JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS

(JHA)
TEMPLATE
E = Extremely High Probability
Risk
H = High Risk
Frequent Likely Occasional Seldom Unlikely
M = Moderate Risk
L = Low Risk
Site /
location LABORATORY Catastrophic E E H H M

Severity
Critical E H H M L

Marginal H M M L L
Negligible M L L L L

Prepared by DR Emad Kotb Dr. Mamdouh Al Gendi RISK rate :equal to probability times severity

JOB STEPS HAZARD AND RISK DESCRIPTIONS RISK LEVEL CONTROL MEASURES COMMENT
Bloodborne Exposure of laboratory employees to bloodborne pathogens while M Compliance with the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. For
Pathogens handling contaminated lab samples such as blood or other body example:
fluids (i.e., cerebrospinal fluid, and semen).  Wear appropriate PPE as required by the Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard) if blood or Other Potentially
Infectious Materials (OPIM) exposure is anticipated.
The type and amount of PPE depends on the
anticipated exposure.
 Gloves must be worn when hand contact with
blood, mucous membranes, OPIM, or non-
intact skin is anticipated, or when handling
contaminated items or surfaces.
 Provide effective engineering and work
practice controls to help remove or isolate
exposures to blood and bloodborne
pathogens. Employers must offer the
Hepatitis B vaccination under the supervision
of a licensed physician at no cost to all
employees who have occupational exposure
to blood or OPIM. [
 All regulated waste shall either be incinerated
or decontaminated by a method such as
autoclaving known to effectively destroy
JOB STEPS HAZARD AND RISK DESCRIPTIONS RISK LEVEL CONTROL MEASURES COMMENT

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   bloodborne pathogens
 Laboratory doors shall be kept closed when
work involving HIV or HBV is in progress

Access to the work area shall be limited to authorized persons.
Written policies and procedures shall be established whereby
only persons who have been advised of the potential biohazard,
Tuberculosis (TB)  Exposure of laboratory employees to M. Tuberculosis from M  All cultures or specimens suspected of containing TB
working with specimens (e.g., acid fast bacilli smears), bacilli must be manipulated in settings where specific
from patients who have tuberculosis. Other potential engineering controls, administrative procedures, and
sources of exposure are sputum, cerebrospinal fluid urine,
appropriate personal work practices ensure
and fluids collected from gastric or bronchial lavage.
containment of the organism and protection of the
workers These practices should address issues
including:

 Biosafety Level: In order for a laboratory to
handle TB sputum and TB materials, the
laboratory must operate at a biosafety level of
2+ or 3 Controlled access, anterooms, sealed
windows, directional airflow, preventing
recirculation of laboratory exhaust air,
filtration of exhaust air before discharge to
the outside, and thimble exhaust connections
for biological safety.
 The use of biological safety cabinets
whenever working with infectious materials
that have a chance of aerosolizing. Processes
that can expose employees to aerosolized
materials include:

 Pouring liquid cultures
 Using fixed-volume automatic
pipettors
 Mixing liquid cultures with a pipette
 Preparing specimens and culture
smears
 Dropping and spilling tubes
containing suspensions of bacilli

JOB STEPS HAZARD AND RISK DESCRIPTIONS RISK LEVEL CONTROL MEASURES COMMENT
Formaldehyde The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an M  Appropriate PPE must be provided according to.
Exposure airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeds 0.75 parts  If there is any possibility that an employee's eyes may
be splashed with solutions containing 0.1 percent or
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 formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) as an 8-hour time greater formaldehyde, the employer shall provide
weighted average (TWA). acceptable eyewash facilities within the immediate
Formaldehyde is used as a fixative and is commonly found in most work area for emergency use
laboratories and the morgue.
Acute: Eye and respiratory irritation can result from exposure to
the liquid and vapor forms. Severe abdominal pains, nausea,
vomiting and possible loss of consciousness could occur, if ingested
in large amounts.
Chronic: High concentration of vapor inhaled for long periods can
cause laryngitis, bronchitis or bronchial pneumonia. Prolonged
exposure may cause conjunctivitis. Nasal tumors have been
reported in animals. Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen.
Toluene, Xylene, or  Employee exposure to hazardous chemicals such as M Proper use of PPE MUSK GLOVES
Acrylamide Exposure Toluene, Xylene or Acrylamide. Toluene and Xylene are
solvents used to fix tissue specimens and rinse stains. Instructions
They are primarily found in the histology, hematology,
microbiology, and cytology laboratories. [29 CFR Dispose of Xylene
1910.1000] Acrylamide, a resin usually found in research o 1
labs, is used to make gels for biochemical separations.
 Toluene and Xylene Exposure: Turn off any sources of ignition or any device that
Acute: Eye and respiratory irritation can result form can spark, including hot plates and Bunsen burners.
exposure to the liquid and vapor forms. Severe abdominal OSHA classifies both xylene and xylene vapor as
pains, nausea, vomiting and possible loss of consciousness severe fire hazards. Turn on any ventilation devices,
could occur, if ingested in large amounts. such as overhead laboratory fans or fume hoods, to
Chronic: High concentration of vapor inhaled for long reduce the risk of xylene vapor combustion (you
periods can cause laryngitis, bronchitis or bronchial cannot dispose of xylene vapor this way).
pneumonia. Prolonged exposure may cause conjunctivitis.
Nasal tumors have been reported in animals. o 2

