on receipt and then periodically for any problems such as leaks.
 Make certain that the cylinder is properly labeled to identify the contents.
 Empty tanks should be marked “empty.”

CRYOGENIC MATERIALS HAZARDS

- Liquid nitrogen - most widely used cryogenic fluids
- several hazards associated with the use of any cryogenic material: fire or explosion,
asphyxiation, pressure buildup, embrittlement of materials, and tissue damage similar to that of thermal burns.
- Cryogenic fluids - stored in well-insulated but loosely stoppered containers that minimize loss of
fluid resulting from evaporation by boil-off and that prevent plugging and pressure buildup.

MECHANICAL HAZARDS
- mechanical hazards of equipment such as centrifuges, autoclaves, and homogenizers.

ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
- repetitive strain disorders such as tenosynovitis, bursitis, and ganglion cysts.
- primary contributing factors associated with repetitive strain disorders are position/posture, applied
force, and frequency of repetition.

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 11

 DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
- four basic waste disposal techniques:
 flushing down the drain to the sewer system,
 incineration,
 landfill burial, and
 recycling.

CHEMICAL WASTE
- it is permissible to flush water-soluble substances down the drain with copious quantities of water.
- strong acids or bases should be neutralized before disposal.
- Foulsmelling chemicals should never be disposed off down the drain.
- Possible solid chemical wastes that are unsuitable for incineration may be amenable to other
treatments or buried in an approved, permitted landfill.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE
- type of waste (soluble or nonsoluble),
- its level of radioactivity, and the radiotoxicity and half-life of the
isotopes involved.

BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE
- Medical waste - special waste from health care facilities and is further defined as solid waste that, if
improperly treated or handled, “may transmit infectious diseases.”

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 12

 GENERATORS OF MEDICAL WASTE MUST IMPLEMENT THE
FOLLOWING PROCEDURES:
 Employers of health care workers must establish and implement
an infectious waste program.
 All biomedical waste should be placed in a bag marked with the
biohazard symbol and then placed into a leakproof container that is
puncture resistant and equipped with a solid, tight-fitting lid. All
containers must be clearly marked with the word biohazard or its
symbol.
 All sharp instruments, such as needles, blades, and glass objects,
should be placed into special puncture-resistant containers before
placing them inside the bag and container.
 Needles should not be transported, recapped, bent, or broken by
hand.
 All biomedical waste must then be disposed off according to one
of the recommended procedures.
 Highly pathogenic waste should undergo preliminary treatment on-
site.
 Potentially biohazardous material, such as blood or blood products and contaminated laboratory waste,
cannot be directly discarded. Contaminated combustible waste can be incinerated. Contaminated
noncombustible waste, such as glassware, should be autoclaved before being discarded. Special
attention should be given to the discarding of syringes, needles, and broken glass that could also inflict
accidental cuts or punctures. Appropriate containers should be used for discarding these sharp objects

REFERENCE: EIGHTH edition Clinical Chemistry Principles, Techniques, and Correlations by Bishop, et al.

NOTES BY: DEMI (DLA, RMT) PG. 13