Duhok University Faculty of medical science School of health science

Dr. Azad Mustafa Ahmed

Lecturer, FIBMS (Path) University of Duhok, faculty of medical science

Cytology lecture series

Lecture 1

Safety in the laboratory

Risk management

Risk management

1. Identify and evaluate hazards

2. Plan to minimize risk

3. Design standard operating procedures (SOP) for working with hazards

4. Train personnel

5. Periodic review

6. Record keeping

7. Biological exposure indices (BEIs)

I. Identify and evaluate hazards

• Identify hazards in and emanating from the workplace

• Anything not identified properly should be set aside for disposal

• For hazardous chemicals, data sheets should be available including information about its use and precautions.

II. Plan to minimize risk

• Ventilation system

• Fire protection

• Personal protective equipment (PPE), most obvious way to protect workers.

• every hazardous chemical can be replaced today with a safer and technically superior substitute

III. Design standard operating procedures (SOP) for working with hazards

• Nearly all laboratories operate under a set of written, standard operating procedures (SOPs) mandated by a variety of accrediting or regulatory agencies. That involves handling with hazardous substances.

• Define each of protective

equipments and how to use it.

IV. Train personnel

V. Periodic review

• Revise risk assessment

• Identify new or different hazard

VI. Record keeping

• Risk, training, assessment, SOPs …. All should be recorded.

VII. Biological exposure indices (BEIs)

• Defined as maximum value of analytes determined from clinical tests on exhaled air, urine or blood for a variety of hazardous chemicals, which depend on workplace condition

• e.g. Xylene which can be measures in the urine in which the BEIs is 1.5 g methylhippuric acids per g creatinine.

Types of hazards

1. Biohazards

2. Irritant

3. Corrosive chemicals

4. Sensitizer

5. Carcinogens

6. Flammable

7. Explosive

Biohazards

• anything that cause disease in human regardless of its source. It can be infectious or Items: solutions, specimens or objects.

Irritant

• Chemicals that cause revisable inflammation in skin, respiratory tract or eyes. E.g: Nearly all chemicals. Avoid inhalation or contact with skin

Corrosive chemicals

• irreversible tissue damage.

Sensitizer

• cause allergic reaction like formaldehyde

Carcinogens

• induce tumors like chloroform, formaldehyde and dyes (basic fuchsin, congo red)

Flammable

• Many reagents are highly flammable: Xylene, and Alcohol. Keep covered when not in use.

Explosive

• some reagents like picric acid is explosive in the dry state, so should be kept as saturated aqueous solution. Check regularly that no dry build-up occurs around necks and caps of bottles.

Control of chemicals hazardous to health and the environment

• Personal hygiene practices

• Labeling

• Protective equipment

• Ventilation

• First aid

• Storage of hazardous chemicals

• Hazardous chemical waste disposal

I. Personal hygiene practices

• No eating, drinking or smoking in the lab

• Wash hands frequently

• If hazardous powders have been handled, wash around your nose and mouth so that adherent particles are not ingested or inhaled

• Solutions must never be pipetted by mouth.

• Clean the work place with water and disinfectant.

II. Labeling

• Every chemical should be labeled with certain basic information.

• solutions created in your laboratory must be fully labeled include:

• chemical name and, if a mixture, names of all ingredients;

• manufacturer’s name or person making the reagent;

• date of manufacture, expiration date

• hazard warnings and safety precautions

III. Protective equipment

• Secure, close-toed footwear

• personal protective equipment (PPE) like Aprons, goggles, gloves

IV. Ventilation

• first critical step in improving working conditions

• two ventilation required:

– general air circulation

– local removal of hazardous fumes (hood)

V. First aid

• A first Aid cabinet is situated in the work place for the use of Laboratory personnel

• All accidents such as cuts, burns etc. should be reported

• All health care persons should have basic training in dealing with situations like ingestion, eye contact, and extensive skin contact.

VI. Storage of hazardous chemicals

• Store hazardous reagents in special cabinet, some have ventilation to outside especially for acids and easily vaporized solutions.

• Transfer solutions to work place with two hands.

VII. Hazardous chemical waste disposal

• The best option for disposal is to pour the waste down the sanitary drain, from which it can be treated before entering the environment.

• Be aware of danger mixing during disposal.

Control of physical hazards; From equipment

Control of physical hazards; From equipment

• Take care during using equipments

• Avoid touching hot surfaces

• Dispose of glass, needles and blades in "sharps" container

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