University of Johannesburg

MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

I am undertaking a research to evaluate implementation of standard occupational health

and safety in medical laboratories in Harare as part of my Masters in Public Health and
your laboratory is one of the laboratories that have been selected to participate. Please
respond to the questions about your laboratory below. You are assured of absolute
confidentiality. Please tick or fill-in where applicable
SECTION A : GENERAL INFORMATION
1. How many years has the laboratory been operational_______________
2. Biosafety containment level of the laboratory_____________________
3. Ownership Model of the laboratory

Government
Private
Mission
Non-Governmental Organisation
Municipality of Harare
Academic Institution
Other: __________________

SECTION B: Availability of international standards, occupational health legislation

and training in the laboratory
Please provide answers to the following question by filling in Y for yes and N for no in
the column on the right.
Y/N
1 Does the laboratory own a copy of ISO:15189 standard? Y

2 Does the laboratory own a copy of ISO:15190 standard? Y

3 Does the laboratory own a copy of ISO:35001 (bio risk assessment N

Standard)?

4 Did the biosafety manager receive a training on laboratory safety Y

 5 If training was received did it include risk management
6 Is the laboratory manager aware of the provisions of occupational
health and act of Zimbabwe namely :
a. National Social Security Authority (NSSA) (Accident
Prevention, Workers Compensation Scheme) Notice No. 68 of
1990
b. Labor Act

SECTION C: Organization of the laboratory premises and workflow

Please tick the appropriate response

Key: 1. Not Implemented 2. Partially Implemented 3. Neutral 4.Fully
Implemented
1 2 3 4
1 Are primary sample collection facilities separated
from the laboratory rooms?

2 Are laboratory rooms where incompatible procedures

are being undertaken separated from each other?

3 Are rooms for cleaning of laboratory glassware and

tools separated from the laboratory rooms?

4 Is office space separated from laboratory rooms?

5 Is there a dedicated area for breaks/lunches?

6 Has the containment level for each laboratory room

been determined?

Section D: Laboratory Cleaning and Waste management

Please tick the appropriate response
 Key: 1. Not Implemented 2. Partially Implemented 3. Neutral 4. Fully
Implemented

1 2 3 4
1 Is the laboratory cleaned regularly?

2 Is there a cleaning log in the lab to show frequency of

cleaning?
3 Is the lab regularly disinfected with disinfectants such as
hypochlorite or 70 % alcohol?

4 Do you use disinfectants appropriately?

5 Are disinfectants always freshly prepared
6 Are disinfectants stored appropriately ?
7 Are laboratory work benches made of materials that are
easy to clean

8 Are laboratory floors made of materials that are easy to

clean
9 If the laboratory has a microbiology department how
often is it fumigated

1 Is the cleaning staff clearly instructed on the

0 products they are supposed to use?
1 Are there simplified job aids in the lab for their use?
1
1 Has the containment level for each laboratory room been
2 determined?
1 Does the lab use indicators for the sterilization process?
3
1 Are the sterilization equipment regularly maintained?
4

1 2 3 4
1 Does the laboratory separate infectious and non-
5 infectious waste?
1 Does the laboratory have covered waste receptacles
6 for biohazard waste?
1 Does the lab have special containers for
 7 contaminated sharps?

1 Does the lab have dedicated waste holding area

8 before disposal?

1 Does the lab use incineration for elimination of

9 infectious waste?

Section E: Good Laboratory Practice and personal protective equipment

Please tick the appropriate response
Key: 1. Not Implemented 2. Partially Implemented 3. Neutral 4. Fully
Implemented

1 2 3 4
1 Are clean and dirty areas clearly designated in all
laboratory analytical rooms and sample
collection rooms?

2 Are the clean and dirty area well respected?

3 Are rooms for cleaning of laboratory glassware

and tools separated from the laboratory rooms?

4 Does the lab have appropriate PPE for all staff?

5 Is PPE used appropriately in the laboratory

6 Does the laboratory have dedicated

handwashing sinks in the different laboratory
units
7 Do the sinks have appropriate handwashing
supplies (soap and paper towels)

8 Do staff wash their hands every time they exit

the laboratory rooms?
9 Is laboratory equipment disinfected before it is
serviced by an external engineer?

1 Is disinfection of laboratory equipment recorded

0 in a log?
1 Does the lab have a list of procedures that
1 produce aerosols
1 Does the lab have a list of equipment that
2 produce aerosols
1 Does the lab have mitigation measures to reduce
3 the production of aerosols?

1 Does the have procedures to handle biosafety

4 level 3 pathogens
1 Do the staff respect not eating, drinking, or
5 smoking in the laboratory?

1 Do staff use closed shoes in the laboratory?

6
1 Does the staff take off their lab coats before
7 accessing offices and break rooms?

1 Does the staff avoid wearing any jewelry

8 (especially on hands) in the laboratory?

1 Is a protective screen available for opening blood

9 tubes?

2 Do the centrifuges used in the laboratory have

0 watertight cups with lids?

2 Are there clear procedures for disinfection of

1 single use items like gloves slides and tips if the
lab reuses these
2 Does the lab have appropriate packaging
2 materials if they refer samples or strains to other
laboratories?
 2 Is the person in charge of referring samples
3 appropriately trained
2 Does the lab have a biosafety manual?
4
2 Is the biosafety manual regularly updated?
5
2 Is the biosafety manual attested by all staff
6
2 Does the lab have MSDS sheets for all hazardous
7 materials in the labs
2 Does the laboratory have appropriate emergency
8 procedures?
2 Does the laboratory have a trained first aid
9 provider?

Section F: Vaccinations and Post Exposure prophylaxis

Please tick the appropriate response
Key: 1. Not Implemented 2. Partially Implemented 3. Neutral 4. Fully
Implemented

1 2 3 4
1 Are all staff vaccinated against hepatitis B and
other diseases as appropriately?

2 Does the laboratory check for strength of antibody

response after vaccinations?

3 Does the lab offer annual health checks to all

laboratory staff?
4 Have all laboratory staff been trained to recognize
the symptoms of pathogens that are normally
handled in the laboratory
5 Is post exposure prophylaxis available for
accidental exposure to HIV infected blood?

6 Is post exposure prophylaxis available for other

 diseases as appropriate

Section G :bio Security

Please tick the appropriate response
Key: 1. Not Implemented 2. Partially Implemented 3. Neutral 4. Fully
Implemented

1 2 3 4
1 Is access to the laboratory facility controlled against
unauthorized persons (visits, family, resellers, etc.)?

2 Can the access control system, protecting the

laboratory from unauthorized access, be overridden in
case of an emergency such as fire?

3 Is a laboratory plan placed at one or more strategic

locations and showing emergency exits available?

4 Are emergency evacuation exercises organized

regularly?

5 Are signs indicating emergency exits in place, easily

visible (including in the dark), and up-to-date?

6 Does the laboratory have doors that can be locked?

7 Are collections of pathogen strains stored in a closed

room with very restricted access?
8 Are the stocks of positive sera (HIV, HBV, HCV, etc.)
kept in a closed room with very restricted access?

9 Are sera and strains registered in a logbook

Section H: Risk Assessment

Please tick the appropriate response
Key: 1. Not Implemented 2. Partially Implemented 3. Neutral 4. Fully
Implemented

1 2 3 4
1 Has the lab been trained on risk assessment?

2 Does the laboratory know how to assess and quantify a

risk?

3 Was a risk assessment exercise already conducted by

the lab?

4 Was it properly documented

5 Are mitigation measures in place
6 Are biosafety and risk assessment issues incorporated
into an annual action plan (quality or otherwise)?