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Health and safety in districtlaboratories

Dr. Hafez AlsumairyDiagnostic & Molecular Microbiology

2014-2015

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Implementing a laboratory health andsafety program• Accidents in the laboratory

• Injury, death, ill health• Work being disrupted• Loss of valuable laboratory

equipment, supplies, and records.• Loss of or contamination of

specimens• Damage to the laboratory

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Implementing a laboratory health andsafety programRisk assessment1. Identifying the hazards2. Deciding what actions can be

taken to remove the hazards3. What harm can be caused by

each hazard?4. What safety regulations and

safety awareness measuresare needed?

• Safety committee

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Implementing a laboratory health andsafety programUnsafe laboratory premise• Burns and inhalation of smoke

during a fire• Slippery or damaged floor• Risk of infection to staff and others• Injury from chemicals• Injury from equipment

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Naked flames• Injury from fire caused by lighted

Bunsen burnersMicrobial hazards• Pathogens are accidentally

ingested• Pathogens are accidentally

inoculated• Pathogens are accidentally inhaled

in airborne droplets (aerosols)

Implementing a laboratory health andsafety programChemical hazards• Toxic or harmful chemicals causing

serious ill health, injury, orirritation

• Flammable chemicals causing fire• Corrosive chemicals causing

serious injury and burnsGlassware hazards• Broken glass causing cuts, bleeding,

infection

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Equipment hazards• Electric shock• Fire• Injury from moving parts

Explosion hazards• Injury from explosions

Insect and rodent infestation• Damaged equipment causing injury• Damage to structure and furnishings of the

laboratory

Unreliable water supply• Contributing to infection

General factors that contribute to theoccurrence of accidents• Inexperience and insufficient training and super- vision of staff and

lack of health and safety awareness• Untidy working• Too heavy a workload for the size of laboratory and number of staff.• Rushing to finish work ‘on time’.• Loss of concentration• Fatigue

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Code of Safe Laboratory Practice for districtlaboratories• SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT• SAFE WORKING PRACTICES• EMERGENCY FIRST AID• FIRE MANAGEMENT• REPORTING AN ACCIDENT OR

LABORATORY RELATED ILLNESS• PROTECTIVE INOCULATIONS

• Laboratory Accident Book• Place, date and time of the

accident,• Person or persons involved,• Injuries sustained,• emergency First Aid given

and by whom,• Details of follow-up actions,• Staff comments

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DUTIES OF A LABORATORY SAFETY OFFICER1. Ensure staff are practicing their Safety Code and know what to do

2. Make sure test methods are safe

3. Check that all hazardous chemicals and reagents are marked

4. Make sure that there is no mouth-pipetting and check protective gloves

5. Note whether other safety regulations are being kept

6. Check whether safety equipments are in good order and that staff know the locations and how to use the equipment

7. Make sure corridors and exits from the laboratory are not being obstructed

8. Check whether the laboratory is being kept clean

9. Examine equipment for defects and observe

10. Observe whether only authorized staff are entering the working area

11. Check for any structural defects in the laboratory or infestations

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Thank youAny question

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