MLS 027 (Laboratory Management)

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET BS Medical Technology / SECOND YEAR

Session # 10

Materials:
LESSON TITLE: LABORATORY SAFETY Book, Pen and Notebook, Power Point
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
References:
Upon completion of this lesson, the student can:
a. Harmening, Denise M. Laboratory
1. Discuss the significance of proper waste disposal. Management: Principles and Processes 2nd ed.
2. Demonstrate basic safety procedures in the laboratory. USA: F.A. Davis Co., 2007
3. Identify the different hazards in the laboratory. b. Mcpherson, Richard A. and Matthew R. Pincus.
4. Explain the importance of handling laboratory equipment Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by
safely. Laboratory Methods 21st ed. Philadelphia:
Elsevier Inc., 2007
c.https://www.osha.gov/Publications/laboratory/O
SHA3404laboratory-safety-guidance.pdf
OSHA. Laboratory Safety Guidance. 2011

SUBJECT ORIENTATION (10 minutes)

For this particular session, the topic will focus on laboratory safety so as to avoid untoward incidents that may occur in the
laboratory that could affect the operations, personnel as well as the welfare of the patients and the clients. Further, the
different hazards will be discussed. Protective methods and procedures will also be accentuated specifically on PPE. The
use of safe equipment and materials will be taken into consideration as well as the safety codes and safety management
program.

Laboratory Safety
- is a concern for all personnel
- vital part of any total quality control program
- involves injuries that affect the morale and threatens the emotional and physical health of the individual
Why is Laboratory Safety Important?
TO PREVENT:
- adverse health effects from exposure to chemicals
- exposure to organisms, diseases, etc. in laboratories
- laboratory equipment hazards - if not maintained properly
Hazards of the workplace: A matter of attitude
- we must be constantly aware of the safety elements that surround us
- take the steps that are conducive to a safe working environment
- ensure that the measures necessary to protect ourselves from any threats to our well-being are in place
-
The role of the employee:
- The individual must ultimately assume responsibility for his or her health and safety.

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The role of the employer:

- obligated both morally and legally to see that employees have the training, support, equipment, workload,
resources, environment and oversight necessary to perform in a safe and secure manner.

Laboratory safety must be taught to:

- all employees, including service groups

- undergraduate students
- graduate students
- professors
- visitors

General Rules:

- Do not eat or drink in the laboratory

- NO mouth pipetting
- NOT allowed to work in the laboratory alone
- Wear required personal protective equipment
- NO smoking in laboratory
- Maintain good housekeeping habits

HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE

- Fire hazards
- Faulty electrical equipment
- Poor ventilation
- Blocked entrances and exits
- Hazardous clutter
- Poor lifting and handling techniques
- Unmet building safety requirements

FIRE PREVENTION
Three ingredients of fire:
1. Ignition source
2. Oxygen
3. Fuel
“Control the union of fuel and ignition sources.”

Fire prevention strategies:

- Keep flammable substances in separate rooms & storage cabinets.
- Use fire-resistant building products, explosion-proof refrigerators and hoods.
- Perform procedures that result in highly combustible reactions under water and vacuum chamber.
- Fire-fighting equipment (automatic sprinklers, self-closing doors, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, fire blankets)
must be available at all times.
- TRAINING AND PRACTICE

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 CLASS FIRE TYPE ACCEPTABLE EXTINGUISHER RATING
EXTINGUISHER REQUIRED
MATERIAL
A Common combustible Water A, B, C
material (paper, wood, etc.)
B Flammable liquids: alcohol, Dry chemicals, CO2 B, C
solvents, plastics (furniture)
C Electrical: wiring, equipment Dry chemicals, CO2/foam C

D Chemicals/materials: Sand D OR SAND BUCKET

magnesium, sodium,
titanium

The “fire diamond” by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) quickly and easily identifies the risks posed by
nearby hazardous materials.

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ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Two Major Hazardsn of Electricity:

- Physical harm from shocks or burns

- Dangers from fire caused by heat and sparks generated

Safeguards recommended by NFPA:

- There should be no extension cords or adapters.

- All equipment should be checked in compliance with electrical safety standards.
- Electrical safety checks should be part of laboratory preventive maintenance.
- Circuit breakers should be conveniently located and labeled.
- Electrical equipment should not be used in areas with flammable materials.
- Electrical safety should be part of the orientation and educational program of the laboratory.

