Nicole Edelweiss Liza BSMT-3A 8, 2011 Experiment # 1 Laboratory Safety Nov.15, 2011 I.

RESULTS

Date Performed: Nov. Date Submitted:

(Please see attached SAFETY EVALUATION SHEET) II. INTERPRETATION & DISCUSSION 1. Why is it necessary to identify the emergency measures physical, biological, and chemical hazards? I think it is necessary to know the emergency measures during these hazards for us to provide the right and appropriate remedy for any possible hazards that may take place. Also, identifying the emergency measures can be a way for us to establish safety inside the laboratory, thus, protecting ourselves and the people around us. 2. Make a safety plan for the personnel of the clinical laboratory. Proposed Laboratory Safety Plan for N.E.L. Clinical Laboratory
I. Introduction

Fires, chemical reactions and burns, gas leaks and explosions from shock-sensitive materials are some of the dangers lab workers may encounter at any time. Additionally, natural disasters, such as tornados and earthquakes, may trigger chemical spills or contamination. Employees must be familiar with emergency procedures for any of the above scenarios, and more. As a Laboratory Professional, you have the responsibility to help make your Laboratory a safe working environment. You can help facilitate changes to make the laboratory a safer working place by staying current in laboratory technology and suggesting new methods to reduce or eliminate know hazards. Most important, you can help prevent accidents by following safe techniques and setting an example for others. II. Objectives To create an effective, continuous safety program. To provide the personnel of the Clinical Laboratory the preventive measures that are necessary for their safety. To instill to the personnel the proper assessments in cases of biological, physical and chemical misfortunes.

III. Safety Plan a. Biological Wastes Waste Disposal All waste should be stored in properly labeled containers. The label should contain the date, type of waste, and any other pertinent information required by the disposal company. Waste should be segregated to avoid unwanted reactions and to allow for cost-effective disposal. Waste should be stored in closed containers except when additional waste is being added. Infection/Hazard Prevention or Control Plan Use samples only if all persons in contact with the samples comply with all applicable Universal Precautions. Additional guidelines are available from clinical libraries, hospitals, and public health agencies. not infectious. Infection/Hazard Management In general, when a spill occurs which could contaminate an area with an infectious agent, it is important that the following be done: Get everyone out of the affected area immediately. Notify the supervisor of the spill Decontaminate the affected area. This may be done by placing paper towels soaked with disinfectant solution over the spill Wearing gloves, gown and mask (or self-contained breathing apparatus), personnel should pick up the towels and any broken glassware and discard into a bag to be incinerated. The area should be wiped down again with disinfectant solution and can be then be presumed to be safe. Hand hygiene: Wearing of gloves does not replace the need for hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is considered the most important single procedure for preventing and controlling the spread of infection. Proper hand hygiene has been shown to eliminate or greatly reduce Treat all body fluids and wastes as infectious because it is not possible in the high school laboratory to distinguish that which is and is

hand carriage of pathogens and, therefore, represents an important means of preventing cross infection between patients. Healthcare workers must clean their hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty or contaminated with blood or other body fluids. If hands are not visibly soiled, alcohol based hand cleaner may be used to decontaminate hands.

Universal (Standard) Precautions: STANDARD PRECAUTIONS (previously known as Universal Precautions, See Exposure Control Plan for further detailed information -Occupational Health and Safety)The CDC recommends standard precautions be used when caring for ALL patients, especially in settings where the risk of blood exposure is increased and the patient's antibody (HIV,HCV, and/or HBV) status is unknown. All specimens are handled with standard precautions. 1. Standard precautions include: Use barrier techniques to prevent skin or mucous membrane exposure. DEPENDING UPON THE PROCEDURE: gloves, gowns, masks, and/or protective eyewear may be required Clean hands with an antimicrobial agent immediately if contamination with blood or body fluids occurs. 2. For personnel performing invasive procedures, specific recommendations call for routine use of appropriate barrier techniques to prevent skin and mucous membrane contact with blood or other body fluids. Minimum precautions for invasive procedures include: Gloves and surgical masks for all procedures which pose potential exposure. Protective eyewear or face shields for procedures that commonly result in the generation of droplets and/or splashing of blood or other body fluids. Household bleach (1:10 dilution) or a disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for hospital use to disinfect blood spills. Then use a tuberculocidal agent according to manufacturer's recommendation to disinfect. Training of Personnel a) NEW EMPLOYEES New employees must be given a safety orientation, preferably at the time they enter the laboratory system, but before 30

