45 Questions
What is the primary consideration in a laboratory environment?
Personal safety
Which type of hazard is not typically found in a laboratory environment?
Meteorological
What is the primary purpose of a safety shower?
To flush contaminated skin or eyes
What is the term for the process of reducing the number of microorganisms on a surface?
Disinfection
What type of fire extinguisher is used for electrical fires?
Class C
What is the first step in managing a broken tube in a centrifuge?
Contain the spill
What is the primary purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE)?
To protect the laboratory worker
What is the term for a substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms?
Antiseptic
What is the primary purpose of an eyewash station?
To flush contaminated eyes
What should you do if your feet do not touch the floor while sitting on an ergonomically designed chair?
Use the chair's foot rings
What is the purpose of having a waste container in the BSC?
To dispose of hazardous materials
Why should you avoid excessive movements of the hands and arms through the front opening?
To prevent contamination of the BSC
What should you do upon completion of work in a BSC?
Allow enough time for the air to purge
What is the purpose of emergency showers and eyewash stations?
To minimize the effects of accident exposure to chemicals
What is critical in the event of a corrosive substance exposure?
The first 10-15 seconds after exposure
Why should you keep clean items separate from dirty items in a BSC?
To reduce contamination risk
What is a benefit of using emergency showers in cases of accident exposure?
They minimize the effects of accident exposure
Why should you routinely remove the work surface and disinfect the tray beneath?
To reduce contamination risk
What is the recommended action when handling chemicals and the skin or eyes come into contact with them?
Flush with water for 15 minutes
Why is it important to store liquids below eye level?
To prevent accidental spills
What is the purpose of a safety data sheet (SDS)?
To include possible hazards, first aid treatment, and dilution and mixture concentration
Why should pregnant lab staff avoid areas displaying the radiation symbol?
Because radiation exposure can cause harm to the fetus
What should you do when working with radiation?
Wear a badge that registers radiation exposure
What is the recommended action when handling a chemical spill?
Clean up the spill immediately using a spill kit
What is the purpose of a chemical-resistant container in a spill kit?
To hold the kit contents such as a 5-gallon plastic bucket
Why should you minimize the quantities of chemicals in the laboratory?
To reduce the risk of accidents
Why should you segregate chemicals by reactivity class and flammability?
To prevent incompatible chemicals from coming into contact
What is the main priority when handling a biological spill?
Containment
What type of hazard is radiation an example of?
Physical hazard
What should you do with loose clothing in a laboratory?
Not wear it at all
What is the purpose of a safety hood in a laboratory?
To separate a lab employee from a specimen
What should be done with caustic materials after use?
Dispose of them according to the SDS sheets
What is the main purpose of performing preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment?
To ensure the equipment is safe to use
What should be done with biological waste in a laboratory?
Dispose of it in a biohazard container
What is the purpose of maintaining equipment logs in a laboratory?
To track the maintenance history of the equipment
What should you do with open-toed shoes in a laboratory?
Not wear them at all
What should you do if someone else wants to view the Safety Data Sheets?
Have it on hand and available for them to view
What is the primary role of the response team in the event of a biological spill?
To provide guidance on the cleanup process
What is the recommended dilution of bleach or other disinfectant solution for cleaning up a biological spill?
1:10
How long should you allow the bleach solution to contact the spill area?
30 minutes
What should you do after wiping down contaminated equipment or furniture with disinfectant?
Re-clean the area with disinfectant solution
What is the minimum amount of spill material that is usually considered a large spill?
10 ml
What should you do if the spilled material goes through the grills to the catch tray?
Pour disinfectant to dilute the spill
What should you do first in the event of a large spill?
Inform others in the area and move out of the room for 10-30 minutes
What should you do after removing the paper towels and re-cleaning the area with disinfectant solution?
Remove your gloves
Study Notes
Laboratory Safety
- Laboratory safety is a top priority to ensure patient and personal safety.
Types of Hazards
- Chemical hazards: e.g., flammable liquids, toxic gases
- Physical hazards: e.g., radiation, noise, temperature (cold or hot), mechanical
- Biological hazards: microorganisms capable of causing disease, e.g., HIV
- Ergonomic hazards: elements related to workplace design that stress the body physically or mentally
- Psychosocial hazards: conditions of work that cause psychological stress to the worker, e.g., sexual harassment
Lab Safety Rules
- Nothing should be put in one's mouth
- Hands must be washed frequently
- Do not apply cosmetics in the lab
- No food should be placed in lab refrigerators
- Loose clothing should not be worn
- Long hair should be pulled back
- Open-toed shoes are prohibited in all areas of a lab
- Caustic materials must be disposed of according to SDS sheets
- Biological waste should be disposed of in a biohazard container and needles in a sharps container
Safety Equipment
- Safety showers and eyewash stations: provide on-the-spot decontamination and allow workers to flush away hazardous substances
- Fire extinguishers: different types are available for various types of fires (e.g., Class A, B, C, D)
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): includes safety goggles, face shields, gloves, and laboratory coats
Disinfection and Antiseptics
- Disinfection: process of eliminating or reducing microorganisms on a surface
- Antiseptics: substances that inhibit the growth of microorganisms on living tissue
- Examples of disinfectants and antiseptics: commonly used in laboratory settings
Dealing with Broken Tubes in the Centrifuge
- Containment procedures: protocols for safely managing broken tubes in a centrifuge
- Decontamination steps: including equipment maintenance procedures
Operating a Fire Extinguisher
- Procedures for handling biological spills: including containment, disinfection, and waste disposal
Biological Safety
- Definition of a biological spill: biological spillage is where a bodily fluid (e.g., faeces, urine, and blood) has been spilt
- Steps for responding to a biological spill: put on gloves, cover the area, prepare a bleach solution, soak paper towels, apply to the spill area, allow a 30-minute contact period, and clean up
General Safety Precautions
- Make sure equipment is safe to use
- Recognize and report any malfunctions
- Perform preventative maintenance
- Maintain equipment logs
- Store reagents safely
- Use safety hoods and biological safety cabinets (BSCs) correctly
- Follow proper procedures for working with radiation
This quiz covers the importance of patient and personal safety, types of hazards present in laboratory environments, and lab safety rules.
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