Safety In The
Laboratory
Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (OSHA)
was enacted to ensure a
safe and healthy work
environment in all work
places
1
Safety In The
Laboratory
In labs these include provision of:
Warning labels
Suitable protective clothing
Exposure control procedures
Training and education
programs
2
Biohazards
Biohazard ‘a special term’
used to denote infectious
materials/agents that pose
potential health risks through
Direct infection or the
environment
3
Biohazards
Can occur during
Specimen collection
Specimen handling
Specimen transportation
Specimen analysis
4
Biohazards
Specimen is transported in
plastic leak-proof bags
Amber colored bags are
used for light sensitive
analytes
5
Biohazards
Biological infections can be
caused by
Accidental aspiration of
infectious material
Accidental contact with
infected needles (needle
sticks) or syringes
6
Biohazards
In the US, 600,000 to
1,000,000 needle stick
injuries in a year (last
available figures)
HIV – post exposure
prophylaxis
7
Biohazards
Animal bites
Sprays from syringes
Centrifuge accidents
(breakages or spills)
8
Other Sources of Lab
Infections
Cuts or scratches from
contaminated glassware
Cuts from instruments used
during surgery or autopsy
(including animal)
9
Other Sources of Lab
Infections
Spilling or spattering of
pathogenic materials on lab
surfaces or equipments
10
Biohazard Tags
ALL potentially
hazardous/infectious material
should be properly labeled
The label for a container
should state the date and
content
11
Biohazard Symbol
12
Biohazard Symbol
Symbol is used to indicate
the presence of biohazards
13
Blood-borne-pathogens
OSHA has mandated that
the program “Occupational
Exposure to Bloodborne
Pathogens” must be
implemented in the lab (to
reduce the risk of infection)
14
Blood-borne-
pathogens
The Clinical and
Laboratory Standards
Institute(CLSI) - a non-profit
educational organization has
issued guidelines to protect
laboratory personnel from
infection with blood-borne
diseases
15
Blood-borne-pathogens
CLSI is the new name for
‘The National Committee for
Clinical Laboratory
Standards (NCCLS)’
16
Precautions for
Specimen- Borne
Infections
Clinical/research lab staff
should treat all
specimens as potentially
infectious
17
Precautions for
Specimen- Borne Infections
Handle all specimens as if
they contain hepatitis B virus
or human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) – the virus that
causes AIDS
Hepatitis B vaccine – 3X for
full immunization; Hep. A X 2
shots 18
Precautions for
Specimen- Borne Infections
Not all patients with such
diseases will be identified
before sample collection.
USE STANDARD
PRECAUTIONS
19
Precautions for Specimen-
Borne Infections
Avoid direct contact with
body fluids e.g. spills,
splashes, etc.
Avoid contact with objects
that may be contaminated
with body fluids e.g. test
tubes, pipettes etc.
20
Precautions for Specimen-
Borne Infections
The Center for Disease
Control and Prevention
(CDC) has classified
biological agents into 3
categories according to
their bioterrorism potential
21
Bioterrorism Agents
Three categories
Category A includes: Anthrax,
Botulism (old terminology - levels 3
& 4)
Category B includes: Brucellosis,
Salmonella (old terminology - levels
1 & 2)
Category C – emerging pathogens
22
Biosafety Levels
The Public Health Service
has biosafety levels 1, 2 & 3
which are used to denote
the relative risk that may
be present in the work area
Level 1 has the least risk
23
Biosafety Rules
What are they?
24
Biosafety Rules
They are:
Never mouth-pipette
Treat infectious fluids
carefully to prevent spills
and minimize aerosol
25
Biosafety Rules
Use needles, lancets,
scalpels and other
“sharps” with care to
prevent self-inoculation
and injury
Do Not Recap Needles
26
Biosafety Rules
www.amershamhealth-us.com/. ../needleguard.html
Needle with retractable guard
Many other types available
27
Biosafety Rules
Dispose of “sharps” in special
leak and puncture-proof
containers (including broken
glassware)
Use protective equipment
Lab coats, goggles, face
shields and gloves are Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)
28
Biosafety Rules
Wear two pairs of gloves if
necessary
Wash hands often after:
All lab activities
Removing gloves
Immediately after contact
with infectious material
29
Biosafety Rules
Wash hands for at least 15
seconds and dry thoroughly
Waterless antiseptics –
alcohol based hand rub
Apply to palm and rub until
hands are dry
30
Biosafety Rules
Decontaminate work
surfaces before and after
use – wipe up any spills
immediately
Never eat, drink, store food
or smoke in the lab
31
Decontamination
What substances are used
for
disinfection/decontaminatio
n?
