Lab SAFETY

Laboratory Safety Rap!

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• Physical•Chemical

•Biohazards

Three Types of Hazards

Physical HazardsElectrical equipmentLaboratory instrumentsGlasswareFireSpills

Physical Hazard:Electrical

- All electrical equipment should be properly grounded according to code- disconnect electrical equipment from

power supply when moving, repairing, etc. (ex. Replacing a light bulb in a microscope)

- all electrical cords should be in good repair

- do not overload outlets and circuits- do not handle electrical equipment with

wet hands- do not use extension cords

Physical HazardLaboratory Instruments

- use equipment according to manufactures instructions- equipment that operates at high

- speeds such as a centrifuge needs to - be equipped with safety latches

- centrifuge lids should not be - lifted until the rotor has come to a - complete stop

- unplug equipment that has liquids

spilled in it Centrifuge- a machine that separatessubstances of different densities usingcentrifugal (rotational) force.

Physical HazardLaboratory Instruments- insulated gloves are to be worn when

operating an autoclave- use tongs to remove items from an autoclave- the autoclave door must never be opened

unless pressure gauge reads zero psi- when sterilizing liquids in an autoclave the

containers must be heat resistant and lids loosely capped.

- place liquids to be autoclave on a drip pan to catch overflow

Autoclave: An airtight steel vessel used to heat substances and objects under very high pressures. Autoclaves are used in laboratory experiments and for sterilization.

Physical HazardGlassware

In the laboratory most glassware has been replaced with disposablematerials, although glassware can still be in use.- when heating glassware make sure it is heat-

resistant such as Kimax or Pyrex- do not use glassware that is chipped or has

cracks- broken glass should be swept up with a

broom and dustpan and discarded in a cardboard container

Physical Hazard - Fire

Personnel in the clinical laboratory need to be trained in the use of fire safety equipment and procedures.

There really is no reason to use an open flame in the clinical laboratory, instead use hotplates, microwave ovens, autoclaves, incinerators and slide warmers when using instruments for heating.

- Keep loose clothing and hair away from heat- All flammable chemicals need to be stored in a flammables

cabinet

Physical Hazard - FireFires are classified into five different typesType A: ordinary combustibles ex. plastics, paper, woodType B: flammable liquids

ex. chemicalsType C: electrical

ex. centrifuge, microscopeType D: combustible metalsType E: Cannot be extinguished

Physical Hazard - FireFires can be classified as a

combination of A,B and C classes.Fire extinguishers use a picture/label

system to designate which type of fire they are to be used on.

example: A-B, A-B-C

An easy acronym PASS is used for fire extinguisher operations: P – pull the pin, A – aim at the base of the fire, S – squeeze the trigger, S – sweep at the base of the fire

Chemical hazards are gases, vapors, liquids, or dusts that can harm your body.

A clinical laboratory technician may come in contact with chemical hazards during the following:

- disinfection- preservation of specimens- transportation of specimens

- exposure / inhalation

Chemicals present a variety of hazards as they can be:- Flammable- Toxic - Caustic - Corrosive- Carcinogenic- Mutagenic

Radioactive

A clinical lab technician can come into contact with hazardous chemicals when: - conducting test with reagents - adding preservatives (for ex. 24-hour

urines) - spills - mixing chemicals - delivering samples

A warning label tells you what class a hazardous product is in and

how to work safely with it.  HAZMAT - an abbreviation for `hazardous

material' used on  warning labels.

A material safety data sheet – gives you more detailed information about how to work safely with a hazardous chemical.Provides information about all the chemicals in the laboratory.

Hazards of the chemicalPersonal Protective Equipment requiredBody organs that could be adversely affected

following exposureFirst aid and further medical treatment

required

Chemical Hygiene Plan

Biological Hazard

Employees who are most at risk from biological hazards are those who work with animals, plants, in health or child care.

Biological hazards are living organisms that can cause sickness or disease in humans and animals.

Biological Hazards

Examples: Bacteria, viruses, or fungus

Infected tissue cultures

Human or animal blood or body fluids

Recombinant DNA

Summary:Can you think of any other examples of the

three types of hazards?What about around the house?Around the school?Discuss…