Participate in Work Place-Lab Safety

TVET PROGRAM TITLE:
Medical Laboratory Assistance

MLA Level II
ETHIOPIAN SOMALI REGIONAL STATE
BUREAU OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Ethiopian TVET-System
Unit of Competence:- Participate in Laboratory/Field Workplace Safety

MODULE TITLE: - Participate in Laboratory/Field Workplace Safety
LG CODE HLT MLA2 L30616
TTLMCode: HLT MLA2 L30616
Ethiopian Occupational Standard (EO
Instruction Sheet Learning Guide #
Laboratory/work place safety hand out for medical lab assistant level II students Page1
This learning guide is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the following
content coverage and topic
 Introduction
 Laboratory hazards (accidents).

 Types of laboratory hazards
 Causes for laboratory & environmental hazards
Learning Instructions:
1. Read the specific objectives of this Learning Guide.
2. Follow the instructions described in number 2 to 45
3. Read the information written in the “Information Sheets 1”. Try to understand what are being
discussed. Ask you teacher for assistance if you have hard time understanding them.
4. Accomplish the “Self-check 1” in page __.
5. Ask from your teacher the key to correction (key answers) or you can request your teacher to
correct your work. (You are to get the key answer only after you finished answering the Self-
check 1).
6. If you earned a satisfactory evaluation proceed to “Information Sheet 2”. However, if your
rating is unsatisfactory, see your teacher for further instructions or go back to Learning
Activity #3
7. Submit your accomplished Self-check. This will form part of your training portfolio.
8. Read the information written in the “Information Sheet 2”. Try to understand what are being
discussed. Ask you teacher for assistance if you have hard time understanding them.
check 2).
11. Read the information written in the “Information Sheets 3 and 4”. Try to understand what are
being discussed. Ask you teacher for assistance if you have hard time understanding them.
check 3).
14. If you earned a satisfactory evaluation proceed to “Operation Sheet 1” in page _. However,
if your rating is unsatisfactory, see your teacher for further instructions or go back to
Learning Activity #6.
15. Read the “Operation Sheet 1” and try to understand the procedures discussed.
16. You are provided with a CD containing lessons on how to clean and maintain equipment.
Before you open the CD read the information written in the “Information Sheets 1-2” in
pages ___. You will be also provided with additional reference reading materials regarding
the cleaning of masonry hand tools.
17. Request a desktop computer or laptop from your teacher. Make sure the unit is plugged to a
power source before turning on the power O. Then insert the CD in the CD drive located in
your computer. Access the information as described in the Operation Sheet 1 in page __.
18. Read all the contents of the CD and try to understand the procedures discussed.
19. Request access to the equipment and software described in the CD. Practice the steps or
procedures as illustrated in your CD. Go to your teacher if you need clarification or you want
answers to your questions or you need assistance in understanding a particular step or
procedure.
20. Do the “LAP test” in page __ (if you are ready). Request your teacher to evaluate your
performance and outputs. Your teacher will give you feedback and the evaluation will be
either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If unsatisfactory, your teacher shall advice you on
additional work. But if satisfactory you can proceed to Learning Guide #8.
Information Sheet-1 1. Identify, control and report OHS and environmental
hazard
 Hazards
 Is any condition in the workplace that can cause illness or injury or in any way
impair the mental, physical, or social well-being of workers
 Risks
 Are the estimation / chance of occurring injury or illness in the presence of
hazardous condition
 Types of hazards
• Physical—heat, humidity or cold, noise, vibration, illumination, electrical, radiation,
ventilation, fire, and overcrowding.
• Mechanical—manual and power-driven equipment, falling objects, access ways and

floors
• Biological—infectious materials and diseases such as tuberculosis, animal bites and
wounds.
• Ergonomic—standing all day, extreme movements, positioning of a worker.
• Chemical—inhalation, absorption, or ingestion

 • Psychosocial, such as:
 Contractual hazards—low pay, shift work, unsociable hours, excessive hours, and
job insecurity
 Job design hazards—an excess or lack of work; lack of stimulation, pace, and flow of
work; job isolation; lack of direction and decision making; lack of control;
 Underutilization of skills
 Relationships—bad relations with supervisors or colleagues; sexism, racism, or
ageism; customer or client complaints; lack of communication
 Poor work organization—lack of opportunity for continuing education, monotony
and boredom, isolation, limited career options, hazardous conditions, high demand,
Piece work and task work
1. A. Fire hazards are caused by
 inflammable & combustible ignition sources
 poorly maintained electrical equipments like
 Electrical adaptors
 Over loading of electrical circuits
 Over heating of electrical equipments
 causes of fire
 Misuse of Bunsen burner it causes

Open flaming
Gas leaks
Heaters
Open heaters other than electric heaters causes firing
Fire prevention
 Extinguishers should be readily available throughout work areas.
• Automatic fire detection and alarm systems and sprinklers (to extinguish fire)
should form part of necessary installations.
• Fire exits should be available.
• Laboratory doors should be self-closing.
• Electrical outlets should be grounded.
 Fire drills
 must be exercised twice a year
 firefighting equipment must be placed in lab
 emergency action
 when there is a fire out break the following steps should be taken
 Sound the fire alarm promptly.
 Report the fire to the telephone switchboard operator, who will summon the
necessary technical assistance
 Until assistance arrives at the scene of the fire, control the fire if it is safe to do so by
 Closing all the doors and windows to prevent a draft (wind) fanning the fire
 Turning off all gas taps, electrical appliances, and the power sources
 Using the appropriate firefighting equipment installed in the building
Fire extinguisher
 Are used for fire to put out
 Types of Fire Extinguishers
 four main types
 Class A fire extinguishers use water to put out paper and wood based fires.
 Class B fire extinguishers use compressed non-flammable gases such as co2 to put
out fires involving flammable materials.
 The gas extinguishes the fire by starving it of oxygen.
 Note that these fire extinguishers should not be used in small confined spaces as
they have the potential to asphyxiate the user, too, in the process.
 Class C fire extinguishers shoot a very fine non-flammable, non-conductive powder
in order to extinguish electrical fires.
 Class D fire extinguishers are for use in combating fires involving flammable metals
such as magnesium and sodium. These types of fires are especially dangerous.
Unless you are trained, don't try to fight these fires.
 How to Properly Use a Fire Extinguisher
 Fire extinguishers can be heavy and awkward to use effectively in an emergency
situation if one is not properly trained.
 PASS, a common acronym used to summarize the general procedure for using a fire
extinguisher properly:
 Pull the pin
 Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
 Squeeze the handle and
 Sweep the spray across the base of the fire slowly back and forth until the fire is
completely extinguished.
Fire Blanket
 A fire blanket is used to put out flash
 Fires of clothing. (Chemical extinguishers may be harmful to skin.)
 To use the fire blanket, open the cylinder by pulling down on the handle located on
the bottom.
 Around the victim tightly to extinguish any flames. It may be necessary to get the
victim down on
 The floor to roll and further block the oxygen source to the fire.
 The fire blanket is checked annually by MLT staff and students.
Emergency Shower
 hair fire, or to remove corrosive
 Chemicals spilled on a large area of the body. Emergency showers are located at the
front and rear
 Handle located on a chain under the shower head. This is a continuous flow type of
shower, and the
 Water will continue to run until the level bar located near the ceiling is pressed back
up.
 Be sure to know the locations of the emergency showers. Check to be sure you are
able to reach
 A shower of water may be used to extinguish a clothing or hair fire, or to remove
corrosive
 Chemicals spilled on a large area of the body. Emergency showers are located at the
front and rear
 Handle located on a chain under the shower head. This is a continuous flow type of
shower, and the
 Water will continue to run until the level bar located near the ceiling is pressed back
up.
Be sure to know the locations of the emergency showers. Check to be sure you are
able
Fire Escape Routes
 In the event of a fire or other danger requiring the evacuation of the building,
 There are two routes available.
1. The first is through the main entrance door into the hallway. From this point, you
may turn either right or left to access the exit doors.
2. The second exit route is through the MLT Prep Room at the rear of the laboratory. In
the Prep Room, there is an exit door that opens to the exterior of the building.
B. Chemical hazards
 Chemicals hazards caused by
 improper handling
 improper storage of explosive/ flammable
 Improper segregation of combustible chemicals
 Inadequate ventilation
 Types of hazardous chemicals
1. Flammable chemicals
 A flammable substance is one that readily ignites (catches fire) and burns.
 Some flammable chemicals (such as acetone, diethyl ether, absolute alcohol, and
glacial acetic acid) pose a more serious fire risk than others because they ignite
more easily.
2. Oxidizing Chemicals
 An oxidizing substance is one that produces heat or involves oxygen in contact with
other substances causing them to burn strongly, become explosive, or
spontaneously combust.
 Oxidizing chemicals include peroxides, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, chromic acid,
calcium hypochlorite, and potassium permanganate
3. Toxic Chemicals
 A toxic substance cause serious acute or chronic effects, even death, when inhaled,
swallowed, or absorbed through the skin.
 Toxic chemicals include potassium cyanide, mercury and mercury compounds,

sodium azide, formaldehyde, and methanol.
4. Harmful Chemicals
 A harmful substance cause limited effects on health if inhaled, swallowed, or
absorbed through the skin. Harmful chemicals include barium chloride, benzoic
acid, potassium oxalate, xylene, iodine, and sulfuric acid
5. Irritating Chemicals
 An irritating chemical is one that can cause inflammation and irritation of the skin,
mucous membranes, and respiratory tract following immediate, prolonged, or
frequent contact.
 Irritants include ammonia solution, acetic acid, sulfa salicylic acid, potassium
dichromate, and formaldehyde vapor.
6. Corrosive Chemicals
 A corrosive chemical is one that when ingested, inhaled, or allowed to come in
contact with skin can destroy living tissue and is capable of damaging inanimate
substance.
 Examples: phenol, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and sodium hydroxide.
7. Explosive Chemicals
 Any substance that may explode when heated or when subjected to shock or friction
 Examples sodium azide, perchloric acid, picric acid and picrates, diethyl ether, and
other ethers.
 Prevention of chemical hazards
 Flammable chemicals should be placed in
 clearly labeled & well ventilated area
 When flammable chemicals are used , all open flames must extinguished
 Only minimum of flammable chemicals should be placed in lab
 Never smoke in lab!!!
Safe Storage of Chemicals

 Chemicals must be stored according to their compatibility classes.
 Meaning that flammable chemicals must not be stored next to oxidizing and
explosive chemicals.
 For example, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide (both corrosives) should be stored
in the same area.
Safe use of Chemical Reagents

