4: LABORATORY SAFETY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

Question 1

• The condition of being protected from danger or risk.
• State of being free from injury.

Answer 1

SAFETY

Question 2

• Something that can cause harm, loss, or danger.
• Has the potential to cause harm
• Agent that causes the risk

Answer 2

HAZARD

Question 3

• A situation which is exposed to harm, danger or loss.
• Chance or probability that something could be harmed by the hazard

Answer 3

RISK

Question 4

• pertains to any biological material, such as microorganisms, plants, animals, or their byproducts, that threatens the health of living organisms, most especially humans and animals.
• E.g.
   Human blood, blood products
   Pathological waste
   Sharps waste
   Microbiological waste
• Sources:
   Bacteria
   Virus
   Parasites
   Fungi
   Prions

Answer 4

BIOLOGICAL HAZARD

Question 5

Proteins that can cause disease in humans by triggering normal healthy proteins in the brain to fold abnormally

Answer 5

 Prions

Question 6

through mouth

Answer 6

 Ingestion

Question 7

act of implanting a pathogen or microbe into a person

Answer 7

 Inoculation

Question 8

sense of touch/skin-to-skin contamination, open wounds

Answer 8

 Tactile contamination

Question 9

 Usually coming from inoculating loops
o Loop stick
 Lab spills on counters
 Centrifugation of infected ()

Answer 9

• Aerosolized infectious materials

Question 10

• Tissues, organs, mucous secretions, saliva, semen, vaginal, urethral, cavity fluids, exudates, wounds, amniotic fluid, and any materials acquired from the body shall be considered

Answer 10

HAZARDOUS

Question 11

• _________________________, for hand-washing must be available in the workplace.

Answer 11

Soaps and clean wipes

Question 12

• Protective equipment may include ___________________…

Answer 12

respirators, gloves, masks, protective garments or suits, safety shoes, lab gowns, eye wears, hoods and isolation chambers.

Question 13

• Guidelines for safe handling of body fluids and human tissues for all patients
• Provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• For medtechs and laboratories

Answer 13

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION (1980S)

Question 14

• All chemicals in the laboratory should always be presumed as hazardous

Answer 14

CHEMICAL HAZARD

Question 15

published the Hazard Communication Standards and Chemical Hygiene Plan
 Must also indicate its hazards
 Carcinogen – cancer causing chemical

Answer 15

• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Question 16

Employers must maintain __________________________________ in English
 This is for laboratory chemicals
 Compiled in a separate clearbook/folder

Answer 16

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Question 17

• Can be divided into four important classes designated as classes A, B, C, and D

Answer 17

FIRE HAZARD

Question 18

• Organic chemicals

Answer 18

 Butane
 Acetone

Question 19

• PASS

Answer 19

 Pull
 Aim
 Squeeze
 Sweep

Question 20

• Combustible metals

Answer 20

 Magnesium
 Titanium
 Aluminum

Question 21

• Sources of radiation
   radioactive isotopes
   x-rays
   ultraviolet sources

Answer 21

RADIATION HAZARDS

Question 22

• Inadequate wiring and improper insulation of equipment.

Answer 22

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Question 23

• These hazards are associated with structural or mechanical defects as slippery floors, projections that cause cuts and bruises like nails, inadequate lighting, machinery with unprotected moving parts, etc.

Answer 23

PHYSICAL/MECHANICAL HAZARDS

Question 24

• Include metals, as well as almost anything with a “sharp” edge that may cause punctures and/or cuts on unsuitable containers
• Needles, blades, scalpels etc. fall under this category.

Answer 24

SHARPS CONTAINER

Question 25

• Infectious waste
• Used to dispose of clinical waste like swabs, dressings, tissues, soiled gloves, aprons, pads and nappies.

Answer 25

YELLOW PLASTIC BAG

Question 26

• Used to collect anatomical waste including human body fluids like semen, saliva, tissues, organs and animal carcasses.
• Only biohazard waste like blood contaminated objects and pathological waste go to the red bag.

Answer 26

RED PLASTIC BAG

Question 27

• Plastics, wrappers, papers, etc.
• Anything that is non-infectious

Answer 27

BLACK PLASTIC BAG