Occupational Health and Safety Standards

Hazards in the Clinical Laboratory

• Hazards in a clinical laboratory encompass various types, including biological, chemical, physical, electrical, and fire/explosive hazards.
• A hazard is something with the potential to harm.
• A risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm. Risk = Hazard x Exposure.
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets out employer and employee duties to ensure safe and healthy work conditions in workplaces.
• OSHA's role includes setting and enforcing standards, providing training, outreach, education, and assistance to workers.
• OSHA establishes categories of exposure to blood and bodily fluids: category 1 is daily exposure, category 2 is regular exposure, and category 3 is no exposure.

Objectives

• Define the difference between a hazard and a risk.
• Explain OSHA and other bodies addressing occupational hazards.
• Define biohazards and describe the chain of infection.
• Define biosafety and biosecurity.
• Describe the classification of microorganisms according to risk groups.
• Discuss universal precautions, body substance isolation, and standard precautions.
• Explain standard precautions and discuss biosafety levels.

Safety First

• Safety equipment such as safety goggles, hair in ponytail, gloves, long-sleeved fastened coat, long pants, and enclosed shoes are essential.
• Know the location of these safety items in the lab.

Occupational Safety and Health Act

• This act aims to provide for the health and safety of workers at work and in connection with work activities.
• An advisory council for occupational health and safety is established.
• The act outlines employer duties and ensures employee safety.
• All incidents and accidents must be recorded, and the act is enforced by inspectors.

Health and Safety Compliance

• Essential elements include first aid and firefighting training; OHS Act management training; health and safety representative training; induction training for new employees and contractors; and risk-related training.
• Noise surveillance, safe guarding machinery, and ventilation/hazardous chemical surveys are key components.
• Employees should be kept up to date through information boards and toolbox talks, with health and safety committee meetings arranged regularly.

Biosafety versus Biosecurity

• Biosafety involves containment principles to prevent accidental exposure to biological agents.
• Biosecurity involves protecting valuable biological materials to prevent unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse, diversion, or intentional release.

Risk Group Classification of Biological Agents

• Risk group 1 agents are unlikely to cause diseases in humans.
• Risk group 2 agents may cause diseases in humans, but treatment/prevention is available.
• Risk group 3 agents can cause serious diseases in humans, with available treatments/prevention.
• Risk group 4 agents cause deadly diseases in humans, and no treatments/vaccines are available.

Biosafety Levels (BSL)

• BSL-1 represents basic safety practices, with limited access and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• BSL-2 involves additional safety practices and requires using biosafety cabinets and appropriate PPE.
• BSL-3 enhances safety precautions, emphasizing the use of HEPA filters and more specialized PPE.
• BSL-4 emphasizes complete containment and use of specialized equipment and PPE for highly dangerous pathogens.

Chemical Spills

• Contain the spill.
• Leave the area.
• Evoke/activate emergency procedures (eyewash shower and medical assistance).
• Access Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDs).
• Notify supervisor.

Ergonomic Hazards

• Proper posture, chair height, and workstation layout are essential to prevent ergonomic hazards from workplace activities.

Fire Hazards

• Understand the different classes of fires (A, B, C, D, K) and the appropriate fire extinguishers for each class.

Waste Disposal

• Classify and correctly dispose of different types of waste (biological, chemical, radioactive, sharps) using designated containers and specified procedures.

Hierarchy of Controls - Most Effective to Least Effective

• Elimination (remove the hazard completely)
• Substitution (find a safer alternative)
• Engineering controls (safety features in a product)
• Administrative controls (safety rules/procedures)
• PPE (personal protective equipment)

Safety Practices in the Laboratory

• Know the location of safety equipment (fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, first-aid kits)
• Follow instructions and safety procedures.
• Dress appropriately (lab coats, safety glasses, gloves).
• Avoid experimenting on yourself or others.
• Don't taste or sniff chemicals. Dispose of waste correctly.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• PPE includes gloves, gowns, face shields, and respirators/masks, used to protect healthcare workers during patient interaction and procedures, using proper donning and doffing procedures.

Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

• Educate personnel to control respiratory secretions and prevent droplet/fomites transmission.

Transmission-Based Precautions

• Additional controls including masks/respirators for airborne diseases, hand hygiene for contact, and droplets/spatial separation of patients.

Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals

• This system provides standardized, globally recognized methods for classifying and labeling chemicals.

This quiz covers essential topics related to Universal Precautions and OSHA standards for occupational exposure. It includes questions about materials needed for compliance, the significance of N95 masks, and proper procedures for handling bloodborne pathogens. Test your knowledge on safety protocols in clinical and work environments.