 Issues to research and think carefully about before using a new reagent include the
following
 Chemical compatibility - Is this reagent known to be incompatible with any other

reagents with which you or others in the laboratory might be working?
 Chemical reactivity - Is the reagent a strong oxidizer? Reductant? Does it react with
moisture? Oxygen?
 Flammability - Is this reagent flammable?
 Volatility - Is this reagent volatile?
 Toxicity - Is the reagent toxic? Is it a mutagen? Carcinogen? What are the symptoms
of exposure?
 Handling - What personal protective equipment should one use in working with this
reagent? Gloves? What kind of gloves? Safety glasses? Should it be handled in a
hood?
 Accidents - How should this material be cleaned up in case of a spill?
 Emergencies - What kinds of emergencies could arise from use/misuse of this

chemical? Are you prepared to deal with these?
• Flammables should be stored in special fire-resistant cabinets located in an

outside storeroom away from main laboratory.
• Alkaline, oxidizers and carcinogens should be stored separately.
• Volatile noxious chemicals or those with high vapor pressures should be stored in
a ventilated cabinet that has an exhaust to the outside.
 They should not be stored in fume cup boards.
Reagent Labels
 provide an extremely useful first means of defense in identifying the potential
hazards
 Labels tells a lot about a reagent:
 Its name, chemical formula, the name and address of the manufacturer, the
reagent's physical properties, any health hazards associated with its use, and
 information on how to handle and store the reagent
National Fire Protection Association
 system is based on a diamond composed of four color-coded squares
 each containing an integer ranging between 0 and 4
 The Z represents the intensity of the hazard represented by the reagent in four
different categories:
 health (blue),
 flammability (red) ,
 reactivity (yellow), and
 Special hazards (white).
 The higher the number the more significant the hazard represented by the chemical
in that particular area.
 zero signals reagent poses a minimum hazard
 four indicates the reagent poses a severe or potentially life-threatening hazard to

the user meaning the reagent should be used only with extreme caution
 It is important to stress that just because a reagent may have a zero hazard number
in a specific category doesn't mean that it is harmless.
 Handle every reagent with due care
 There are a number of different codes used to identify special hazards.
 ox (oxidant) &ACI (acid)
 ALK (base) & COR (corrosive)and
 a W with a slash through it (water reactive).
Material Safety Data Sheets

 Provides a comprehensive source of written information about the properties,
handling, and transport of chemical reagents.
 All manufacturers are required to provide users with an MSDS for each reagent that
they sell.
 always consult the most recent version available of an MSDS
 can always call the manufacturer of any chemical you use and request a copy of the
MSDS
Basic Format of an MSDS

 16 major sections of an MSDS are:
1. Reagent and Company Identification

 provides the common chemical and trade names for the chemical
 Contain contact information, useful in case of emergency, for the chemical supplier.
 Provides the date on which the MSDS was prepared.
2. Reagent Composition
 Provides composition information for any known health hazards that are present
and which constitute more than 0.1% of the material.
 provides information on the safe exposure limits
3. Identification of Potential Hazards

 Provides information on major hazards that may be associated with use and
handling of reagent such as toxicity and flammability.
4. First Aid Measures

 Appropriate measures for treatment of injuries by inhalation, ingestion, and eye
and/or skin contact
5. Fire Fighting Measures

 provides information on flammability /explosive nature of the reagent
 details the appropriate equipment / measures to take if a fire or explosion takes

place
6. Accidental Release Measures

 Procedures and materials that should be used in case of an accidental spill
7. Reagent Handling and Storage

 Provides useful information regarding the proper methods to use in handling and
storing the reagent in the laboratory.
 Chemical incompatibilities, information about the potential for the formation of

peroxides (explosion hazards)
 need for a flammable storage cabinet
8. Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

 provides information on the types of personal protective equipment
9. Physical and Chemical Properties

 Color, odor, melting point, boiling point, solubility in water, vapor pressure, is
provided in this section.
 This information can be extremely helpful in determining how to properly handle
and store a reagent.
10. Reagent Stability and Reactivity

 If reagent becomes unstable, it provides information on any conditions that might
produce hazardous reactions.
11. Toxicological Information

 Information on the toxicity of the reagent is detailed
 LD50 (lethal dose 50; single, usually oral, dose of the reagent that results in the
death of 50% of test subjects)
 LC50 (lethal concentration 50; concentration of an inhaled volume of air containing

the reagent that produces death in 50% of test subjects).
12. Ecological Information

 Provides any available information concerning the effect that release of the reagent
might have on plants and/or animals in the environment.
13. Disposal Considerations

 the appropriate methods that may be used to dispose of waste containing the
reagents
14. Transport Information

 This section provides information on how the reagent may be safely transported.
15. Regulatory Information

