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1 Clause 6.3.2 d) of AS ISO 15189:2023 specifies that the medical laboratory must provide
2 relevant maintained safety devices and facilities according to laboratory activities.
3 Clause 6.3.2 d) of AS ISO 15189:2023 has not specified for safety devices and facilities9
4 that the medical laboratory are required to provide [Clause 6.3.2 d) of
5 AS ISO 15189:2023]; it can be open to interpretation. However, the medical laboratory
6 is required to provide relevant emergency devices and facilities that are reasonably
7 practicable to minimise risks to health and safety. Clause 6.3.2 d) of AS ISO 15189:2023
8 has listed examples, as follows: emergency release, intercom, and alarm systems for
9 walk-in coolers and freezers10; emergency shower11-13; emergency eyewash13-16; and
10 resuscitation equipment.
11
12 The medical laboratory must provide the following facilities in accordance with
13 Standards Australia: at least seven (≥ 7) facilities:
14
15 Safety showers — Safety showers are for laboratory personnel to use for emergency
16 decontamination13,17-19. The provision of safety showers is justified by relevant
17 specifications [Clause 6.2 (Safety showers and eyewashers) of AS/NZS 2982:2010].
18 Safety showers must be supplied with potable water [Clause 3.9.4 (Safety shower and
19 eyewash) of AS/NZS 2982:2010]. The medical laboratory must ensure safety showers
20 are maintained in accordance with relevant maintenance specifications [Clause 6.8
21 (Maintenance and training) of AS 4775―2007; Subclause 10.4
22 (Emergency/drench showers) of ISO 15190:2020]. The medical laboratory can seek
23 further information from the Australasian Health Infrastructure Alliance (AHIA) relating
24 to safety showers for specified floor areas (≥ 1.00 m2)20.
25
26 Safety eyewash or eye/face wash facility — Safety eyewash or eye/face wash facility
27 is for laboratory personnel to use for emergency decontamination12,17-19. The provision
28 of safety eyewash or eye/face wash facility is justified by relevant specifications
29 [Clause 6.2 (Safety showers and eyewashers) of AS/NZS 2982:2010]. Safety eyewash or
30 eye/face wash facility must be supplied with potable water [Clause 3.9.4 (Safety shower
31 and eyewash) of AS/NZS 2982:2010]. The medical laboratory must ensure safety
32 showers are maintained in accordance with relevant maintenance specifications
33 [Clause 7.6 (Maintenance and training) of AS 4775―2007; Subclause 10.3
34 (Eyewash facilities) of ISO 15190:2020].
35
36 Fire extinguishers — Fire extinguishers are for laboratory personnel to use for
37 suppression of fire. The provision of fire extinguishers is justified by relevant
38 specifications [Clause 2.6.1 (General) AS 2243.1:2021]. The medical laboratory must
39 ensure the installation meeting relevant installation specifications [Clause 3.2
40 (Extinguisher location) of AS 2444—2001]. The medical laboratory must ensure fire
41 extinguishers are maintained in accordance with relevant maintenance specifications
42 [Clause 10.2 (Routine service process and procedures) of AS 1851—2012;
43 Subclause 11.1.6.2 (Portable fire extinguishers) of ISO 15190:2020]. The medical
44 laboratory can seek further consideration factors from the AHIA relating to fire
45 extinguisher implementation21.
46
47 Fire blankets — Fire blankets are for laboratory personnel to use for suppression of fire.
48 The provision of safety showers is justified by relevant specifications [Clause 2.6.1
49 (General) AS 2243.1:2021]. The medical laboratory must ensure the installation meeting
50 relevant installation specifications [Clause 6.3 (Location) of AS 2444—2001]. The
51 medical laboratory must ensure fire blankets are maintained in accordance with relevant
52 maintenance specifications [Clause 11.2 (Routine service process and procedures) of
53 AS 1851—2012; Subclause 11.1.6.3 (Use of fire blankets) of ISO 15190:2020]. The
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54 medical laboratory can seek further consideration factors from the AHIA relating to fire
55 blankets implementation21.
56
57 First aid facilities and supplies — First aid facilities and supplies are for
58 laboratory personnel to treat minor injuries. The provision of first aid facilities and
59 supplies is justified by relevant specifications [Clause 2.6.1 (General) AS 2243.1:2021;
60 Clause 6.1 (General) of AS/NZS 2982:2010; Subclause 10.2 (First aid equipment and
61 procedures) of ISO 15190:2020]. The provision is supported by further justified
62 specifications17,22-24.
63
64 Spill kits — Spill kits are for laboratory personnel to contain and control spills. The
65 provision of spill kits is justified by relevant specifications [Clause 2.6.1 (General)
66 AS 2243.1:2021; Subclause 10.5 (Spill response) of ISO 15190:2020].
67
68 A manual containing safety procedures — A manual containing safety procedures is
69 for laboratory personnel to use providing instructions on how to perform safety
70 procedures. The provision of a manual containing safety procedures is justified by
71 relevant specifications [Clause 2.6.1 (General) AS 2243.1:2021; Subclause 5.6
72 (Safety manual) of ISO 15190:2020].
73
74 The medical laboratory should also consider the provision of the following facilities:
75 emergency release, intercom, and alarm systems for walk-in coolers and freezers10
76 in accordance with maintenance specifications (Clause 5.1.1 of AS/NZS 5149.4:2016);
77 and security door release in accordance with maintenance specifications [Clause 1.12
78 (Systems interface test) of AS 1851—2012].
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80