CCHM1 PRELIM02
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT
LABORATORY SAFETY AND REGULATIONS
SAFETY AWARENESS FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY
PERSONNEL
• The employer and the employee share safety
responsibility. The employer has the ultimate
responsibility for safety and delegates
authority for safe operations to supervisors.
• Safety management in the laboratory should
start with a written safety policy. Laboratory
supervisors, who reflect the attitudes of
management toward safety, are essential
members of the safety program.
• Employee's Responsibilities
Know and comply with the established
laboratory work safety methods.
Have a positive attitude toward
supervisors, coworkers, facilities, and
safety training.
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 sale work
practices and use of personal protective
equipment.
• Employer's Responsibilities
Establish laboratory work methods and
safety policies.
Provide supervision and guidance to
employees.
Provide safety information, training,
personal protective equipment and
medical surveillance to employees.
Provide and maintain equipment and
laboratory facilities that are adequate for
the tasks required.
REGULATIONS
i. OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
ii. Bloodborne Pathogens
iii. Universal Precaution
iv. Hazard Communication
v. Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
Chemicals
• Public law 91-596 (OSHA Act of 1970)
• Public Law RA 11058 (Philippines based)
• December 29, 1970
• Their goal is to provide all employees with a
safe work environment.
• Authorized to conduct on-site-inspection to
determine whether an employer is complying
with the mandatory standards.
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
• OSHA bloodborne Pathogen Compliance
Directive, published November 5, 1999.
• Establishes the responsibilities of personnel
service firms to provide hepatitis B
vaccinations, postexposure evaluation and
follow-up and record keeping on their
employees.
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION
• All human blood, tissue and most fluids are
treated as if known to be infectious for HIV,
HBV and other blood borne pathogens.
HAZARD COMMUNICATION
• AKA “OSHA HazCom Standard”
• Intended to ensure that the hazards of all
chemicals used in the workplace have been
evaluated and that this hazard information is
successfully transmitted to employers and
their employees who use the substances.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS
• AKA “OSHA Lab Standard”
• Intended to address the shortcomings of the
Hazard Communication Standard regarding its
application peculiar to the handling of
hazardous chemicals in laboratories.
• Requires the appointment of a chemical
hygiene officer and the development of a
chemical hygiene plan.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Safety showers
Eyewash stations
Fire extinguishers
Blankets
Spill kits
First aid supply
CCHM1 PRELIM02
TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS CHEMICAL FUME HOODS AND BIOSAFETY HOODS
Type Source Possible Injury FUME HOODS
Bacterial, − Used when chemical reagents may produce
Infectious fungal, viral or hazardous fume.
Biological
agents parasitic − has HEPA (high efficiency particulate air)
infections filter
Cuts, puncture − has sash or window (nilolower when
Needles,
or blood-borne
Sharps lancets, working)
pathogen
broken glasses
exposure − used in bio laboratory (Anachem, etc)
Exposure to BIOLOGIC HOODS
Preservatives toxic, − Remove particles that may infect the
Chemicals
and reagents carcinogenic or person working with the biologically
caustic agents infected specimen.
Equipment
Radiation − Used in microbiology laboratory.
Radioactive and
exposure
radioisotopes
Ungrounded
or wet
Electrical Burns or shock
equipment;
frayed cords
Bunsen
burners, Burns or
Fire/Explosive
organic dismemberment
chemicals
Wet floors, HANDWASHING
Falls, sprains or
Physical heavy boxes, Hand contact is the primary method of
strains
patients infection transmission.
Laboratory personnel must always wash
BIOLOGICAL HAZARD hands after gloves are removed, prior to
• Health care setting as a source of potential leaving the work area, at any time when
pathogen. hands have been knowingly
• Route of Transmission (ROT) - in breaking the contaminated, before going to designated
chain of infection. break areas, and before and after using
• *by practicing proper handwashing bathroom facilities.
• Susceptible – infected host in continuing Main bloodborne pathogen: HIV and HBV
infection cycle.

*Epidemiological Triad = Agent, Host,

Environment

*Can kill HIV for 2 mins and HBV for 5mins.

CCHM1 PRELIM02
SHARP HAZARD
• Includes needles, lancets, and broken
glassware
• Must be disposed in puncture – resistant
containers
• Use mechanical device to pick-up sharps
CHEMICAL HAZARD
• Chemical spills
*prophylaxis : 15 mins contact with water
• Chemical handling
*acids should always be added with water
*inhaling benzene affects bone marrow
• Chemical hygiene plan as required by OSHA
• Chemical Labelling
• MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet is a
document that contains information on the
potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and
environmental) and how to work safely with
the chemical product. It is an essential starting
point for the development of a complete
health and safety program.
Physical and chemical characteristics
Fire and explosion potential
Reactivity potential
Health hazards & Emergency first aid
procedures
Methods for safe handling and disposal
SIGNAGE AND LABELLING
HAZARDS-IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM
• Developed by National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA)
"NFPA 704: Standard System for the
Identification of the Hazards of Materials for
Emergency Response" is a standard
maintained by the U.S.-based National Fire
Protection Association.
• Diamond shaped, color coded symbol
• Show magnitude of severity from 0-4
RADIOACTIVE HAZARD
• Radioactivity is encountered in the clinical
laboratory when procedures using
radioisotopes are performed.
• Radioactivity present in the clinical laboratory
is very small
Time
Distance
Shielding
ELECTRICAL HAZARD
Actions to Take if Electrical Shock Occurs:
• Shut off the source of electricity.
• If the source of electricity cannot be shut off,
use non-conducting material (e.g., hand inside
a glass beaker) to remove the source of
electricity from the victim.
• Call for medical assistance.
• Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if
indicated.
• Keep the victim warm.
FIRE/EXPLOSIVE HAZARD
• Fire is a chemical reaction that involves the
rapid oxidation of combustible material or
fuel, with the subsequent liberation of heat
and light.
• JCAHO or the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO BEGIN FIRE:
Fuel
Heat / ignition source
Oxygen
Reaction chain –
burning continues
and even accelerates.
CCHM1 PRELIM02
GENERAL LABORATORY RULES