calendar days of service time have elapsed. All newly hired and transferred personnel must be given, without delay, a thorough orientation that covers any hazardous operation specific to the new work area to which they are assigned. The should not be assigned to any hazardous operations without having been thoroughly instructed in hazards involved. The immediate supervisor has the basic responsibility to make sure the orientation is carried out even if the actual instructions are given by someone else. b) FIRST AID TRAINING As many laboratory employees as possible should be encouraged to receive approved emergency first aid training.

c) SAFETY SEMINARS Seminars and films on safety should be conducted at least once a year. Each employees attendance is mandatory. d) DOCUMENTATION OF SAFETY TRAINING ACTIVITIES The laboratory supervisor must maintain a safety training log that documents all training activities and includes a current record of training accomplishments for each employee. b. Chemical Wastes Waste Disposal All waste should be stored in properly labeled containers. The label should contain the date, type of waste, and any other pertinent information required by the disposal company. Waste should be segregated to avoid unwanted reactions and to allow for cost-effective disposal. Waste should be stored in closed containers except when additional waste is being added. Make disposal options a part of all laboratory instructions for personnel. For each chemical waste produced, follow instructions as to the appropriate disposal, including disposing of the substance in a disposal container or down the drain. Place all laboratory waste in a properly labeled container. The label should contain the date and type of waste.

Immediately following the laboratory activity, place the waste containers in a secure location until the containers can be removed to the central storage area. Before considering drain disposal, be certain that the sewer flows to a waste water treatment plant and not to a stream or other natural water course. Check with the local waste water treatment plant authority to determine what substances are acceptable for drain disposal. Any substance from a laboratory should be flushed with at least 100 times its own volume of tap water. Infection/Hazard Prevention or Control Plan Chemicals with specific hazards must be stored and handled in accordance with procedures appropriate to the hazards listed on the container label. Incompatible chemicals should never be stored together (such as alphabetically) but should be grouped according to reactivity. Use of nonporous gloves is recommended when handling chemicals. Strong organic and mineral acids and liquid based must be transported, used, stored, and disposed of in a safe and proper manner. They must be transported inside a properly designed carrier and used in a hood within a workable reach of an eyewash fountain. Rubber, plastic, or other nonporous gloves should be work when handling strong acids and bases. A face or body shield should be used during any experiment that produces endo- or exothermic reactions (either due to mixing or addition of an energy source). Always remember to add acid to water and never in reverse order. Strong acids and bases must be kept confined to a properly labeled storage cabinet Areas where solid bases and other caustic are weighed and solutions prepared must be kept clean. Table tops and workbench surfaces should always be wiped thoroughly after each use. Wastes that are solid, concentrated must be stored in a holding container specifically designated and dedicated to specific and compatible wastes. The full container with a list specifying names of chemicals, their chemical formulas, and volume of each chemical should be transported to EHS, Room G154. The chemicals will be collected by the EHS officer and stored appropriately for pickup and disposal by a licensed contract waste disposal vendor. Infection/Hazard Management Toxic substances are classified in varying degrees. Almost all substances can be toxic in large dosages. There are many substances such as arsenic, cadmium, cyanide, mercury, selenium, and thallium that are toxic in relatively small

amounts and must be handled, stored, and disposed of in a safe and proper manner. Toxic substances enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or injection. Inhaled toxic substances can enter the blood stream quickly through the lungs and the mucous membranes on the mouth. The use of fume hoods helps to prevent fumes, dust, or mists from entering the laboratory atmosphere. Respiratory masks or gloves boxes should be used when using extremely toxic substances. Refer to UAMS Administrative Guide, Policy 11.4.14 Campus Operations. Ingestion of toxic substances through the mouth, nose, and ears can usually be avoided by practicing proper hygiene. Absorption through the skin is a common and often insidious method of entry. Toxic substances are absorbed through cuts, abrasions, hair follicles, pores and sometimes through fatty tissue. Coats and protective gloves must be worn to minimize absorption through the skin. Do not wear laboratory coats outside of the laboratory. Toxic chemicals can also be taken home through contaminated clothing, exposing other family members. Injection can be an unexpected method of entry of toxic materials through cuts by glass and other sharp objects contaminated with toxic materials or through accidental injection by a needle. Good laboratory technique and cautions handling of these materials are the best protection against injection of toxic materials. Treat all substances, especially metals, as toxic unless they are definitely known to be nontoxic.