 Any relevant regulatory information relevant to risks and safe use of the reagent are
provided in this section.
16. Additional Information

 contain the name of the author of the MSDS
 Often contains legal disclaimers regarding the use of the MSDS that are intended to
protect the manufacturer against liability.
Chemical Spills and Leakages

 contaminate laboratory furniture and equipment
 Staff may be contaminated directly or indirectly by contact with contaminated

surfaces.
 If nonflammable liquid chemicals are spilled,
 Place sufficient dry sand or absorbent paper around the spillage to prevent its
spread and to soak up the chemical.
 If the spill is a strong acid or alkali,
 neutralize it and dispose of it safely
 If leakages from flammable gas occur,
 Extinguish all flames and remove or switch off all sources of ignition.
 If personal injury has occurred or a hazardous chemical has been spilled on clothing
 Remove the clothing and immediately wash and immerse the affected part of the
body in water.
 If the injury is serious
 Apply appropriate first-aid measures and seek medical advice.
Neutralization
• Use 50 g/L (5% weight/volume) sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate to neutralize
acid spills.
• Use 10 g/L (1% volume/volume) acetic acid to neutralize strong alkaline spills.
• Clean the spillage area with water and detergent.
C. Electrical Hazards
 All laboratory electrical equipment should be grounded, preferably using three-
prong plugs.
 Double-insulated devices, requiring only two-prong plugs, are rare in laboratories,

but if present may require separate grounding. A ground-free supply may become
live as a result of an undetected fault. Install circuit breakers, power surge
protectors, and ground-fault interrupters.
 Spark proof laboratory equipment is recommended for use in laboratories in the

presence of flammable solvents.
 For electrical fires, always use either carbon dioxide (CO2 )or dry-powder fire
extinguishers rather than water or foam fire extinguishers.
D. Radiation Hazards
 Radiation can cause two types of harmful effects:
 somatic, those that are clinically observable in irradiated individuals and
 hereditary, those that are observable in descendants of irradiated individuals
E. Equipment & glassware hazards

 Are common type of hazards in C.lab
 The safe use of equipment is dependent on:
• Equipment being installed and positioned correctly
• Equipment being used as instructed by the manufacturer
• Equipment being cleaned, inspected, serviced, and repaired correctly
• Staff being well instructed in the correct use, cleaning, and maintenance of equipment
• Not using the equipment prior to proper installation and commissioning by a qualified
engineer
• The supervisor ensuring standard operating procedures and maintenance schedules exist
and are implemented
 The safe use of glassware is dependent on:
• Use of glassware with fine polished edges whenever possible
• Pipette fillers fitted with care to avoid breakage of glass pipettes
 Care is needed when handling broken glass. ..Strong rubber or leather gloves should
be available for use all the time.
F. Microbial hazards
 Acquired through the following during specimen collection process
 Skin—through cuts and scratches
 Eyes—through transfer from contaminated fingers
 Mouth—through such practices as mouth pipetting and putting contaminated

materials into the mouth
Respiratory tract: through inhalation of aerosols.
 Prevention of microbial infection
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Handle biological specimens in the safety cabinet
Classification of infectious micro-organisms

 Risk Group 1— presents a low risk to the laboratory worker and to members of
the community.
__They are unlikely to cause human disease.
Examples: food spoilage bacteria and common molds and fungi.
 Risk Group 2—these organisms offer a moderate risk to the laboratory worker
and a limited risk to members of the community.
__cause serious human disease but are not a serious hazard.
__Effective preventive measures and treatment are available and the risk of spread in the
community is not great.
Example: Staphylococci, streptococci, and enterobacteria (except Salmonella typhi).
 Risk Group 3—this group contains organisms that present a high risk to the
laboratory worker but a low risk to the community .
__ Do not ordinarily spread very quickly from one individual to another.
__ Effective vaccines and therapeutic materials are available for most pathogens in this
group. Examples: Vibrio cholera, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Salmonella typhi
 Risk Group 4: the agents in this group are all viruses.

__present a high risk to the laboratory worker and the community should they escape from
the laboratory.
__can cause serious disease and are readily transmitted from one individual to another.
__ No vaccines or therapeutic materials are available to counteract these viruses.
__ Examples: viruses causing hemorrhagic fevers such as Marburg, Lassa, and Ebola
content coverage and topic
 Incident and emergency response procedures

 Guidelines for investigating & reporting accidents/incidents
 Incident & emergency response procedures & first aid kits
Information Sheet-3 Follow incident and emergency response procedures
LO 2 Follow incident and emergency response

