Laboratory Safety and Hazards

OLFU SPECIAL DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURES LEC 1 2021 – 2022

2nd Semester
RMT 2023 Instructor: Prof. Rose Dyane F. Nunag, RMT, MPH
TRANS 1 SPDX311
Date: February 16, 2022 LEC

Outline  Main goal: provide all employees with a safe work

At the end of the session, the student must be able to learn: environment
I. Laboratory Safety  Safety is a federal law
A. Laboratory Biosafety
1. OSHA
2. OSH Act in 1970 B. Types of Safety Hazards
B. Types of Safety Hazards
1. Sharps
2. Radioactive Type Source Possible Injury
3. Electrical Biologic Infection agents Bacterial, fungal, viral, or
4. Physical parasitic infections
5. Chemical Sharps Needles, lancets, Cuts, punctures, or blood-
 Chemical Hygiene Plan broken glass borne
 Chemical Labeling
Chemical Preservatives and Exposure to toxic,
 Chemical Handling
 Chemical Spills Handling
reagents carcinogenic or caustic
6. Fire agents
 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Radioactive Equipment and Radiation exposure
 Types of Fires and Fire Extinguisher radioisotopes
7. Biological Electrical Ungrounded or Burns or shock
II. Standard Precaution wet equipment;
A. Specimen Processing frayed cords
B. Disposal of Biological Waste
1. Decontamination Fire/ Open flames, Burns or dismemberment
2. Sterilization explosive organic,
3. Disinfection chemicals
4. Antiseptic Physical Wet floors heavy Falls, sprains, or strains
5. Sanitation boxes, patients
C. Hand washing

I. LABORATORY SAFETY Table 1. 0: Types of Safety Hazards

 Bring protected from injury

 All clinical lab personnel are exposed daily to potential hazards.
1. Sharps

A. Laboratory Safety  Includes: needles, lancets, and broken glassware

 Containment principles, technologies and practices that are
implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to biological
agents or their inadvertent release.
 To contain hazardous or infectious materials that are being
held in the lab.
 Must be disposed of in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof
container with the biohazard symbol.
 The biohazard sharp containers should not be overfilled and
must always be replaced when the safe capacity mark is
reached.
 Alternative: FDA cleared container transparent or clear ⅔
full.

1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

 A US-regulatory agency that ensures safe and healthful
working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing
standards and by providing training, outreach, education
and assistance (Occupational Health and Safety Act in
1970)
 Written manuals that define specific safety policies and
procedures for all potential hazards are required in
laboratories.
 Guidelines for developing these written policies and
procedures are provided in several Clinical and Laboratory
Standards Institute (CLSI) documents.
 conduct on-site inspections
 determine whether an employer is complying with the
mandatory standards
 primary agency that ensures safety of workers Figure 1. 0: Sharps
 require the laboratory to have written manuals or SOP (it
differs from every lab)

2. Occupational Health and Safety Act in 1970

2. Radioactive Hazards
 primary law that protects the workers
 procedures using radioisotopes
 Public law 91-596
 The radioactive symbol must be displayed on the doors of all
 was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1970
areas where radioactive material is present.

PAGALING, GILLIAN JOY C.

 Laboratory Safety and Hazards
OLFU SPECIAL DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURES LEC 1 2021 – 2022
nd
2 Semester
RMT 2023
 Exposure Instructor:
to radiation Prof. Rose
during pregnancy Dyanea danger
presents F. Nunag,
to RMT, MPH 
TRANS 1 SPDX311
Chemical labels must now include five specific elements:
the fetus. Date: February 16, 2022 1. Product identifier LEC
 Dosimeter- device that records received radiation by 2. A signal word: danger or warning
Radiological Technologists. They should wear this every 3. A hazard statement
duty. The device is checked every year 4. Precautionary statements and pictograms
 There is a maximum allowable exposure to radiation 5. Supplier identification
 X-Ray room is full of lead that prevents leakage of radiation
 Pregnant women wear Lead Gown or Lead Belt

3. Electrical Hazards

 The danger of water or fluid coming in contact with

equipment is greater in the laboratory setting.
 Equipment should not be operated with wet hands.
 Monitor electrical equipment closely (frayed cords and
overloaded circuits).
 All electrical equipment must be grounded with three-
pronged plugs.

