CCHM 321 – CLINICAL CHEMISTRY 1

Lesson 1: Laboratory Safety and Regulations

LABORATORY SESSION

SAFETY AWARENESS FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY Universal Precaution

PERSONNEL  Instituted by CDC in 1987
 The employer and the employee share safety  All patients are considered to be possible carrier of
responsibility. The employer has the ultimate bloodborne pathogens
responsibility for safety and delegates authority for  All human blood, tissue and most fluids are treated as
safe operations to supervisors. if known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other blood
 Safety management in the laboratory should start with borne pathogens
a written safety policy. Laboratory supervisors, who  Standard Precaution:
reflect the attitudes of management toward safety, o All blood samples are potential source of
are essential members of the safety program. harmful microorganisms

Employee's Responsibilities Employer's Responsibilities Hazard Communication

 Know and comply with  Establish laboratory work
 AKA “OSHA HazCom Standard”
the established methods and safety
laboratory work safety policies  Intended to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals
methods used in the workplace have been evaluated and that
 Have a positive attitude  Provide supervision and this hazard information is successfully transmitted to
toward supervisors, co- guidance to employees employers and their employees who use the
workers, facilities, and substances.
safety training  Use of Material safety Data Sheets (MSDS), where the
 Give prompt notification  Provide safety information about chemicals are listed
of unsafe conditions or information, training,
practices to the personal protective Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
immediate supervisor equipment, and medical
and ensure that un- safe surveillance to  AKA “OSHA Lab Standard”
conditions and practices employees  Intended to address the shortcomings of the Hazard
are corrected Communication Standard regarding its application
 Engage in the conduct  Provide and maintain peculiar to the handling of hazardous chemicals in
of safe work practices equipment and laboratories.
and use of personal laboratory facilities that  Requires the appointment of a chemical hygiene
protective equipment are adequate for the
officer and the development of a chemical hygiene
tasks required
plan to reduce eliminate occupational exposure to
hazardous chemicals
REGULATIONS
 OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Safety Equipment
Administration  Safety showers
 Bloodborne Pathogens o 30-50 gallons of water per minutes at 20-
 Universal Precaution 50 pounds per square inch (psi)
 Hazard Communication  Eyewash stations
 Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals  Fire extinguishers
 Standard Precautions of 1966 by CDC  Blankets
 Body Substance Isolation Guidelines  Spill kits
 First aid supply
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
 Public law 91-596 (OSHA Act) TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS
 Enacted during 1970 by the US Congress Types of Safety Hazards
 Their goal is to provide all employees with a safe work Type Source Possible Injury
environment. Biological Infectious agents Bacterial, fungal, viral, or
parasitic infections
 Authorized to conduct on-site-inspection to determine
Sharps Needles, lancets, Cuts, punctures, or blood-
whether an employer is complying with the broken glass borne pathogen exposure
mandatory standards. Chemical Preservatives and Exposure to toxic,
reagents carcinogenic, or caustic
Bloodborne Pathogens agents
Radioactive Equipment and Radiation exposure
 OSHA bloodborne Pathogen Compliance Directive, radioisotopes
published November 5, 1999. Electrical Ungrounded or wet Burns or shock
equipment; frayed
 Applies to exposure to all blood or other potentially
cords
infectious materials in any occupational setting Fire/explosive Bunsen burners, organic Burns or dismemberment
 Establishes the responsibilities of personnel service firms chemicals
to provide hepatitis B vaccinations, post-exposure Physical Wet floors, heavy boxes, Falls, sprains, or strains
patients
evaluation and follow-up and record keeping on their
employees.

1st SEMESTER | A.Y. 2023-2024 | CCHM

 Lesson 1
Biological Hazard
 health care setting as a source of abundant potential
pathogen or harmful microorganisms
 ROT - in breaking the chain of infection
 susceptible – infected host in continuing infection
cycle

