Holy Name University

Tagbilaran City, Bohol

PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
LABORATORY SAFETY BIOLOGIC HAZARDS
SAFETY
 The clinical laboratory contains a variety of safety hazards, many of
which are capable of producing serious injury or life-threatening
disease.
 To work safely in the laboratory the personnel must:  Chain of infection: the process of microorganism transmission.

1. learn what hazards exist

2. the basic safety precautions associated with them

3. how to apply the basic rules of common sense required for

everyday safety for patients, co-workers, and themselves.

 Some hazards are unique to the health-care environment, and others

are encountered routinely throughout life.
 Safety procedure manuals: readily available in the laboratory; describe
the safety policies mandated by CDC and OSHA
 CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
 OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
 CLSI: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute

 Infection Control: Procedures to monitor and control the spread of an

infection.
 Biologic Safety: concerns with the prevention on chain of infection
completion.
 CONTACT WITH PATIENT SPECIMEN: most direct contact with a source
of infection in the clinical laboratory.
 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS  Occupational health and blood borne pathogens
 Patient placement
 Drafted by CDC and OSHA
 Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette
 All patients are considered to be possible carriers of blood borne
pathogens.
 Recommends wearing of gloves, face shields and disposal of sharps
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS STANDARD
in appropriate container.
 PROBLEM: Excluded urine and body fluids that are not visibly  A Law monitored and enforced by OSHA
contaminated by blood.  Should be provided by an employer to the employees and
includes the following:
A. Engineering Controls
BODY SUBSTANCE ISOLATION
1) Providing sharps disposal container and needles with safety
 Not only limited to blood borne pathogens; all body fluids. devices.
 Considers all body fluids and moist body substance to be
2) Required discarding of needles with the safety device activated and
potentially infectious.
holder attached.
 PROBLEM: does not recommend hand washing after removal of
gloves not unless with visual contamination. 3) Labeling of all biohazards.

B. Work practice controls

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS 1) Requiring all employees to practice Standard

 “new guidelines”, a combined feature of Universal Precautions (UP) Precautions and documenting training on an
and Body Substance Isolation (BSI)
annual basis.
 Drafted by CDC and HICPAC (Healthcare Infection Control Practices
Advisory Committee. 2) Prohibiting eating, drinking, smoking and
Stipulates the following precautions: applying cosmetics in the work area.
 Hand hygiene 3) Establishing a daily work surface disinfection
 Gloves
protocol.
 Mouth, nose and eye protection
 Gown C. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
 Patient care equipment
* Provision of PPE Set
 Environmental control
 Linen D. Medical
 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
1) Providing immunization for Hepatitis B virus  Hand Hygiene is done:

free of charge. 1) before and after patient contact

2) Providing medical follow-up to employees who have been 2) after gloves are removed
accidentally exposed to blood borne pathogens.
3) before leaving the work area
E. Documentation
4) at any time when knowingly contaminated
1) Documenting annual training of employees in
5) before going to designated break areas
safety standards.
6) before and after using bathroom facilities
2) Documenting evaluation and implementation of safer needle devices.
Hand washing procedure includes:
3) Involving employees in the selection and evaluation of new devices
 Lathering and removal of debris (at least 20 seconds)
and maintaining a
 Singing of Happy Birthday 2X
list of those employees and the evaluations.
Hand Washing Procedure
4) Maintaining a sharps injury log including the type and brand of
safety device, location and Equipment:

description of the incident and confidential 1) Antimicrobial soap 3) Running water

employee follow-up. 2) Paper towels 4) Waste container

Procedure:
 Accidental exposure must be immediately reported to the supervisor.
 After evaluation, PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) must be given right 1. Wet hands with warm water. Do not allow parts of
away.
body to touch the sink
MAJOR IMPORTANT PRACTICES IN THE LABORATORY
2. Apply soap, preferably antimicrobial.
PROPER HAND HYGIENE 3. Rub to form a lather, create friction, and loosen debris.
 Hand Contact: primary method of infection Thoroughly clean between the fingers and under the
transmission. fingernails for at least 20 seconds; include thumbs and
 Hand Hygiene: includes both hands washing and wrists in the cleaning.
use of alcohol based antiseptic cleaners.
 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
4. Rinse hands in a downward position to prevent

recontamination of hands and wrists. SHARP HAZARDS

5. Obtain paper towel from the dispenser.

6. Dry hands with paper towel

7. Turn off faucets with a clean paper towel to prevent Includes: Needles, lancets, broken glassware
contamination. PRECAUTIONS
CORRECT DISPOSAL OF CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT  All sharps must be disposed properly in a sharp’s container:
 All waste is placed in designated containers with the BIOHAZARD 1) puncture resistant
symbol.
 Decontamination: Incineration, Autoclaving, or picked up by waste 2) leak proof
hazard companies. 3) with biohazard symbol
 Urine Specimen: Poured on a laboratory sink and flushed with
water. 4) located as close as practical to where sharps are used.
 Sink can be disinfected with 1:5 or 1:10 dilution of
 The container should not reach beyond the capacity mark before
 Sodium hypochlorite. Prepared solution can last
replacement.
 for 1 month.
 Empty urine containers can be discarded as non-
 biologically hazardous waste.
CHEMICAL HAZARD
WEARING OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PPE

1) Gloves (latex, nitryl or vinyl)

PRECAUTIONS
2) Gowns - completely buttoned, gloves be pulled over the cuffs, fluid
resistant, removed prior to leaving the work area.  When skin contacts with a chemical, flush the area
 with large amount of water for at least 15 minutes.
3) Eye and face shields  Contaminated clothing should be removed right
* masks and goggles, full-face plastic shields that cover the front and sides  away.
of the face, mask with attached shield, and Plexiglas countertop shields.  Do not neutralize chemical spills.
 Cleaning up spills kit: Protective apparel, non-
 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
 reactive absorbent material, bags for contaminated
 materials.

