Lab1 Safety in Clinical Chemistry Laboratory PDF

Safety in Clinical Chemistry Laboratory 2 grade medical Labs nd Dr Media Kh. Isamil 30/09/2024 Why is it so important? Working safe protects: Safe laboratory practices are You the responsibility of everyone Other lab...

Safety in Clinical Chemistry Laboratory 2 grade medical Labs nd Dr Media Kh. Isamil 30/09/2024 Why is it so important? Working safe protects: Safe laboratory practices are You the responsibility of everyone Other lab workers who enters the Lab. Cleaners All laboratory staff should develop an appreciation for Visitors safety Your work  CHEMICAL SAFETY Chemical safety awareness is of paramount importance in the clinical laboratory. knowledge of the compounds, their associated hazards, and their proper handling is very important in reducing the extent of injury in case of an accidental exposure. A description of standard operating procedures An inventory of all chemicals Safety data sheets (SDSs) Proper labeling and storage of chemicals An inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE) A description of engineering controls Procedures for waste removal and disposal Requirements for employees’ physical and medical consultations Training requirements  General Guidelines Gathering General Information on Chemicals - Familiarize yourself with the pictograms and Hazard codes widely used to mark risks  General Guidelines C. Chemical Storage 1/ All containers used for storage (even short term) shall be labeled. 2/ Quantities greater than 1L of highly flammable liquids (Methanol, Chloroform) should be stored in specified metal cabinets. 3/ Out-of-date chemicals shall be disposed to reduce hazard potential 4/ Reduce large inventory of chemicals in the laboratory. 5/ Never pipette by mouth. Always use a bulb to pipette. 6/ Chemical containers that have been emptied have to be cleaned off suitable solvent and air-dried before disposal.  Operating Procedures Specific operating protocols should be developed for proper disposition of accidents in laboratories involving chemical spills. Accidents that involve chemicals splashed into the eyes require that the eyes be flushed immediately with copious amounts of water from Safety Cabinets Limit the amount of flammable materials that you need to store. The regulations are defined by the solvents’ classification. The classification of flammable solvents is defined in terms of flash points Large amounts of volatile solvents must be stored in a safety cool cabinet. The cabinet should be properly vented, and the use of self-closing doors is encouraged.  Storage and Chemical Inventory Keep only the amount of chemicals that is needed. Less is better. If possible, purchase chemicals in plastic containers to avoid breaking glass. Rotate your chemical inventory and note expiration dates. Dispose of chemicals if not used within a year especially peroxide- forming compounds. Make sure all secondary containers are properly labeled. If possible, relocate corrosive, flammable, and reactive chemicals to below eye level  Chemical Waste Laboratories are identified by RCRA as “waste generators” and thereby require a permit for proper waste disposal Any hazardous, corrosive, or flammable materials are prohibited from being dis- posed of by pouring down sink drains. This includes chemicals such as Organic solvents with a boiling point of less than 50°C Hydrocarbons Halogenated hydrocarbons Nitro compounds Mercaptan Freon Azides and peroxides Concentrated acids and bases  Biological Hazards Laboratory personnel must be aware of potential sources of exposure to infectious agents such as HBV and HIV. Examples of exposure sources include the following: Centrifuge accidents Needle punctures Spilling infectious material on bench surfaces Cuts and scratches from contaminated glassware Removing stoppers from blood drawing tubes  Personal Protective Equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) is specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard Gloves Eyewear Laboratory Coats and Footwear  FIRE SAFETY Laboratories should have the means available to extinguish small fires in a room, confine a fire, and extinguish clothing that has caught on fire.  ELECTRICAL SAFETY Working with electricity can be dangerous. Laboratory technologists work with electricity directly and indirectly Laboratory Hoods (Ventilation)/ Biosafety Cabinets Laboratory hoods, also called fume hoods, are used to ventilate unwanted fumes from chemical reagents Safety Manual Ay laboratory safety manual should be written, reviewed, and made available to all laboratory staff. The safety manual should present defined policies, procedures, and job responsibilities for each member of the laboratory staff. Training Training laboratory staff in safety-related activities should be considered an ongoing event. Safety training needs to be part of a new employee orientation and laboratory staff continuing education and conducted in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations