What are at least three reasons why it is important to observe all safety requirements in the laboratory? How do I assure my own safety in the laboratory when working with a variety of specimens?

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Lab SAFETY
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Laboratory Safety Rap!

• http//www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id
  194405

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Three Types of Hazards

• Physical
• Chemical
• Biohazards

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Physical Hazards

• Electrical equipment
• Laboratory instruments
• Glassware
• Fire
• Spills

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Physical HazardElectrical

• - All electrical equipment should be properly
  grounded according to code
• disconnect electrical equipment from power supply
  when moving, repairing, etc. (ex. Replacing a
  light bulb in a microscope)
• all electrical cords should be in good repair
• do not overload outlets and circuits
• do not handle electrical equipment with wet hands
• do not use extension cords

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Physical HazardLaboratory Instruments

• use equipment according to manufactures
  instructions
• equipment that operates at high
• speeds such as a centrifuge needs to
• be equipped with safety latches
• centrifuge lids should not be
• lifted until the rotor has come to a
• complete stop
• unplug equipment that has liquids
• spilled in it
• Centrifuge- a machine that separates
• substances of different densities using
• centrifugal (rotational) force.

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Physical Hazard

• Laboratory Instruments
• - insulated gloves are to be worn when operating
  an autoclave
• use tongs to remove items from an autoclave
• the autoclave door must never be opened unless
  pressure gauge reads zero psi
• when sterilizing liquids in an autoclave the
  containers must be heat resistant and lids
  loosely capped.
• place liquids to be autoclave on a drip pan to
  catch overflow
• Autoclave An airtight steel vessel used to heat
  substances and objects under very high pressures.
  Autoclaves are used in laboratory experiments and
  for sterilization.

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Physical HazardGlassware

• In the laboratory most glassware
• has been replaced with disposable
• materials, although glassware can
• still be in use.
• when heating glassware make sure it is
  heat-resistant such as Kimax or Pyrex
• do not use glassware that is chipped or has
  cracks
• broken glass should be swept up with a broom and
  dustpan and discarded in a cardboard container

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Physical Hazard - Fire

• Personnel in the clinical laboratory need to be
  trained in the use of fire safety equipment and
  procedures.
• There really is no reason to use an open flame
  in the clinical laboratory, instead use
  hotplates, microwave ovens, autoclaves,
  incinerators and slide warmers when using
  instruments for heating.
• Keep loose clothing and hair away from heat
• All flammable chemicals need to be stored in a
  flammables cabinet

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Physical Hazard - Fire

• Fires are classified into five different types
• Type A ordinary combustibles
• ex. plastics, paper, wood
• Type B flammable liquids
• ex. chemicals
• Type C electrical
• ex. centrifuge, microscope
• Type D combustible metals
• Type E Cannot be extinguished

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Physical Hazard - Fire

• Fires can be classified as a combination of A,B
  and C classes.
• Fire extinguishers use a picture/label system to
  designate which type of fire they are to be used
  on.
• example A-B, A-B-C
• An easy acronym PASS is used for fire
  extinguisher operations P pull the pin, A
  aim at the base of the fire, S squeeze the
  trigger, S sweep at the base of the fire

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Chemical Hazard

• Chemical hazards are gases, vapors, liquids, or
  dusts that can harm your body.
• A clinical laboratory technician may come in
  contact with chemical hazards during the
  following
• - disinfection
• - preservation of specimens
• - transportation of specimens
• - exposure / inhalation

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Chemical Hazard

• Chemicals present a variety of hazards as they
  can be
• Flammable
• Toxic
• Caustic
• Corrosive
• Carcinogenic
• Mutagenic Radioactive

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Chemical Hazard Vocabulary

• Caustic Chemicals-
• Strong acids or bases that can cause severe skin
  burns.
• Fumes or vapors can burn mucous membranes in
  the respiratory system.

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Chemical Hazard Vocabulary

• Toxic Chemical-
• Poisonous through skin contact or respiratory
  exposure.

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Chemical Hazard Vocabulary

• Carcinogens and Mutagens
• Carcinogens- cancer causing
• Mutagens- cause birth defects due to genetic
  mutation

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Chemical Hazard

• A clinical lab technician can come into contact
  with hazardous chemicals when
• - conducting test with reagents
• - adding preservatives (for ex. 24-hour urines)
• - spills
• - mixing chemicals
• - delivering samples

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Chemical Hazard

• Hazardous Material Label
• Red -Flammability
• Blue - Health
• Yellow -Reactivity
• White- provides any special hazard information

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Chemical Hazard Rating 0-4. 0 being no hazard
and 4 being extremely hazardous
A warning label tells you what class a hazardous
product is in and how to work safely with it.
 HAZMAT - an abbreviation for hazardous
material' used on  warning labels.
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Chemical Hazard

• A material safety data sheet gives you more
  detailed information about how to work safely
  with a hazardous chemical.
• Provides information about all the chemicals in
  the laboratory.
• Hazards of the chemical
• Personal Protective Equipment required
• Body organs that could be adversely affected
  following exposure
• First aid and further medical treatment required

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Chemical Hygiene Plan

• A written plan that addresses the policies,
  Standard Operating Procedures, etc. to ensure
  employees, lab personnel are protected from harm
  due to chemicals.

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Biological Hazard

• Employees who are most at risk from biological
  hazards are those who work with animals, plants,
  in health or child care.
• Biological hazards are living organisms that can
  cause sickness or disease in humans and animals.

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Biological Hazards

• Examples
• Bacteria, viruses, or fungus
• Infected tissue cultures
• Human or animal blood or body fluids
• Recombinant DNA

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Summary

• Can you think of any other examples of the three
  types of hazards?
• What about around the house?
• Around the school?
• Discuss