Laboratory safety&

Biomedical wasteBy

Dr.Arun Babu.N.B.II yr MD (Biochemistry)

V.M.K.V. Medical College, Salem.

OSHA – Occupational Safety & Health Administration CDC – Centers for Disease Control & prevention put forward numerous safety standards applicable to clinical

laboratories.

Key Elements For safety in Clinical Lab:• Formal safety programme• Documented policies & effective use of mandated plans in chemical

hygiene, exposure to blood borne pathogens, etc.• Identification of significant occupational hazards (biological, chemical,

fire & electrical hazards) and how to deal with each of them.• Recognition of other relevant safety areas of concern (effective waste

manangement, etc.)

Safety Programme.i. Safety officer / Chair of safety committeeii. 1 Chemical Hygiene officeriii. General Laboratory safety manual – to be given to all new

employees.iv. Continuing education program for laboratories – should

include periodic talks on safety.v. Ensure that laboratory environment meets accepted safety

standards.

Safety Equipment.o Clothing (lab coats/gowns)o Gloveso Eye protectiono Eye/Face washerso Heat-resistant (non-asbestos) gloves – To handle hot glassware

& dry ice.o Safety goggles/glasses/visors.o Tongs – To handle hot beakerso Polyethylene pumps – To pump acids from large bottleso Spill kits (For acids, caustic materials & flammable solvents)

Laboratory Hazards.1. Biological2. Chemical3. Electrical4. Fire

UN Classification of hazardous materials dealt in Clinical Laboratories – 9 classes.

1. Explosives2. Compressed gases3. Flammable liquids4. Flammable solids5. Oxidizer materials6. Toxic materials7. Radioactive materials8. Corrosive materials9. Miscellaneous materials (not classified elsewhere)

Biological Hazards & Steps for prevention.

♠ Never perform mouth pipetting♠ Do not mix potentially infectious material by bubbling air through

the liquid♠ Barrier protection (gloves, masks, gowns, protective eye wear)♠ Frequent hand washing ♠ Keep the hands away from mouth, nose, eyes & mucous membrane –

to avoid self-inoculation.♠ Decontaminate all surfaces & reusable devices after use.♠ All patient specimens to be treated as potentially hazardous.♠ Try to prevent accidental injuries.♠ Dispose off all sharps appropriately.♠ Hepatitis B vaccine to be taken by all employees at risk of accidental

exposure.

Chemical Hazards & Steps for prevention.

♠ Handle bottles of chemicals & solutions carefully♠ Glass containers with chemicals – To be transported in rubber/plastic

containers that protects them from breakage & will contain the spill in case , it happens.

♠ Appropriate spill kits♠ Hold the bottle firmly around its body (Not by the neck) either with 1

hand or both depending on the size of the bottle♠ Acids, caustic materials & strong oxidizing agents – to be mixed in the

sink (provides water for cooling & confinement of reagent in case the bottle breaks)

♠ Never pour water into a concentrated acid. Acid should be poured slowly into water.

♠ Label the bottles properly.♠ Labels to be color coded

Electrical Hazards & Steps for prevention.♠ Worn out wires should be replaced♠ All electric equipments to be grounded with 3 prong plugs.♠ Use of extension cords – to be minimised.♠ Electrical equipments & connections – Not to be handled with

wet hands.♠ No electrical equipment to be used after liquid has been spilled

over it.♠ Lay electrical cords where no one can trip on them or get caught

in them.♠ Never poke anything into electrical outlets♠ Unplug cords by pulling the plug and not the cord.♠ Unplug all electrical equipment at the end of the lab period.

Fire Hazards & Steps for prevention.♠ Fire extinguisher to be provided near every laboratory door.♠ Flammable substances – (a) Use minimum quantity, (b) store

in special storage cabinet, (c) Use temperature controlled heating sources (like water bath rather than hot-plate or bunsen burner.)

♠ When lighting a burner, wait until a match is struck or the striker is in place before you turn on the gas.

♠ The amount of air can be adjusted by the air supply valve below the tube of the burner. This regulates the flame temperature and color.

♠ Never leave a burner or hotplate unattended.♠ Always point the top ends of test tubes that are being heated

heated, away from people.♠ When heating a test tube, move it around slowly over the

flame to distribute the heat evenly.

General Tidiness.

♠ Keep your workplace tidy♠ Clear up waste, deal with washing up and put things away as you

finish with them♠ Make sure everything is safe before you leave things unattended♠ Avoid spillage.♠ After handling chemicals, always wash your hands with soap and

water.♠ During lab work, keep your hands away from your face.♠ Tie back long hair.♠ Roll up loose sleeves.♠ Keep the work area uncluttered. Take to the lab station only what is

necessary.♠ Refrain loose clothing and jewelery.

♠ Wear glasses rather than contact lenses.♠ Clean up the laboratory area at the end of the day’s work.♠ Pour down a glass stirring rod to prevent liquids from splattering.♠ Do not place hot glassware in water. Rapid cooling may make it

shatter.♠ Never taste any chemicals♠ If you need to smell the odor of a chemical, waft the fumes toward

your nose with one hand. Do not put your nose over the container and inhale the fumes.

♠ Wash your hands after handling chemicals.

Glassware Safety.♠ Pour down a glass stirring rod to prevent liquids from

splattering.♠ Do not place hot glassware in water. Rapid cooling may make it

shatter.

Let the waste of the “sick” not contaminate the lives of “The Healthy”

Biomedical Waste

DEFINITION♠ Any solid or liquid waste generated during the diagnosis,

testing, treatment, research or production of biological products for humans or animals. (WHO).

♠ WHO estimates: - 85% of hospital waste as non-hazardous. - 10% is infectious - 5% is non infectious, but consists of hazardous chemicals.

1) Survey of waste generated2) Segregation of hospital waste3) Collection & Categorization of waste4) Storage of waste5) Transportation of waste6) Treatment of waste

STEPS IN MANAGEMENT OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE

WASTE CATEGORY TYPE OF WASTE TREATMENT

Category No. 1 Human Anatomical Waste Incineration/ Deep Burial

Category No. 2 Animal Waste Incineration/ Deep Burial

Category No. 3 Microbiology & Biotechnology Waste

Local Autoclaving/ Microwaving/Incineration

Category No. 4 Waste Sharps Autoclaving/Microwaving/Disinfection/Chemical Treatment

Category No. 5 Discarded Medicine & Cytotoxic drugs

Incineration & Drug disposal in safe landfills

Category No. 6 Soiled Waste Incineration/Autoclaving/ Microwaving

Category No. 7 Solid Waste Autoclaving/Microwaving/ Disinfection

Category No. 8 Liquid Waste Chemical treatment & discharge into drains

Category No. 9 Incineration Ash Landfill

Category No. 10 Chemical Waste Chemical treatment & discharge into drains

TYPES OF BIOMEDICAL WASTES.

COLOR CODING TYPE OF CONTAINER WASTE CATEGORY

YELLOW Plastic Bags Category 1, 2, 3 & 6

RED Disinfected Container/ Plastic Bags Category 3, 6 & 7

BLUE Plastic Bags/Puncture proof container

Category 4 & 7

BLACK Plastic Bags Category 5, 9 & 10

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