4. Physical Hazard

 Avoid running in rooms and hallways.

 Watch for wet floors.
 Bend the knees when lifting heavy objects.
 Keep long hair pulled back.
 Avoid dangling jewelry.
 Maintain a clean, organized work area.
 Closed-toed shoes
5. Chemical Hazard
 Chemical Hygiene Plan
 OSHA Rule: Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
 Safety policies and procedures for all hazardous chemicals
used in the laboratory.
 By developing and using a comprehensive CHP, chemical Figure 1. 1: Sample Label
hazards are minimized, and the laboratory becomes a safe
environment in which to work. Figure 1. 2: Hazard Symbols
 Employee “right to know” requires chemical manufacturers,
importers, and distributors to provide safety data sheets
(SDSs).
 Safety Data Sheets - aka MSDS or Material Safety Data  Chemical Handling
Sheets, required by OSHA (revised into user friendly by
 General rules:
dividing it to 16 sections)
 Section 1 -11 required for chemicals
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Content Areas
Section Content
1 Identification
2 Hazard Identification
3 Composition/Information on Ingredients
4 First-Aid Measures
5 Firefighting Measures
6 Accidental Release Measures
7 Handling and Storage
8 Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
9 Physical and Chemical Properties
10 Stability and Reactivity
11 Toxicologic Information
12 Ecologic Information (nonmandatory)
13 Disposal Considerations (nonmandatory)
14 Transport Information (nonmandatory)
15 Regulatory Information (nonmandatory)
16 Other Information

Table 1. 1: Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Content Areas

 Chemical Labeling

PAGALING, GILLIAN JOY C.

 Laboratory Safety and Hazards
OLFU SPECIAL DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURES LEC 1 2021 – 2022
2nd Semester
RMT
o 2023pipetting
Prohibiting Instructor:
by mouthProf.
or theRose
sniffingDyane F. Nunag, RMT, MPH
of chemicals
TRANS 1 SPDX311
o Date: February 16, 2022
Appropriate use of PPE (gloves, gowns & goggles) LEC
o A fume hood or safety cabinet

 Chemical safety tips include:

o Never grasp a reagent bottle by the neck or top
o Always add acid to water
Types of Fires and Fire Extinguishers
o Safety equipment: eyewash and shower
Fire Type Extinguishing Type / Extinguisher
Material Composition of
Fire
 Chemical Spills & Disposal Class A Wood, paper, Class A Water
 First aid: flush the area with large amounts of water for at clothing
least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention Class B Flammable Class B Dry chemicals,
 Contaminated clothing should be removed as soon as organic carbon dioxide,
possible chemicals foam, or halon
 Chemical spill kits: PPE, nonreactive absorbent material, and Class C Electrical Class C Dry chemicals,
bags for disposing of contaminated materials carbon dioxide,
 Chemical disposal differs according to the chemical type, the foam, or halon
amount to be discarded and local laws Class D Combustible None Sand or dry
 Chemicals often are diluted adequately or neutralized such metals powder
that disposal in the sewer system is satisfactory. Class ABC Dry Chemicals
Class K Grease, oils, Class K Liquid designed
fats to prevent
splashing and
cool the fire.
6. Fire Hazard
 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704-M Hazard
Identification System Table 1. 2: Types of Fires and Fire Extinguishers
 a bright, color-coded labels are divided into quadrants:
o health (blue) Figure 1. 4: RACE & PASS Acronym
o flammability (red)
o reactivity (yellow)
o any special considerations (white)
7. Biological Hazard

 any patient specimen or body substance is considered

infectious
 Chain of Infection – a continuous link in the transmission of
harmful microorganisms between a source and a susceptible
host.

II. LABORATORY SAFETY

Figure 1. 3: Hazard Symbols

PAGALING, GILLIAN JOY C.

 Laboratory Safety and Hazards
OLFU SPECIAL DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURES LEC 1 2021 – 2022
2nd Semester
RMT 2023 Instructor: Prof. Rose Dyane F. Nunag, RMT, MPH
TRANS 1 SPDX311
Date: February 16, 2022 LEC

PAGALING, GILLIAN JOY C.