LESSON 1 LAB SAFETY Flashcards
- Authorized to conduct on on-site inspections to
determine whether an employer is complying
with the mandatory standards (Bishop, 2013) - Organization that encompasses all workplace
area (not just laboratories) - Philippines: Department of Labor and
Employment and Department of Health - Most of their policies are being used by the
agencies here in the Philippines
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)
• Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
• Formaldehyde Standard
• Laboratory Standard
• Hazard Communication Standard
• Respiratory Protection Standard Air
• Contaminants Standard
• Personal Protective Equipment Standar
Standards that regulate safety in the laboratory:
- provides excellent general laboratory safety and
infection control guidelines - more specific in procedures
- step by step laboratory procedures
CLINICAL LABORATORY STANDARDS
INSTITUTE (CLSI)
- Standard System for the Identification of the Fire
Hazards of Materials, (NFPA 704)
NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION (NFPA)
Health Hazard
blue diamond
Fire hazard
red diamond
specific hazard
white diamond
reactivity
yellow diamond
- All Patients are considered possible carriers of
bloodborne pathogens (HIV and HBV) - Wearing gloves when collecting/ handling blood
and body fluids visibly contaminated with blood - Wearing face shields when in danger of splashing
blood and body fluids contaminated with blood - Doesn’t include urine and fluids not visibly
contaminated with blood - First set of guidelines on how to approach
patients and specimens
Universal Precautions (1987)
- Considers all body fluids and moist body
substances to be potentially infectious - Does not recommend handwashing after
removal of gloves
Body Substance Isolation Guidelines (1987)
- Combines aspects of Universal Precautions and
Body Substance Isolation Guidelines - Way of handling the patients
Standard Precautions (1996)
- Accreditation of Clinical Laboratories (US)
THE JOINT COMMISSION
- Development of policies regarding laboratory
safety - Accreditation of Clinical Laboratories
- International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) also inspects clinical laboratories in the
Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (PHILIPPINES)
Guidelines in laboratory setting
STANDARD PRECAUTIONS (CDC, 1996)
Handwashing,
gloves,
Masks, Goggles, and Face Shields
➢ Laboratory Gown
➢ Occupational Health ➢ Patient Care Equipment
➢ Environmental Control
➢ Linen
➢ Patient Placement
o Before patient contact
o When gloves are removed
o Before leaving the work area
o At any time when they have been
knowingly contaminated
o Before going to designated break areas
o Before and after using bathroom
facilities
➢ Handwashing
o worn to protect the health care worker’s
hands from contamination by patient
body substances and to protect the
patient from possible microorganisms
on the health care worker’s hands.
o NOT a substitute for hand washing
o Latex allergy in patients
Gloves
o Masks are worn to protect against
inhalation of droplets containing
microorganisms from infective patients.
o Masks and goggles are worn to protect
the mucous membranes of the mouth,
nose, and eyes from splashing of body
substances
o Face shields also protect the mucous
membranes from splashes.
➢ Masks, Goggles, and Face Shields
o worn to protect the clothing and skin of
health care workers from contamination
by patient body substances and to
prevent the transfer of microorganisms
out of patient rooms.
o tie in the back at the neck and the waist
and have tightfitting cuffs
Laboratory Gown
o Never recap used needles using both
hands
o Place used disposable syringes and
needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp
items in appropriate puncture resistant
containers
Occupational Health
- requires all employers to have a written
Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan and
to provide necessary protection, free of charge
for employees
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health
Administration)
Components of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard
o Providing sharps disposal containers and
needles with safety devices.
o Requiring discarding of needles with the
safety device activated and the holder
attached
o Labeling all biohazardous materials and
containers
Engineering Controls
Components of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard o Requiring all employees to practice
Standard Precautions.
o Prohibiting eating, drinking, smoking,
and applying cosmetics in the work area.
o Establishing a daily work surface
disinfection protocol.
Work Practice Controls
Components of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard o Providing laboratory coats, gowns, face
shields, and gloves to employees and
laundry facilities for non-disposable
protective clothing
Personal Protective Equipment
Components of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard
o Providing immunization for the hepatitis
B virus free of charge.
o Providing medical follow-up to
employees who have been accidentally
exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
Medical