Chemical Handling:

1) Acid should always be added to water and not vice versa.

2) Wear goggles and mix reagents inside the fume hood.

3) No mouth pipetting of chemicals.

Chemical Hygiene Plan

 Appropriate work practices

 Standard operating procedures
 PPE
CHEMICAL LABELING
 Engineering controls, such as fume hoods and flammables safety
cabinets.
 Employee training requirements
 Medical consultation guidelines

Chemical Safety Aids

Emergency Shower Eye Wash Station

Information contained in an MSDS includes the following:

 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
1. Physical and chemical characteristics
2. Fire and explosion potential
3. Reactivity potential PRECAUTIONS

 Equipment should not be operated with wet hands.

4. Health hazards and emergency first aid procedures
 Do not use frayed cords and overloaded circuits; if found must be
5. Methods for safe handling and disposal reported to the supervisor.
 Wet equipment must be unplugged and dried completely before next
6. Primary routes of entry usage.
 In cleaning: equipment needs to be unplugged.
7. Exposure limits and carcinogenic potential  All electrical equipment should be grounded with three pronged plugs.
 Turn off circuit breaker, unplug instrument, or move instrument using
non-conductive material.
 Shock victims should immediately receive medical assistance.
RADIOACTIVE HAZARD
FIRE/EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS

 Can be encountered in laboratories that make use of radioisotopes.

 Radiation exposure is related to: time, distance and shielding.

PRECAUTIONS

 Symbol must be displayed on doors with potential hazard. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care
Organizations (JCAHO) requires that all health-care institutions post
 Pregnant employees should avoid rooms with the symbol. evacuation routes and detailed plans to follow in the event of fire.

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
FIRE HAZARD SYMBOL In Case of Fire:
EXPLOSIVE HAZARD
SYMBOL R Rescue Rescue anyone in immediate danger.

A Alarm Activate institutional fire alarm.

C Contain Close all doors to potentially affected areas.

E Extinguish Attempt to extinguish the fire; if ppossible

exit the area.
Evacuate

How to Manipulate Fire Extinguisher?

 P - Pull the pin

 A - Aim at the base of the fire
 S - Squeeze the handle
 S - Sweep side to side

PHYSICAL HAZARD

PRECAUTIONS

 Decorum: Uniform with laboratory gown and

 closed-toed shoes.

 Avoid running in rooms and hallways.

 Watch for wet floors.

 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
 Avoid dangling jewelries.

 No eating and applying of make up inside the laboratory.

 Maintain a clean and organized working area.

HEALTH CARE WASTE MANAGEMENT

Health Care Waste
 are solid and liquid wastes generated from the
diagnosis, treatment, management, and
immunization of humans or animals, research,
producing or testing of biological products, and
wastes originating from minor or scattered sources
such as dental clinics and alternative medicine clinics.
 75 – 90% = Non-hazardous waste/General waste
 10 – 15% = Hazardous waste
Categories of health care waste
 these are wastes generated in health care facilities.
 this includes general waste, infectious, pathological,
sharps, pharmaceuticals, genotoxic, chemical, waste
with high heavy metals content, pressurized
containers and radioactive waste.

Sources and classification of health care waste

 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
 Health Care Waste Generators include:  Dental Prosthetic Laboratories
1. Health care facilities  Drug Testing Laboratories
2. Institutions
 HIV Testing Laboratories
3. Business establishments
4. Hospitals 6. Institutions
5. Infirmaries  Drug Rehabilitation Center
6. Birthing homes
7. Drug manufacturers  Schools of Radiologic Technology
8. Laboratories and Research centers  Training Centers for Embalmers
9. Clinics
 Medical Schools
 Med. Tech. Intern Training Centers
1. Hospitals (Primary Care, Secondary Care and Tertiary
 Nursing Home Centers
Care)
2. Infirmaries  Dental Schools
3. Birthing Homes
 Mortuary and Autopsy Centers
4. Drug Manufacturers
5. Laboratories and Research Centers 7. Clinics

 Medical and biomedical laboratories  Medical

 Nuclear medicine laboratories  Surgical

 Medical research centers  Ambulatory

 Biotechnology laboratories  Alternative medicine

 Blood Banks and Blood Collection services  Dialysis

 Animal Research and Testing  Dental

 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB
 Health care centers
 Dispensaries
 Veterinary

Problems associated with health care waste

 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB

2. Segregation
Done at point of generation of waste and put in separate-colored
bags.
 Holy Name University
Tagbilaran City, Bohol
PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE 2 LAB