Facilities and safety Flashcards
As a general rule, all diagnostic laboratories should be designed and organized for biosafety level
2 or above
is important in order to protect the lives of employees and patients, to protect laboratory equipment and facilities, and to protect the environment.
Laboratory safety programme
loss of reputation
loss of customers
loss of income
negative effect on staff retention
increased costs—litigation, insurance.
effects of a laboratory accident
actively participate in the design and planning stages of new laboratory facilities;
assess all potential risks and apply basic concepts of organization in order to provide a proper and safe environment for conducting laboratory activities, including services to patients;
consider the organization of the laboratory when developing new activities or new diagnostic techniques in the laboratory.
laboratory director responsibilities
develop a complete and thorough description of basic safety rules and organization, and ensure that personnel are trained in their specif i c duties when new activities or techniques are introduced into the laboratory;
know the basics of safety and biosafety management issues when working with chemicals and pathogens of moderate or low level of risk;
know how to perform an extensive risk assessment when developing new activities in the laboratory;
conduct laboratory safety audits.
quality manager (or designated safety officer) responsibilities
be aware of basic safety rules and processes;
understand the basics of safety and biosafety management issues when working with toxic chemicals, biological samples and physical hazards, and when interacting with patients.
laboratorian responsibilities
is responsible for quality and safety.
Everyone in the laboratory
. The reception desk where incoming patients register should be located as close as possible to the
entry door
Access to rooms where manipulation or analysis of samples takes place, or where hazardous chemicals or other materials are stored, must be restricted to
authorized persons
—a laboratory layout with both the reception and the sample collection room located at the _______ saves time and energy.
Entrance
—here, samples are centrifuged as needed, allocated for different examinations and dispersed to the appropriate sections of the laboratory for analysis. If possible, the this area should be separated from, but nearby, the testing areas.
Sample processing areas
—After the analysis of the samples, the results must be accurately recorded, properly fi led, and delivered on time to the right person. Communication systems appropriate to the size and complexity of the laboratory, including the eff i cient and reliable transferring of messages, should be part of the laboratory design.
Post-examination pathways
For the most efficient design, all related services should be located in .
close proximity
to accommodate autoclaves, sinks for cleaning glassware, preparation and sterilization of culture media, and so on, should be located in a central area to minimize distances and facilitate circulation paths of materials, samples and goods. A responsible staff member should be designated to oversee cleaning and maintenance of the service rooms.
Location of service rooms
—needs to be located in a separate space, with at least two rooms, so that preparation of DNA extracts is not performed in the same room as where the subsequent steps (preparation of reagent mixes and DNA amplification) are performed;
- molecular biology
—requires a dark room with proper ventilation which must not be used for storage of stock materials and other chemicals;
- fluorescence microscopy
Consider the need for a stable ________ for sensitive equipment and a backup ________ or emergency generator for times when the laboratory’s primary power source is down.
power supply
________________ of clean and dirty laboratory materials should never cross, and circulation pathways of contaminated waste should be isolated.
circulation pathways