Handwashing
 Hand contact is the primary method of infection
transmission. Laboratory personnel must always wash
hands after gloves are removed, prior to leaving the
work area, at any time when hands have been
 Biohazard symbol is composed of three circles that knowingly contaminated, before going to designated
represents the continuous link between source, mode break areas, and before and after using bathroom
of transmission, and the susceptible host. facilities
 Source
o Location of potentially harmful Sharp Hazard
microorganisms  Includes needles, lancets, and broken glassware
o These are the clinical specimens from an  Must be disposed in puncture–resistant containers
infected patient  Use mechanical device to pick-up sharps
 Mode of Transmission
o Direct Chemical Hazard
o Droplet  Chemical spills
o Airborne  Chemical handling
o Vehicle  Chemical hygiene plan as required by OSHA
o Vector  Chemical Labelling
o Ingestion  MSDS
 Susceptible Host o Physical and chemical characteristics
o Will become the new source that could o Fire and explosion potential
transmit the microorganism to another person o Reactivity potential
 Proper handwashing is the way to break the chain of o Health hazards & Emergency first aid
infection, and the father of handwashing/hand procedures
hygiene is Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis o Methods for safe handling and disposal
 If chemical spill had skin contact, best first aid is to flush
the affected area with running water for at least
15mins. Then seek for medical attention.
 Chemicals should never be mixed together, unless
instructed.
 When mixing acid and water, remember that the
proper way should be acid added to water to avoid
the possibility of sudden splashing caused by the rapid
 Diluted household bleach is very powerful as it can kill
generation of heat in some chemical reactions.
HIV in 2mins and HBV in 5mins
Signage and labelling Hazards-Identification System
Chemical Fume Hoods and Biosafety Hoods
 Developed by National Fire Protection Association
Fume Hoods
(NFPA)
 Used when chemical reagents may produce  Diamond shaped, color coded symbol (You Were Born
hazardous fume to become RMT)
 Usually found in chemistry laboratory o Yellow  reactivity
 Protects the user o White  specific hazards
Biologic Hoods o Blue  health
o Red  flammability
 Also called as biosafety cabinets (BSC)
 Show magnitude of severity from 0-4
 Protects both the user and the environment
 Found usually on the door, cabinet, and containers of
 Remove particles that may infect the person working
chemicals
with the biologically infected specimen
 It has HEPA filter or the High-Efficiency Particulate Air
filter

1st SEMESTER | A.Y. 2023-2024 | CCHM

 Lesson 1

Radioactive Hazard
 Radioactivity is encountered in the clinical laboratory
when procedures using radioisotopes are performed.
 Radioactivity present in the clinical laboratory is very
small
o Time
o Distance
o Shielding
 Effects when exposed frequently are cumulative
 Radtechs has a measuring device that will determine
how much radiation they are accumulating

ELECTRICAL HAZARD
Actions to Take if Electrical Shock Occurs: Types Of Fire And Fire Extinguisher
 Shut off the source of electricity. Fire Type of Type of Composition of FIre
 If the source of electricity cannot be shut off, use Type hazard Extinguisher Extinguisher
non-conducting material (e.g., hand inside a glass A Wood Class A Water
beaker) to remove the source of electricity from Paper
Clothing
the victim.
B Flammable Class B Dry chemical (ABC)
 Call for medical assistance.
organic Carbon dioxide (BC)
 Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation if indicated. chemicals Halon foam
 Keep the victim warm. C Electrical Class C Dry chemical (ABC)
equipment Carbon dioxide (BC)
Fire/Explosive Hazard Halon
 Fire is a chemical reaction that involves the rapid D combustible None Sand or dry powder
oxidation of combustible material or fuel, with the metals Class ABC Dry Chemicals
subsequent liberation of heat and light. E Arsenal fires Allowed to burn out
K Grease Class K Liquid designed to
 The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Oil prevent splashing & cool
Organizations (JCAHO) requires all healthcare Fats the fire
institutions to have a post-evacuation routes and
detailed plans to follow in the event of fire
Physical Hazard
Elements Essential to Begin Fire
 Physical hazards are not unique to the laboratory, and
 Fuel
routine precautions observed outside the workplace
 Heat / ignition source
apply.
 Oxygen
 Reaction chain – burning continues and even
GENERAL LABORATORY RULES
accelerates
 Never eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in the
laboratory. Never put pencils or pens in the mouth.
 Never place food or beverages in a refrigerator
used for storing reagents or specimens.
 Never apply cosmetics, handle contact lenses, or
rub eyes in the laboratory.
 Never wear long chains, large or dangling
earrings, or loose bracelets.
 Always wear a fully buttoned lab coat when
engaged in lab activities. Never wear a lab coat
to lunch, on break, or when leaving the lab to go

1st SEMESTER | A.Y. 2023-2024 | CCHM

 Lesson 1
home. Never wear personal protective
equipment outside the designated area for its use.
 Always tie back hair that is longer than shoulder
length.
 Always keep finger nails short and well-manicured.
Do not wear nail polish or artificial nails. Never bite
nails or cuticles.
 Always wear a face shield when performing
specimen processing or any activity that might
generate a splash or aerosol of bodily fluids.
 Always wear gloves for phlebotomy procedures
and when processing specimens

1st SEMESTER | A.Y. 2023-2024 | CCHM