Toxic and unidentified substances should be handled with nonporous rubber or plastic gloves when weighing, mixing or preparing formulas. Particulate filterable, protective, breathing masks should be worn when handling fine powders. Toxic and unidentified substances should be used in specifically designated areas to prevent undue personal contact and contamination. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after handling suspect materials, especially before eating and drinking. Training of Personnel a) NEW EMPLOYEES New employees must be given a safety orientation, preferably at the time they enter the laboratory system, but before 30 calendar days of service time have elapsed. All newly hired and transferred personnel must be given, without delay, a thorough orientation that covers any hazardous operation specific to the

new work area to which they are assigned. The should not be assigned to any hazardous operations without having been thoroughly instructed in hazards involved. The immediate supervisor has the basic responsibility to make sure the orientation is carried out even if the actual instructions are given by someone else. b) FIRST AID TRAINING As many laboratory employees as possible should be encouraged to receive approved emergency first aid training. c) SAFETY SEMINARS Seminars and films on safety should be conducted at least once a year. Each employees attendance is mandatory. d) DOCUMENTATION OF SAFETY TRAINING ACTIVITIES The laboratory supervisor must maintain a safety training log that documents all training activities and includes a current record of training accomplishments for each employee. IV. Protocol of Personnel Protection Personal protection deals with the basic protection required of every laboratory employee and does not deal with added protection required for activities that deal with more specific hazards. Safety glasses or adequate eye protection is required in every laboratory work area. Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory. Any employee that finds it necessary to wear contact lenses should be aware of the inherent dangers involved with the type they wear and the hazards posed by the work situation. Your personal physician should be consulted and his/her advice sought. If wearing contacts are deemed to be necessary, then the supervisor and co-workers should be made aware of the situation in case of an accident. Hearing protection must be worn in areas having noise in excess of 85 decibels. Used needles and other sharps are not bent, broken, recapped, or resheathed by hand. Contaminated needles are not sheared or broken. Used needles are not removed from disposable syringes. Needles and sharps are disposed of in impervious disposable containers located near the point of use.

Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and handling contact lenses are prohibited in work areas where there is a potential for occupational exposure. Open flame is not permitted in the laboratory. Appropriate protective coats, gowns or smocks should be work at all times in the laboratory, removed before leaving the laboratory and contained within the laboratory. Nonporous gloves should be worn when handling hazardous materials or irritants such as acids, bases, organic compounds, toxics, or materials that are biologically active. Heat resistant gloves or equipment should be used when handling hot objects. Asbestos gloves are not recommended due to health hazards associated with asbestos. Cold resistant gloves should be worn when handling cryogenics. Long hair and loose clothing should be confined around known hazards such as open chemicals, moving machinery or parts, hot equipment. Responsible behavior in the laboratory is expected of each employee. Horseplay is strictly forbidden. Pushing, shoving, running, throwingobjects, and such acts will not be tolerated. Due to an increasing number of latex allergies and to reduce latex exposure, the UAMS Clinical Laboratory has chosen to strive to become a latex free work environment. Vinyl or Nitrile gloves will be provided for all clinical laboratory employees.

III. CONCLUSION
From this activity, I have learned the importance of SAFETY inside the laboratory. In our line of work, we are frequently exposed to accidents and it is necessary for us to identify the measures that may help us prevent these possible instances to occur. References: Laboratory Safety Plan (2011). Retrieved from: ehs.unc.edu/ih/lab/lsp.shtml On November 10, 2011 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 29CFR1910 Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1999 (annual). On Nov. 13, 2011 www. Masterysafety.com retrieved on Nov. 13, 2011