procedures
 Emergency
 Do you know what to do in case of an emergency?
 It is critical to learn what the appropriate emergency measures are
 Make sure you know how to use the available safety equipment.
 Emergency Plan
 Your laboratory should have a plan for evacuation in case of an emergency.
 know what your lab's emergency plan is for each of the following types of
emergency:
 Fire
 You should only consider fighting a fire in the following cases
 You have called the fire department
 You have gotten everyone safely out of your laboratory and the building
 You have verified that the fire extinguisher available to you is full.
 You have had training in the use of the fire extinguisher and are confident of your
ability to use it properly.
 The fire is small and in a confined area such as a waste paper basket or hood.
 One or both of the fire exit doors will be located behind you when you face the fire in
order to fight it with the extinguisher.
 Medical
 First attempt to ascertain the source of the problem.
 If the victim is unconscious, look around and make sure that electricity isn't
responsible
 If the victim is unconscious or does not appear to be breathing, call 911 and request
medical assistance immediately. Do not move the victim unless instructed to do so
by medical personnel.
 Chemical
 If the victim appears to have been splashed with a chemical or solvent, assist them
to the nearest emergency shower and pull the handle.
 Help the victim remove any contaminated clothing and be prepared to provide them
with a clean lab coat or other temporary covering.
 Equipment
 Today's research laboratory is equipped with a wide range of emergency equipment
that can be invaluable in mitigating the severity of an injury in case of an accidental
exposure to or a fire and/or explosion involving a hazardous reagent.
 The equipment that should be available in your laboratory in case of emergency
includes
1. Eye wash stations
 User can remove and use to flood the injured eye with water.
 The eye wash station is intended to allow you to flood the eye with a continuous
stream of water for a minimum of 15-minutes.
 Ideally the eye wash station should be located within 20 feet of your work space
Showers
 "Drench" showers are the most common type of emergency shower and are
intended to provide on-the-spot cleansing when a chemical and/or solvent has been
spilled, contacted a large portion of your head and/or body, or in a fire.
First aid kits
 If you have one of these in your lab, it is important to periodically inspect and
restock your first aid kit so that it will be useful in an emergency.
 In general these kits are most useful for small injuries such as a cut finger
Fire blankets
Fire blankets are not intended for use in fighting fires.
 Do not attempt to use them to extinguish fires. R
 They are intended to extinguish clothing fires.
Emergency exits
 Each research laboratory is required by law to have two unobstructed means of exit
in case of emergency.
 These emergency exits are generally marked by readily visible red "Exit" signs
placed immediately above the door.
First Aid
 1. Minor Cuts
 Wash the wound thoroughly with mild soap and water.
 As there is always the potential for infection, be sure to seek medical attention as
soon as possible.
 If you are assisting someone else, be careful not to come in contact with their blood.
2. Severe Cuts/Wounds with Heavy Bleeding
 Apply direct pressure to the wound and elevate the limb to staunch the bleeding
 Seek immediate medical attention.
 3. Chemicals on Skin
 If you spill a hazardous chemical on your hand wash your hand and/or arm with
running water at the closest sink for 15-minutes.
 If you spill a hazardous chemical on your face and/or a significant portion of your
body, go to the nearest safety shower, pull the handle, remove any clothing covering
the exposed limbs, and wash the contaminated area thoroughly with water.
4. Chemicals in Eyes
 Use the eyewash fountain to flood your eye(s) with water for 15-minutes.
content coverage and topics
 This learning guide is developed to provide you the necessary information regarding the
following content coverage and topicConducting work safely by applying OHS
 Safety equipments& personal hygiene
 Description of Laboratory hazard Symbols & signal.
 Storage, transport and disposal of hazardous materials & wastes.
 Risk control measures in the laboratory
Information Sheet-3
3 Conduct work safely
LO3. Conduct work safely
 PERSONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
 Hand Washing with Soap
• A hand basin should be situated near the exit.
• Soap dispensers should be provided exclusively for hand washing.
• Paper towels or hand dryers must be provided.
 Personal Protective Equipment

The following should be worn in the work area:
• Coats, gloves, mask. Coats should be hung on pegs or hooks in the laboratory near the exit.
• Goggles—if eye splashing is a risk.
• Protective clothing—in biohazard areas.
 Storage
• Laboratory coats should be stored separately from personal items (for example, outer
clothing, valuables, bags), preferably in a locker or cupboard in a separate room.
• Laboratory coats must not be worn in a staff canteen or dining room.
 Washing Clothing
• Soiled protective clothing should be placed in a laundry bag, not in a locker.
• Coats should be soaked overnight in 1 percent domestic bleach before washing.
 Work Area
• No eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing gum in the laboratory.
• No licking of labels or placing pens, pencils in the mouth or hair while in the laboratory.
• No application of cosmetics.
• No storage of foodstuffs in laboratory
• Cuts, bites, open wounds should be covered with waterproof adhesive dressing.
 Safe Laboratory Techniques

 Specimen Collection
• Gloves must be worn.
• Containers should be leak proof.
• A carrying tray should be used for blood collection outside the laboratory.
• Needles should be disposed of in the sharps disposal containers.
 Handling of Leaking Specimens

• Disposable gloves must be worn.
• Leaking specimens should be discarded (exceptions include cerebrospinal fluid, histology

specimens).
• Contaminated request forms must be rewritten and the contaminated form must be
discarded in a plastic waste bag.
• Workers must wash their hands immediately after removing their gloves
 Transport
• To avoid accidental leakage or spillage, special secondary containers (metal or plastic)
should be used during transportation.
• Forms should not be wrapped around the container.
• Specimens sent through the post should be clearly labeled with a biohazard sticker and
sent in a padded envelope or container with double or triple packages.
• Recommendations of the national reference centers should be followed
 Specimen Processing
• Laboratories that receive large numbers of specimens should designate a particular room
or area for this purpose.
• Personnel who receive and unpack specimens should be aware of the potential health
hazards involved and should be trained to adopt universal precautions, particularly when
dealing with broken or leaking containers. Disinfectants should be available.
• Mouth pipetting is strictly forbidden.
• Protective wear must be worn at all times in the laboratory.
• Glass ampoules should be held in a pad of tissue when being opened.
• Non-disposable glassware should be autoclaved before cleaning.
• Wire loops should be completely closed to avoid aerosols.
• Wire loops should not be more than 6 centimeters in length to avoid producing aerosols.
• Petri dishes should not be piled so high that they are liable to fall over or be easily
knocked over.
• Bunsen burners should not be placed inside safety cabinets.
 Handling of Spills
 An effective disinfectant must be applied according to SOP &
 follow the following procedure
 Remove all uncontaminated objects from the immediate vicinity to prevent their
contact with the spilled material.
 Gently pour an appropriate disinfectant around the area where the spills have
occurred to limit the area of contamination.
 Use absorbent material to wipe the disinfectant from the periphery inward toward
the spilled material.
 Wipe the contaminated area again with clean absorbent material soaked in a
disinfectant, and allow the area to dry by evaporation.
 Discard the used absorbent material in a separate plastic bag.
 Wipe nearby objects with absorbent material soaked in a disinfectant if they were
splashed during the spillage.
 Remove and discard the used disposable gloves in the plastic bag.
 Wash hands with disinfectant and rinse with water.
 Medical examination
 All lab personnel are required to under go pre employment medical check up
# The pre employment medical examination and report should include the following
• A full medical history
• Chest X-ray
• Vaccinations
Laboratory workers may require the following vaccinations
• Hepatitis B
• Bacillus Calmette-Guérin( BCG vaccination)
• Typhoid
• Rabies
 Post exposure Prophylaxis

 Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV should generally be given if
 The source of exposure is known to be HIV-infected
 Information indicates that the source of exposure is likely to be HIV-infected
 Status of the source of exposure is not known
*** The recipient of PEP must be HIV-negative.
 The following steps should be taken immediately upon possible exposure to HIV:
Step 1. Treat the exposure site.
A. Wounds and skin sites
• Flush site with running water and wash with soap and water.
• Where there is bleeding, allow the site to bleed freely.
• Do not squeeze
 B. Mucous membrane sites
 Flush with plenty of water.
 STEP 2: Report the incident.
• Laboratory personnel report the incident to supervisor.
• supervisor reports to the infection control officer.
• the supervisor reports to supervising officer on duty.
• Infection control officer records the incident and informs the counselor.
• The exposed individual receives pre-test counseling.
• Soon after injury the exposed individual is tested for HIV serology.
 STEP 3: Provide PEP.
• If therapy is necessary, prophylaxis should be initiated within 2–72 hours.
• Duration of the therapy will depend on drug used.
STEP 4: Ensure that the exposed individual receives counseling.
• The infection control officer in liaison with psychosocial counselors will arrange for tests
to be repeated at six weeks and three months after initial exposure.
SAFE LABORATORY WORK ENVIRONMENT

 The safety of a work environment must take into consideration the following points
1. Laboratory Location
 Laboratories should be sited away from patient, residential and public areas.
 They may be a stand-alone building on a hospital or similar site or
 be a separate building complex for research, and teaching activities as in a

university, medical school or public health laboratory.
2. Laboratory Building
 be designed and constructed according to the national laboratory standard designs
available at each level of care .particularly,
 with regard to fire safety, the provision of resistant structural elements and
adequate means of escape.
 Be available with adequate water supply.
 Other requirements for the laboratory building
• The building should provide protection against bad weather
• All laboratory equipment should be well positioned
• Laboratory furniture should be capable of supporting anticipated loads and uses.
• The surfaces of walls, floors, and ceilings should be water-resistant and easy to clean.
• Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) should be sited away from walk areas and out of
crosscurrents from doors and ventilation systems
Laboratories should have easily accessible specimen reception rooms that should be
separate from the offices.
• Safety signs and symbols should be suitably displayed on entrances as one way of
promoting awareness.
• All exits and escape routes should be clearly marked.
 the internal environment should meet the following criteria
 Extremes of temperature and humidity must be avoided.
 Air-conditioning systems may be required for the building
 Roofing materials should be heat-reflective and have low thermal capacity and
conductivity.
 The building must have adequate lighting.
 The laboratory should be maintained in a clean, orderly, condition.
 The laboratory should have clean and adequate ablution amenities provided
separately for male and female staff.
 3. Staff Facilities
 • The laboratory should provide space for lockable cabinets for personal items for
individual members of staff.
 • The laboratory department should have a staff common room.
4. Storage Facilities
 Storage facilities should be adequate to hold supplies for immediate use
 Long-term storage facilities should be located outside the laboratory working areas.
DECONTAMINATION
 Decontamination is
 the process of rendering
 ineffective infectious, deleterious &
 radioactive materials on work benches , equipment and on any waste, before an

item is reused or disposed of.
Types of decontamination
1. Disinfection
 Is the process of destruction of non spore former pathogenic or potentially
pathogenic MOS by chemical /physical means.
 Treatment with chemical disinfectants is not suitable for all kinds of infectious
waste &
 Should be restricted to reusable pipettes and glassware.
 Disinfection
 Disinfection is the elimination of many / all pathogenic microorganisms, with the

exception of bacterial spores
 There are three levels of disinfection
1. High level disinfection (HLD)
Eliminates bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites but does not reliably
kill all bacterial endospores
The only acceptable alternative to sterilization and can be achieved by

boiling, chemical HLD and steaming
2. Intermediate level disinfection (ILD)
Inactivates vegetative bacteria, Mycobacterium and most fungi and

viruses, but do not necessarily kill spore-forming bacteria
3. Low level disinfection (LLD)
Kills most vegetative bacteria and some enveloped, medium sized viruses and fungi but
not the most resistant microorganisms such as M. tuberculosis
2. Sterilization
 The complete destruction or removal of all microorganisms including spores
 Recommended method for processing instruments and other items that will come in
contact with the bloodstream or tissues under the skin
 Sterilization is an all/or nothing process: either an item is sterile or not
 The efficiency of a sterilization process is often related to the degree of severity of

treatment e.g. length of exposure to heat.
 The effectiveness of any method of sterilization is also dependent upon four other
factors:
 The type of microorganism present
 Some microorganisms are very difficult to kill, others die easily.
 The number of microorganisms present
 It is much easier to kill one organism than many.
 The amount and type of organic material that protects the microorganisms
 Blood or tissue remaining on poorly cleaned instruments acts as a

