COMMON LABORATORY HAZARDS

Laboratory hazards encompass anything capable of causing harm. Laboratory workers face
potential dangers, but these risks can be reduced by removing hazardous conditions when
feasible, adopting clean and safe work routines, taking necessary precautions, and staying
mindful of sound safety protocols. Laboratory hazards in which laboratory workers may be
exposed to can be classified into three categories namely:
1. Chemical hazards
2. Biological hazards
3. Physical hazards
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
Chemical hazards arise from exposure to various substances in the workplace. Contact with
these chemicals can result in immediate or prolonged negative health impacts. Among the
hazardous chemicals are neurotoxins, substances affecting the skin, and carcinogens. These
compounds can enter the body through contaminated food, inhalation, or skin absorption.
Clinical technologists commonly encounter strong acids and alkalis, the primary corrosive
chemicals, usually through accidental splashing during reagent preparation.
Precautions against chemical hazards include:
1. Corrosive chemicals should be appropriately labelled.
2. Care must be taken when pouring reagents to avoid splashing.
3. Chemicals for which there is little or conflicting information about potential toxic
effects should be treated as toxic.
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Biological hazards are infectious agents such as bacteria, virus, fungi or parasites which may
be transmitted via contact with infected patients or contaminated objects, body secretions,
tissues or fluids. In the laboratory, both Hepatitis B and HIV can be transmitted by infected
blood and body fluids when they are in contact with the inside of the mouth, the eye, or with
broken skin. Neither of these two diseases can be transmitted through the air.
Precautions against biological hazards include:
1. All needles should be properly disposed.
2. Laboratory workers should cover all cuts properly and wear gloves to avoid contacts
with specimens.
3. A spill of patient’s serum or urine on the floor or laboratory bench should be wiped
off immediately with hypochlorite solution to inactivate viruses and bacteria.
4. Always put on your laboratory coat to prevent laboratory specimens from spilling on
clothes.
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Physical hazards within the workplace encompass environmental risks capable of causing
harm, whether or not direct contact occurs. These hazards encompass injuries like cuts from
shattered glassware and potential fires resulting from gas leaks or electrical issues. The
constant risk of fire persists whenever volatile, flammable solvents are present in the lab. An
explosion can be triggered by a static spark or even a spark originating from the refrigerator's
thermostat.
Precautions against physical hazards include:
1. Place fire extinguishers at strategic locations in the laboratory.
2. Smoking should be prohibited in the laboratory.
3. All connections of flammable gases to instruments such as the flame
photometer should be leak-proof.
4. Always work in a fume chamber when working with flammable solvents.
5 BROKEN GLASSWARE: any glassware e.g. pipettes, flasks and beakers with broken
tips should be discarded as they are source of danger.

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS ON LABORATORY HAZARDS

Hand washing
Wash your hands thoroughly:
1. Before and after working with any biohazard
2. After removing gloves, laboratory coat, and other contaminated protective clothing
3. Before eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics
4. Before leaving the laboratory area
5. Do not touch your face when handling biological material
6.Never eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in the work area
Clothing Guidelines
1. Always wear appropriate lab clothes and gloves when working with biological agents.
2. Wear gloves over gown cuffs.
3. Remove gloves by peeling them from the inside out.
4. Never wear contact lenses when dealing with infectious agents.
5. Do not wear potentially contaminated clothing outside the laboratory area.
6. Additional appropriate protective clothing should be selected and worn based upon the task
and degree of exposure anticipated.
Work Area
1. Keep laboratory doors shut when experiments are in progress.
2. Limit access to laboratory areas when experiments involving biohazardous agents are
being performed.
3. Ensure that warning signs are posted on laboratory doors. These signs should include the
universal biohazard symbol and the approved biosafety level for the laboratory.
4. Transport contaminated materials in leak-proof containers.
5. Keep miscellaneous material (i.e., books, journals, etc.) away from potentially
contaminated working areas.

COMMON LABORATORY APPARATUS.