HAZARD SYMBOLS

BIOLOGICAL

SHARP

TYPES OF FIRES AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Fire Extinguishing Type of Fire Extinguisher
Type Material Composition
of Fire CHEMICAL
Class A Wood, Class A Water
paper,
clothing
Class B Flammable Class B Dry chemicals,
organic carbon
RADIOACTIVE
chemicals dioxide, foam
or halon
Class C Electrical Class C Dry chemicals,
carbon
dioxide or
halon FIRE/EXPLOSIVE
Class D Combustible None Sand paper or
metals dry powder
Class ABC Dry chemicals

PHYSICAL HAZARD PHYSICAL

• Physical hazards are not unique to the
laboratory, and routine precautions observed
outside the workplace apply.
CCHM1 PRELIM01.1
LABORATORY SAFETY AND REGULATIONS
(POST LAB DISCUSSION)
1. Give examples of biological, chemical, fire,
electrical and mechanical hazards in the
clinical laboratory.
Biological – infectious agents like bacterial,
fungal, viral or parasitic infections.
Chemical – preservatives and reagents.
Fire – open flames, organic chemicals.
Electrical – ungrounded or wet equipment or
frayed cords.
Mechanical - entanglement with unguarded
moving parts on a machine or cutting/
amputation of finger on the machine.
2. Why it is necessary to add acid to water and
not water to acid?
A large amount of heat is released when
strong acids are mixed with water. 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.
*add water to water so that you will not form
an extremely concentrated solution of acid and
boil violently.
3. How do you prevent aerosolization during
centrifugation?
Always ensure if the centrifuge is properly
balance.
Use unbreakable tubes and avoid overfilling
the tubes.
Do not open the lid during or immediately
after operation
Never exceed the specified speed limitations
of the rotor as listed in the owner’s manual.
Aerosols = these are solid and liquid particles
suspended in the air (5 microns). Can remained
airborne for a long period of time. Can spread
with distances and easily inhaled. But larger than
2 microns, they tend to settle rapidly and can
contaminate the skin, other surfaces and
ventilation system.
80% aerosol hazard in laboratory.
Lab safety equipment to protect personnel
from aerosols
Safe work practices for centrifugation
Safe work practices blending, sonicating,
grinding and lyophilizing
Safe work practices for pipetting
4. What is the immediate step to be done if
your skin comes in contact with chemicals?
Rinse the affected area with water for at
least 15 minutes, removing clothing while
rinsing, if necessary.
Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
5. How are volatile solvents handled in the
laboratory?
Store solvents in strong, sealed containers.
Use fume hoods when working with volatile
substances, never place your face inside the
fume hoods.
Clearly identify and label the containers.
Establish procedures and evacuation routes
in case of a fire or a solvent spill.
Wear protective clothing.
Use a respirator when refilling.
6. Explain how to contain blood and body fluid
spills.
Remove as much of the spill as possible with
a paper towel and clean the area with warm
water and detergent, using a disposable
cleaning cloth or sponge.
The area should be left clean and dry.
Disinfect the area with a solution of
household bleach (Sodium hypochlorite)
using a dilution ratio of 1:10 of water and
bleach.
7. Explain how to safely remove specimens from
a centrifuge.
Make sure that the timer reaches zero, do
not open the lid until the rotor has come to a
complete stop.
CCHM1 PRELIM01.1
8. Define the following terms:
a. Reagents - or also known as catalyst is a
compound or mixture added to a system to cause
a chemical reaction. It is used to detect the
presence of a substance in a sample solution.
11. Describe the storage of the following
chemicals.
a. Acids – stored in a compliant corrosive
resistant storage cabinet but it should be
segregated from bases and flammables. Stored in
large containers. Should not store in upper shelf.

b. Chemicals - are substances consist of matter b. Bases/Alkaline – Should stay away from acids.
(solids, liquids, and gas) but it can either be of a Also stored in a separate compliant corrosive
pure substance. Compound or substance that has resistant storage cabinet. Should also store in
been purified or prepared artificially. lower shelves.

c. Solute - substance that can be dissolved by a c. Flammable solvents – Explosion-proof or

solvent to create a solution.
Ex. Sodium chloride (salt)
d. Solvent - substance capable of dissolving or
dispersing one or more other substances. The
liquid portion where the solid particles dissolves.
Ex. Water
9.Describe the physical forms of chemicals.
Solid – Solid has a well-defined shape and
form.
Ex. Glass wares, plastic, powders
intrinsically safe refrigerators and freezers. in
Stored in safety cans in a well ventilated area.
Note that; NO more than 10 gallons (37.9L) of
flammable liquids may be kept outside of an
approved storage cabinet at any time.
d. Fuming and volatile chemicals – should be
stored in flammable cabinets or in the
refrigerator if and only if the container is less
than 1 liter. These are carcinogens that has strong
odors and high evaporation rate. (Ex. Carbon
tetrachloride, chloroform)

Liquids – formless fluid, it has a definite

volume, but not a definite shape. It takes the
shape of the container.
Ex. Methanol, water, reagent, solvent

Gas - neither a defined volume nor defined

shape.
Ex. Nitrogen, oxygen, air

10. Mention the important information found

on the label of reagent bottle.

Reagent name
Address
Telephone number of importer
Product identifier (chemical name,
code/batch number, distributor)
Signal words, Hazard statements
Preparation date
Expiration date
Storage (room temp or refrigerator temp)
Initials