shield to
 Microorganisms during the sterilization process.
 The number of cracks and crevices on an instrument that might
harbor microorganisms
_Microorganisms collect in, and are protected by, scratches, cracks and crevices
3. Antiseptics
 Chemical agents that are used on the skin and mucous membranes to remove or kill
microorganisms
 Antiseptics should be used only on the skin and mucous membranes
 Antiseptics should never be used on instruments or other items or surfaces
 Antiseptics are indicated for
 Surgical hand scrub
 Skin, cervical, and vaginal preparation before a clinical procedure
 Hand washing in high-risk situations, such as before invasive procedures or

contact with clients at high risk of infections
Decontamination Procedures
 Procedures differ depending on what is to be decontaminated.
 Follow the instructions below to decontaminate
surfaces, equipment, reusable items, and disposable materials
1. Surfaces
 Use 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite to disinfect “clean” surfaces such as bench tops
—
• Soak an appropriate absorbent in working chlorine or hypochlorite solution.
• Wipe the surfaces and leave the disinfectant to act for 10 minutes.
• Rinse in profuse amounts of clean water to remove all traces of the disinfectant.
2. Equipment
1. Disinfect as follows—
• Place instruments in 0.5 percent chlorine solution after use.
• Soak for 10 minutes and rinse immediately.
• Wipe surfaces with chlorine solution.
Use a recommended disinfectant—
o Glutaraldehyde (“Cidex”), 1–2 percent for 1 hour (must be fresh)
o Ethanol, 70 percent for 1 hour
3. Reusable Equipment
 Decontamination procedure of equipment such as centrifuges, cell counters, and
enzyme immunoassay (EIA) equipment, must conform to manufacturer’s
recommendations.
 Equipment such as BSCs can be decontaminated by fumigation using formalin with

potassium permanganate. Use the following procedure—
• Remove all material and equipment from the BSC and from the immediate
environment.
• Ensure that the BSC is switched on.
• Seal all air intakes and exhaust grills in the laboratory by taping large plastic
garbage bags over the grills. Tape around door frames or other openings through
which the formaldehyde vapor may leak.
• Use 25 ml of formalin and 15 g of potassium permanganate for each cubic meter

capacity that has to be decontaminated.
• Place the potassium permanganate crystals in a deep metal container in the BSC.
Pour the formalin over the crystals of potassium permanganate and leave the
laboratory immediately, because the reaction rapidly produces the release of heat
and formaldehyde gas.
• Close and seal the laboratory door.
• Allow the formaldehyde vapor to act overnight or preferably over a weekend with the
BSC switched on.
• At the end of that period, remove the covers from air intakes and exhaust grills as well as
the tape around doors and other openings.
• Allow the room to air out until no more formaldehyde is detectable, then mop all residue
from floors, walls, and benches. If a white powder residue is obvious, remove it by wiping
with 10 percent ammonium hydroxide solution. (Wear gloves.)
• Switch the BSC off and proceed with replacement of filters or repair.
4. Disposable Materials
 To decontaminate used, disposable gloves, use this procedure:
• Immerse both gloved hands in 0.5 percent chlorine solution.
• Remove gloves from hands by turning them inside out. Dispose of the gloves in heavy
duty plastic bags.
5. Reusable Gloves
 To decontaminate reusable gloves, use this procedure:
• Submerge contaminated gloves in 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite solution for 10

minutes.
• Thoroughly rinse in water to remove all traces of the disinfectant.
• Drip dries by hanging
6. Radioactive Spills
 Follow guidelines given by the radiation protection unit for the management of
radioactive spills.
SAFE WASTE DISPOSAL
 Laboratory wastes and contaminated materials represent hazards both to
laboratory staff and to the community.
 uncontrolled dumping of solid, liquid, chemical and biological laboratory waste can
threaten the environment.
 safe disposal of laboratory waste is therefore of prime importance.
### Types of Waste

 Laboratory-generated waste includes
• Sharps
• Chemical waste
• Human anatomical waste
• Blood and body fluids
 Solid waste such as cotton wool
 tissue paper, culture plates with used media, empty blood packs, used test tubes,
 used glass slides, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) tubes.
 Laboratory specimens
 • Equipment effluent
 • Radioactive waste
### Waste Segregation

 Infectious waste should be carefully segregated from other kinds of waste by placing
it in color coded bags, which should be sealed when three-quarters filled.
 The bags should be supported in metal or autoclavable plastic boxes to minimize

damage and retain spillages.
 Bulk (24-hour) urine specimens are a special case. They may be safely disposed of
by directly emptying them into a sluice or pit latrine.
 The recommended way of identifying health care waste categories is by sorting the
waste into color-coded and well-labeled bags or containers
 Treatment before Disposal
 Infected material
 Disposables Re-usable
 Disinfect Autoclave
 Incinerate
 Dump Wash
 ### Units of blood to be discarded should be decontaminated and denatured before

incineration using the following method:
• Raise the temperature in the water bath to 56 oC and allow stabilizing at this
temperature.
• Place the units of blood in a porous metal bucket and place the bucket in the water
bath.
• Allow to heat for 30 minutes.
• Remove units from buckets and place them in autoclavable biohazard plastic bags.
• Take the sealed plastic bags for incineration
### Infectious Waste

