Laboratory Safety Waste Management and Equipment PDF

LABORATORY SAFETY WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDWASHING What is Hematology? OSHA standards include provisions for warning labels or other appropriate forms of warning to alert all workers to potential...

LABORATORY SAFETY WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDWASHING What is Hematology? OSHA standards include provisions for warning labels or other appropriate forms of warning to alert all workers to potential hazards, suitable protective equipment, exposure control procedures, Hematology, the discipline that studies the and implementation of training and education programs. development and diseases of blood, is an essential The primary purpose of OSHA standards is to ensure safe and medical science. healthful working conditions for every US worker. The assays and examinations that are A designated safety officer is a critical part of a laboratory safety performed in the laboratory can do the program. following: This individual has many duties affecting staff including compliance Establish a diagnosis or rule out a diagnosis: with existing regulations affecting the laboratory and staff, for Confirm a physician’s clinical impression of a possible example, labeling of chemicals and providing supplies for the proper hematological disorder handling and disposal of biohazardous materials. Detect an unsuspected disorder Monitor the effects of therapy In 1991, OSHA mandated that all clinical laboratories must implement a Detect minimal residual disease following therapy chemical hygiene plan (CHP) and an exposure control plan. Although the CBC is the most frequently requested As part of the CHP, a copy of the material safety data sheet (MSDS) procedure, a laboratory professional must be familiar must always be readily accessible and available to all employees. with the theory and practice of a wide variety of This document ensures that laboratory workers are fully aware of the automated and manual tests performed in the hazards associated with chemicals in their workplaces. The MSDS laboratory to provide quality patient care. describes hazards, safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous Complete blood cell count (CBC), includes the chemicals. measurement and examination of red blood cells The information is provided by chemical manufacturers and suppliers (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and about each chemical and accompanies the shipment of each chemical. platelets (thrombocytes. It guides the primary care provider in establishing a patient’s differential Avoiding Transmission of Infectious Diseases: diagnosis Needlestick prevention Sharp prevention Safety in the Hematology Laboratory HBV vaccination Safety standards for patients and clinical laboratories are initiated, governed, and reviewed by Blood is the single most important source of HIV, HBV, and other governmental agencies and professional bloodborne pathogens in the occupational setting. organizations. An occupational exposure is defined as a percutaneous injury, for example, needlestick or cut with a sharp object, or contact by mucous membranes or nonintact skin (especially when the skin is chapped, abraded, or affected with dermatitis), or the contact is prolonged or involves an extensive area with blood, tissues, blood-stained body fluids, body fluids to which standard precautions apply, or concentrated virus.  LABORATORY SAFETY WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDWASHING The most widespread control measure required by OSHA and CLSI is the use of puncture-resistant sharps containers. The primary purpose of using these containers is to eliminate the need for anyone to transport needles and other sharps while looking for a place to discard them. Sharps containers are to be in the patient areas as well as conveniently placed in the laboratory. OSHA issued a federal standard in 1991 mandating employers to provide the hepatitis B vaccine to all employees who have or may have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infective materials. Vaccination against hepatitis B and compliance with precautions are the best prophylaxis against bloodborne pathogen exposure. Safety Manual How to do handwashing? contains a comprehensive listing of approved policies, acceptable practices, and precautions including standard precautions. Standard Precautions are intended to prevent occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens. According to the CDC, all human blood and other body fluids are treated as potentially infectious for HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne microorganisms that can cause disease in humans. Handwashing Frequent handwashing is an important safety precaution. It must be performed after contact with patients and laboratory specimens. Gloves should be used as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, handwashing. At the very minimum, hands should be washed with soap and water (if visibly soiled) or by hand antisepsis with an alcohol-based handrub (if hands are not visibly soiled) When to do handwashing?  LABORATORY SAFETY WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDWASHING Coats should be changed immediately if grossly contaminated PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT with blood or body fl uids, to prevent seepage through street clothes to skin. Contaminated coats or gowns should be placed in an appropriately designated biohazard bag for laundering. Disposable plastic aprons are recommended if blood or certain body fl uids may be splashed. Aprons should be discarded into a biohazard container. Decontamination All work surfaces are cleaned and sanitized at the beginning and end of the shift with a 1:10 dilution of household bleach S(Table 1.1) or an EPA-registered disinfectant. Disinfection describes a process that eliminates many or all pathogenic microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on inanimate objects. Hypochlorites are the most widely used of the chlorine disinfectants. The most prevalent chlorine products in the United States are aqueous solutions of 5.25% to 6.15% sodium hypochlorite, usually called household bleach. While wearing gloves, employees should clean and sanitize all work surfaces at the beginning and end of their shift with a 1:10 dilution of household bleach. How to manage spills in a clinical laboratory? Facial barrier protection (shields) should be used if there is a potential for splashing or spraying of blood or certain body fluids. Masks and facial protection should be worn if mucous membrane contact with blood or certain body fluid is anticipated. All disruptions of exposed skin should be covered with a water-impermeable occlusive bandage. This includes defects on the arms, face, and neck. A color-coded, two–laboratory coat or equivalent system should be used whenever laboratory personnel are working with potentially infectious specimens. The coat worn in the laboratory must be changed or covered with an uncontaminated coat when leaving the immediate work area.  LABORATORY SAFETY WASTE MANAGEMENT AND HANDWASHING Safety Practices Waste Management