32
Decontamination
Sodium hypochlorite
(liquid household bleach) at
0.5% is used
Stronger solution is used for
spills of biological material
33
Decontamination
Contaminated reusable
laboratory ware can be
cleaned with 3% phenol
detergent before autoclaving
Disinfection – removal of
pathogenic organisms but
may not remove bacterial or
other spores
34
Decontamination
Substances Used to
Disinfect Spills & Spots
Small Spills - Small spills
to work surfaces (bench
tops), floors or in biosafety
cabinets must be
addressed immediately by:
35
Decontamination
1. Placing absorbent
material over the spill and
add a solution of 1:10
dilution of household bleach
2. After about 10 minutes
remove the absorbent
material and discard (in a
biohazard container)
36
Decontamination
3. Wipe the surface with
additional disinfectant
4. If there is broken glass,
mechanical pick-up aids
should be used to prevent
cuts
5. Dispose of all materials in
biohazard container 37
Decontamination
Large Spills or Known
Contaminated Material
Attempt to contain the spill
(avoid personal injury)
Advise colleagues and
supervisor of the problem
Cordon-off (secure) the area
38
Decontamination
Absorb as much of the liquid
spill as possible
Flood area with 1:5 dilution
of bleach
Fresh dilution of bleach
should be made at least
weekly
39
Decontamination
Note – Bleach is less
effective in the presence of
protein
Remove as much (e.g.
blood) as possible before
adding the bleach
40
Decontamination
Sterilization – all
microorganisms including
bacterial spores are killed
or destroyed
41
Decontamination
Autoclave – uses
pressurized steam to destroy
microorganisms.
Pressurized steam is hotter
than boiling water and kills
bacteria much faster
42
Chemical Hazards
OSHA has also set standards
for minimizing Exposures to
Hazardous Chemicals
To ensure lab workers are
fully aware of the hazards of
certain chemicals
43
Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (OSHA)
Control of infectious, chemical
and radioactive waste is
regulated by OSHA & Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) regulates the disposal of
radioactive materials
44
Examples of
Chemical Hazards
Sulphuric acid - may cause
blindness or burns on the
skin
Acetic acid – very caustic,
continuous inhalation of
vapor can lead to bronchitis
45
Examples of
Chemical Hazards
Hydrochloric acid – avoid
inhalation of vapor, causes
burns on contact with skin
Sodium hydroxide –
extremely hazardous to
eyes, skin or mucous
membranes; causes burns
46
Examples of Chemical
Hazards
Phenol – causes caustic
burns
47
Warning Labels For
Hazardous Chemicals
The National Fire Protection
Association has hazard
identification system
Red label – indicates
flammability hazard
48
Warning Labels For
Hazardous Chemicals
Blue - indicates possible
health hazard
White - indicates special
hazard (e.g. radioactivity,
special biohazards)
49
Warning Labels For
Hazardous Chemicals
Yellow = Reactivity
W(with line) = water-reactive
50
Warning Labels For
Hazardous Chemicals
Numbers 4 to 0 indicate
severity of hazard
4 = extremely
hazardous
0 = no hazard
51
www.dehs.umn.edu/ hwd/nfpa.html
52
www.westone.wa.gov.au/ toolboxes/aquaculture/u...
53
Fire Safety
Annual training in the use of
safety equipment is
mandatory
Fire extinguisher must be
placed in each laboratory as
well as -
54
Fire Safety
Safety showers
Fire blankets
55
Fire Extinguishers
Labeled according to the class of
fire
A-B-C can be used to extinguish
classes A, B and C fires
Class A – ordinary combustible
Class B – flammable liquids
Class C – Electrical equipment
56
www.firesystems.net/inspections/portable-fire
57
Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS)
The signs and symptoms of
exposure to hazardous
chemicals are contained in
the MSDS
Chemical manufacturers
and suppliers are required
to provide MSDS to users
58
Material Safety Data
Sheets
MSDS must be sent with
each shipment
59
Material Safety Data
Sheets
Information about each
chemical MSDS provides:
Hazards
Signs and symptoms of
exposure
Guidelines for safe handling,
storage and disposal 60
Laboratory Waste
Disposal
Labs must be compliant
with OSHA standards for
“wastes disposal program”
and CLSI guidelines on
“management of clinical lab
wastes”
61
Laboratory Waste
Disposal
Biohazardous waste
materials must be placed
in appropriate biohazard
waste bags or containers
Sharps put in sharps
containers
62
Laboratory Waste
Disposal
Some hazardous or
infectious materials will be
autoclaved before disposal
63
Some Other Safety
Rules
Know the location of fire
extinguishers, fire blankets,
fire exits, safety shower and
eyewash areas
Be aware of open flames
e.g. bunsen burners
64
Some Other Safety
Rules
Mercury is poisonous e.g.
mercury from a broken
thermometer
Mop up all water spills on floor
– avoid accidents from slipping
65
Some Other Safety
Rules
Always pour acid into
water for dilution
(against side of container to
prevent splashing) Never
pour water into acid
Do not open centrifuges
before they have stopped
66
SAFETY
Summary
Safety is the responsibility of
all who work in the
laboratory/industry/institution
s (in what ever capacity)
Follow the guidelines/protocol
– result a safe working
environment for all.
67