 Contaminated and used culture plates and media, used cotton wool, blood specimen
containers, and urine and stool specimen containers should be autoclaved at 121oC
at 15 pounds per square inch for 15 minutes before disposal.
 ### Transportation of Waste Material for Incineration

 • The log book must bear at least the following information—
 o Porter’s name and signature
 o Supervisor’s name and signature
 o Date of collection
 o Source of waste
 o Weight of the waste
 o Signature of recipient officer at the incinerator
 • The porter’s supervisor must make sure the material for incineration is properly
packaged, labeled as BIOHAZARDOUS material, and that the package is leak proof.
 • The porter must wear necessary PPE.
 • The material must be transported as quickly as possible using a route less exposed
to the public.
 Methods of Disposal
1. Incineration
 Incineration provides high temperatures and destroys microorganism.
 Incineration also reduces the bulk size of wastes to be buried.
 Simple incinerators can be built from locally available materials such as bricks,
concrete blocks.
 2. Burial
 • All contaminated wastes must be buried in a rubbish pit and covered with soil to
prevent scattering of the waste materials.
 • Rubbish pits should be at least 4 to 5 meters deep, 1 to 2 meters wide, and

protected to prevent scavenging.
 • Rubbish in pits should be covered regularly with soil to prevent scavenging or

accidental contamination of the environment.
content coverage and topics
Information Sheet-3 Contribute to OHS in the workplace
LO4 Contribute to OHS in the workplace

OHS consultation
OHS consultation is any informal or formal activity that seeks the views of those at the
workplace before OHS decisions are made.
There are a number of ways you can contribute to a safer workplace, which include:
• understanding how OHS consultation and communication should be managed in the workplace
• improving your communication skills
• making sure that you understand the safety rules in your workplace
• making suggestions to keep the workplace safe
• attending OHS meetings
• participating in emergency drills and safety training
• completing safety checklists.
OHS consultation and communication benefits everyone at the workplace, and results in:
• awareness of the need for OHS in the workplace
• staff having the knowledge and skills to meet their ‘Duty of Care’
•better OHS decisions
• better workplace health and safety standards
•better working relationships
• increased morale and job satisfaction.
Examples of common OHS consultation you may find in your workplace are:
• Health and Safety Committee meetings
• OHS as a regular topic at workplace meetings
• actions by safety representatives
• hazard management activities (eg accident/near miss investigations, hazard reporting, and risk
assessments)
•union meetings.
Features of effective and meaningful OHS consultation is that it:
• provides opportunities for everyone at the workplace to be directly involved with OHS
• supports OHS representatives and committees
• provides ongoing feedback to keep people aware of OHS decisions
(eg newsletters or bulletins)
• has issues/dispute resolution plans in place which have been agreed to by staff
• genuinely reflects staff input
• takes into account different needs such as literacy, ethnicity and gender
• encourages staff involvement
• values staff knowledge and experience by involving them in hazard

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TVET PROGRAM TITLE:

Medical Laboratory Assistance

Unit of Competence:- Participate in Laboratory/Field Workplace Safety

Instruction Sheet Learning Guide #

 Laboratory hazards (accidents).

• Mechanical—manual and power-driven equipment, falling objects, access ways and

• Chemical—inhalation, absorption, or ingestion

 Misuse of Bunsen burner it causes

 improper storage of explosive/ flammable

 Improper segregation of combustible chemicals

 Types of hazardous chemicals

 Toxic chemicals include potassium cyanide, mercury and mercury compounds,

 Examples: phenol, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

 Prevention of chemical hazards

 Flammable chemicals should be placed in

 clearly labeled & well ventilated area

 Only minimum of flammable chemicals should be placed in lab

 Never smoke in lab!!!

Safe Storage of Chemicals

Safe use of Chemical Reagents

 Chemical compatibility - Is this reagent known to be incompatible with any other

 Flammability - Is this reagent flammable?

 Volatility - Is this reagent volatile?

 Emergencies - What kinds of emergencies could arise from use/misuse of this

• Flammables should be stored in special fire-resistant cabinets located in an

• Alkaline, oxidizers and carcinogens should be stored separately.

 They should not be stored in fume cup boards.

 Labels tells a lot about a reagent:

 information on how to handle and store the reagent

National Fire Protection Association

 system is based on a diamond composed of four color-coded squares

 each containing an integer ranging between 0 and 4

 reactivity (yellow), and

 Special hazards (white).

 four indicates the reagent poses a severe or potentially life-threatening hazard to

 Handle every reagent with due care

 There are a number of different codes used to identify special hazards.

 ox (oxidant) &ACI (acid)

 ALK (base) & COR (corrosive)and

 a W with a slash through it (water reactive).

Material Safety Data Sheets

 always consult the most recent version available of an MSDS

Basic Format of an MSDS

1. Reagent and Company Identification

 Provides the date on which the MSDS was prepared.

 provides information on the safe exposure limits

3. Identification of Potential Hazards

4. First Aid Measures

5. Fire Fighting Measures

 details the appropriate equipment / measures to take if a fire or explosion takes

6. Accidental Release Measures

7. Reagent Handling and Storage

 Chemical incompatibilities, information about the potential for the formation of

 need for a flammable storage cabinet

8. Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

9. Physical and Chemical Properties

10. Reagent Stability and Reactivity

11. Toxicological Information

 LC50 (lethal concentration 50; concentration of an inhaled volume of air containing