Basic Laboratory Safety

Clinical Laboratory Science

Student Orientation

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What’s All The Fuss About?

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Laboratory Safety Potential hazards in lab

Chemicals and reagents Patient samples Instruments, electricity

Many lab accidents preventable Use common sense Follow standard operating procedure

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Safety Standards: OSHA 1970, formal regulation of safety

and health of all employees required

Law administered through U.S. Department of Labor by OSHA

$7,000 – $70,000fine for each infraction!

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Safety Standards: OSHA Written safety manuals required

Specific policies and procedures Safe work environment Documentation of annual review is

mandatory

OSHA mandated programs Blood Borne Pathogen Safety Chemical Hazards Safety

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What’s wrong with this picture?

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PPE: What is it? Personal Protective

Equipment Lab coat Gloves Goggles Face mask Foot protection

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PPE: How and When

Lab coats worn in lab only Lab coat must cover full

length of arms (do not roll upsleeves)

Lab coat must be buttoned

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PPE: How and When

No bare legs, arms or feet No sandals, no open-toe

shoes; no shoes with holes Must follow dress code of lab

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PPE: How and When

Gloves (band-aid for booboos)

Eye goggles for specific procedures

Face masks, fitted respirators for suspected TB (N95)

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PPE: How and When

Wear appropriate PPE when handling equipment that may be contaminated: Instruments: gloves, lab coat

Phone: gloves? no gloves?

Clean area: gloves? no gloves?

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PPE: How and When

Wear appropriate PPE when transporting specimens from point A to point B: Lab coat, gloves Specimen must be in a ‘secondary

container’ to protect personnel in case of accidental breakage and/or spillage• Test tube rack• Plastic bag

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What’s wrong with this picture?

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Man, this

bubble gum is

not bubbling

very well!

Slide #4

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No Eating in the Lab Put nothing in your mouth

Gum, mints, pipettes, pencils

No food or drink in lab Refrigerator Microwave Countertops Drawers File cabinets

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Never Mouth Pipette Always use a safety

bulb!

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Protect Mucus Membranes

Don’t touch mucus membranes

Discourage use of contact lens

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Protect Mucus Membranes Open tubes of blood

Away from your face Behind a shield Using a tissue to entrap aerosols

Using a centrifuge Specimens should always be covered Only open centrifuge after it has completely

stopped spinning

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What’s wrong with this picture?

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Slide #5

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Slide #6

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Biohazardous Waste Blood Drip, flake, potentially

contaminate Reaction tubes Soiled gloves

NO paper towels used to dry your hands

NO needles

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Non-biohazardous Waste Regular trash Empty kleenex boxes Paper towels used to

dry your hands

NO needles NO blood NO reaction tubes that

contained patient sample

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Biohazardous Sharps Needles and sharps ONLY

Container must be Puncture resistant Have biohazard signage Must be near point of use

Discard when ¾ full to avoid accidental injury

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Sharps ‘Safer’ needles Never broken or reused Always discard in

puncture resistant container

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Glassware

Do not use if cracked, chipped, broken

Proper disposal

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Hand Washing First line of

defense

Interrupts transmission and spread of infectious pathogens

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Hand Washing Do it right!

Soap, water 15 seconds friction Scrub between fingers Use paper towel

to shut faucet off Use clean paper towel

to dry hands

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Hand Hygiene Policy Mandated compliance for personnel

involved in direct inpatient care Routine: 15 seconds Alcohol based hand sanitizers unless

hands are visibly soiled NO artificial fingernails or extenders Natural nails maintained at ¼ inch Nails must be clean Nail polish not chipped or peeling

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Eye Safety

Location Proper use: 15 minutes Contact lens discouraged Eye goggles

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Overhead Shower

Location Proper use

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Decontamination

Keep work surfaces clean Beginning and end of shift When infectious material

spilled Bleach: 1 part bleach

plus 9 parts water Phenolic disinfectant

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Fire Safety: RACE

Rescue Activate alarm, alert Contain, close doors

and windows Extinguish,

evacuate, escape

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Fire Safety: PASS

Pull the pin Aim at base of fire Squeeze Sweeping motion

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Severe Weather Safety Watch (prepare) vs Warning (take shelter)

Always follow facility protocol Evacuate to predetermined

location Stair wells,

away from glass Avoid elevators

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Document All Accidents

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Use Standard Precautions All patient samples are

treated as potentially infectious(biohazardous)

Working in the lab Handling body fluids,

tissues Drawing blood

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Body Fluid Exposure

Always follow facility protocol

Clean wound or splash siteimmediately

Notify appropriate personnel and seek medical care

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Body Fluid Exposure

Notify appropriate personnel

UNMC: *9-888-OUCH(6824)

Affiliate site: follow site protocolAnd then notify UNMC OUCH hotline1-402-888-6824

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Latex Allergy Health care professionals are at

increased risk of developing sensitization to latex products

Increased exposure to latex via powdered gloves (PPE)

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Latex Allergy Reactions vary in severity:

Contact (irritant) dermatitis Delayed hypersensitivity reaction Systemic reaction

Varies person to person High risk individuals Exposure routes:

skin, mucus membranes, inhalation

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Latex Allergy Contact (irritant) dermatitis

Dryness, redness, cracking

Aggravated by:• Glove powder• Frequent hand washing

This is NOT a reaction to latex• Common, non-allergic reaction

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Latex Allergy Delayed hypersensitivity reaction

(type IV)

Generally localized reaction occurring 6-48 hrs post exposure (in persons who have been previously sensitized or genetically predisposed)

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Latex Allergy Delayed hypersensitivity reaction

Itching, swelling, redness, cracking, eczema

Aggravated by:• Glove powder• Additives to latex products

Can unpredictably develop into systemic reaction

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Latex Allergy Systemic (type I) reaction

Immediate systemic reaction (person previously sensitized)

Intense allergic reaction

May be life-threatening

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Latex Allergy Systemic (type I) reaction

Hives, itching eyes, swelling of lips or tongue, wheezing, scratchy throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, conjunctivitis, red cheeks, dizziness, nausea, shock, anaphylaxis, death

Aggravated by:• Duration of exposure (type and amount)• Pre-existing conditions• Portal of allergen entry

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Latex Allergy Latex-free environment

Prevent exposure

Latex gloves: NO powder

Education and awareness Early detection Identify persons at increased risk