CHEMICAL SAFETY

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) classifies chemical hazards into two groups:

Physical Hazards
- compressed gas
- Explosives
- Flammable: aerosol, gas, liquid or solid
- Organic peroxide
- Oxidizer
- Pyrophoric ( i.e., capable of spontaneous ignition when exposed to air)
- Reactive/unstable
- Water-reactive

Health Hazards
- Toxic & highly toxic agents
- Reproductive toxin
- Carcinogen
- Irritant
- Tissue corrosive
- Sensitizer
- Liver, kidney & CNS toxins
- Agents that act on or damage other body systems

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

- Summary of the hazardous nature of chemicals used in the workplace

- Must be maintained and updated
- Must be provided for all products by the manufacturers

It specifically includes:

- chemical identity
- chemical name and common name
- physical and chemical characteristics
- signs and symptoms of exposure
- routes of entry
- exposure limits
- carcinogen potential
- safe handling procedures
- spill cleanup procedures
- first-aid tips (must be available in all cases of emergency)

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

- Masks
- Goggles
- Safety glasses
- Visor
- Gloves
- Rubberized sleeves
- Proper footwear

Gloves

To protect the hand from the possibility of coming in contact with blood/OPIM

Eye and face protection items (e.g. face masks, goggles, glasses, hoods)

To provide barrier to splashes, splatters, aerosols or sprays

Body clothing (e.g. labgowns, surgical caps, scrub, shoecover)

To protect parts of the body not covered by gloves or eye and face guards from the threat of
contamination

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It has been estimated that almost 20% of all disabling accidents on the job involve the hands.
Without your fingers or hands, your ability to work would be greatly reduced.

OSHA PATHOGEN REGULATIONS

1. UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

- a policy of treating ALL blood, tissue, body fluids and OPIM (other potentially infectious materials) as INFECTIOUS

2. ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROL

- involve taking physical steps to isolate or remove any possible pathogen hazards from the workplace

Examples:
a. Sharps’ containers
b. Biological safety cabinet
c. Laboratory fume hoods
d. Proper hand washing and hand washing facility
e. Banning of eating, smoking and drinking inside the laboratory

3. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

- Gloves must be worn when coming in contact with specimens and other hazardous chemicals and OPIM.
- Gloves must be replaced every after one patient and when the protective integrity is compromised.
- Eye and face protection items
- Protective body clothing (lab.gowns, aprons, lab.coats, surgical caps and scrubs, shoe covers, and disposable arm
sleeves)

4. HOUSEKEEPING TECHNIQUES

- must ensure that the workplace is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

Example: “Double-bagging” properly labeled with a warning and instructions for dealing with a leak or spill.

METHODS OF WASTE TREATMENT

- Flushing down the drain to the sewer system

- Incineration
- Landfill burial
- Recycling

Incineration

- preferred method for the waste treatment of hazardous chemical waste

- flammable materials can also be burned in especially designed incinerators with afterburn and scrubbers to
remove toxic products of combustion

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Landfill Burial

- the landfill site must be licensed to accept hazardous waste

- used for solid chemical waste that are unsuitable for incineration
- has caused environmental problem, shortage of safe site

Recycling

- for solvents such as xylene and acetone that can be filtered or redistilled for reuse
- for papers either scratch or scrap and sold to scrap buyers

Common warning symbols

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CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (25 minutes)
You will answer and rationalize this by yourself. This will be recorded as your quiz.

Rubric: Activity 1
One (1) point will be given to the correct answer and another one (1) point for the correct rationalization and it should
follow after you have written your answer. Superimpositions or erasures in you answer/rationalization is not allowed. You
are given 25 minutes for this activity. (Note: Only Activity 1 must be done and is to be submitted immediately while
for activity 2 you will be given a week to do the assigned task and the deadline of submission will be announced).

Activity 1. Outline ten (10) Safe practices in a clinical laboratory and discuss each (you may use a separate sheet of
paper if necessary).

Rubric: Activity 2
An over all twenty (20) points is given to students. For every mistake in the sequence and process of donning/doffing a
one (1) point will be deducted from the given score.

Activity 2. You make a video of yourself demonstrating the proper usage of PPE specifically on the donning and doffing
technique. This will be submitted via online to your facilitator and critiquing will be done during the face to face interaction.

Activity 1

Answers:

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RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY (THIS WILL BE DONE DURING THE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION)
The Facilitator will now rationalize the answers to the students. You can now ask questions and discuss among
yourselves. Write the correct answer and correct/additional rationalization on the space provided.

1. Ten safe practices in the clinical laboratory

ANSWERS:

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LESSON WRAP-UP (10 minutes)
The following salient points must be noted:

- Importance of laboratory safety

- General rules to avoid hazards in the laboratory
- Hazards in the workplace/Fire prevention strategies
- Electrical/Chemical safety
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/PPE
- OSHA pathogen regulations

You will now mark (encircle) the session you have finished today in the tracker below. This is simply a visual to help you
track how much work you have accomplished and how much work there is left to do.

You are done with the session! Let’s track your progress.

AL Strategy: Performance tasks

A glance through to what you have learned:

1. What have you learned from the lesson?

2. What are the points that you need more emphasis or to be expounded?
3. What other related issues in Laboratory Management that could be incorporated to widen your understanding?

For the next session study the following and read the references stipulated herein.

1. Quality assurance
- Background on concepts of QA
- Laboratory practices on QC
- Non-analytical QC functions
- Quality monitoring and assessment tools
- Quality management program

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