 Acrylamide Exposure: Put on safety glasses and safety gloves. Xylene and
Acute: Eye and skin irritation. xylene vapor can seep into the skin, eyes, mouth and
Chronic: Central nervous system disorders, i.e., lungs. Be careful not to inhale any of the xylene
polyneuropathy. Acrylamide is a suspected carcinogen,
vapor. OSHA recommends that those not wearing
and mutagen.
protective equipment should leave the room

JOB STEPS HAZARD AND RISK DESCRIPTIONS RISK LEVEL CONTROL MEASURES COMMENT
Needlestick/Sharps Employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens from needlestick M Use engineering controls (e.g., safer needle devices), and work
Injuries injuries or cuts from sharp objects when working with specimens, practice controls (e.g., altering the way a task is performed to
centrifuge tubes or overfilled sharps containers reduce chance of injury such as prohibiting recapping of
needles by a two-handed technique), to eliminate or minimize
exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
Do not allow sharps containers to overfill, but replace routinely
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 Discard contaminated sharps immediately or as soon as feasible
into appropriate containers
Work Practices and  Poor work practices and behaviors can cause worker L  Careful monitoring of work behaviors and habits to
Behaviors exposure to hazardous chemicals and diseases, (e.g., prevent exposures.
scratching nose or chewing pencils or pens when working  Some employees routinely double glove so
with hazardous samples). that the outer glove can be removed if the
employee needs to scratch or answer a phone
and then replaced with a new glove when
ready to go back to work.
The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requirements include:
 No mouth pipetting/suctioning of blood or other
potentially infectious materials is allowed.
 No eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or lip
balm, or handling contact lenses is allowed in work
areas where there is a reasonable likelihood of
occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens

 No storage of food or drink in refrigerators, freezers,

Latex Allergy Exposure of employees to latex allergy from wearing latex gloves L  Employers must provide appropriate gloves when
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
materials (OPIM) exists.
 Alternatives shall be readily accessible to those
employees who are allergic to the gloves normally
provided.
 Among the alternatives are synthetic, low-protein, and
powder-free gloves. Powder-free gloves may reduce
systemic allergic responses.
 Eliminate the unnecessary use of latex gloves
when no risk of exposure to Blood or Other
Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM) exists.
JOB STEPS HAZARD AND RISK DESCRIPTIONS RISK LEVEL CONTROL MEASURES COMMENT
Slips/Trips/Falls Staff exposure to trips and falls if fluids or samples fall to the floor L All places of employment shall be kept clean and orderly and in
a sanitary condition
Good work practice recommends rapid cleanup of spills
Ergonomics  Employee exposure to static postures from long periods of L  Install automated tract delivery systems for specimen
sitting or standing, or repetitive motions if sorting processing to minimize employee reaching and
samples. repetitive motions.
 Provide supportive comfortable chairs that include
foot rests.
 Rotate tasks or minimize the amount of time spent at
these tasks.

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 ADDITIONAL HAZARDS IDENTIFIED ON SITE

Dr. Mamdouh Hosny Al Gendi Dr. Ashraf Ali Dr. Emad Kotb Aldin
HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT RISK MANAGER QUALITY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: DATE: DATE:

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