LABORATORY SAFETY

HAZARDS OF THE WORKPLACE: A MATTER OF ATTITUDE

The hazards found in the workplace are no different from those of everyday life just more concentrated in their potential to cause harm. All of the dangers and risks life in general are present where we work and as we perform our tasks and duties. The point is, we must be constantly aware of the safety elements around us, take the steps that are conducive to a safe working environment, and ensure that the measures necessary to protect ourselves from any threats to our well-being are in place. oth the individual and the organization must accept responsibility for workplace safety. The Role of the Indi id!"l The individual must ultimately assume responsibility for his or her health safety. !ndividuals who do not follow the rules or who use the e"uipment improperly suffer injury. #veryone has a responsibility to ensure that the workplace is free of danger as possible and that the workers are effectively protected. The Role of the E#$lo%e& The employer is obligated both morally and legally to see that employees have the training, support, e"uipment, workload, resources, environment, and oversight necessary to perform in a safe and secure manner. oth workers and employees must be committed to enforcing workplace safety. $orkers must recognize that safety rules and procedures are meant for their own protection, and the employer should make the work environment as conducive to compliance as possible. H"'"&d( in the Wo&)$l"*e %ost of the hazards found in the laboratory are common to all work sites& fire hazards, faulty electrical e"uipment, poor ventilation, blocked entrances and e'its and hazardous clutter. (aboratory workers must also deal with chemicals, compressed gas, infectious material, to'ic waste, and potentially dangerous machinery. (aboratory workers are particularly vulnerable to pathogens in blood and body fluids.

St&!*t!&"l Re+!i&e#ent(
The very first place in which safety factors should be considered is in design and layout of the building and laboratory. #rrors made at this stage of the management plan can be e'tremely costly to correct. These structural safety rules involve building materials, storm damage control, fire prevention and fire fighting systems.

The laboratory should be designed to minimize any e'posure to hazardous material through its work-flow processes. !ssues to be addressed through the floor plan layout and workplace design include& The separation of nontesting functions from areas containing hazardous materials. The delivery and storage of potentially hazardous chemicals. The processing of specimen. The ventilation back-up plan. The location, ease of use, and rapid availability of any special safety e"uipment.

Fi&e P&e ention )ire *revention *lans

)ire three ingredients& an ignition source, o'ygen, and fuel. The main fire prevention strategies include keeping flammable substances in separate rooms and storage cabinets.

+andling of )lammable ,ubstances The most obvious method for preventing fire is to control the union of fuel and ignition sources.

Fi&e,Fi-htin- St&"te-ie(
-./,T01-T!./- the structure of a building, the materials used for construction, the layout plan for entrances and e'its, and the storage of flammable materials are major deterrents to a fire. uilding codes generally re"uire a fire resistance rating of at least 2 hrs. for walls around high risk areas. )!0#-)!3+T!/3 #41!*%#/T- construction of the building re"uired fire-resistant building materials, automatic sprinklers, self-closing doors, and fire hydrants. .ther re"uired fire-fighting an protective e"uipment are fire e'tinguishers, fire blankets, and bulk material.

T%$e( of fi&e "nd e.tin-!i(he&(:

T0A!/!/3 A/5 *0A-T!-#- orientation and in-service training should cover all aspects
of the fire plan, with individual hands-on training in the use of fire e'tinguishers, fire blankets, emergency eyewash and shower stations, and fire isolation techni"ues. )re"uent and comprehensive drills in identifying fires, sounding the alarm, fighting fires, and evacuating according to emergency plans, with training in assisting patients and injured co-workers, should be conducted.

Ele*t&i*"l S"fet%
Two major hazards in the laboratory& 678 physical harm from shocks or burns when a person comes into contact with an electrical source and 628 dangers from fire caused by heat and sparks generated by malfunctioning wiring or e"uipment.

-hemical ,afety 0ight-to-9now 0egulations

O**!$"tion"l S"fet% "nd He"lth Ad#ini(t&"tion /OSHA0 was charged with protecting workers: health and well-being in the workplace, particularly in providing guidance and regulations concerning chemicals and infectious materials.

Che#i*"l H"'"&d(: He"lth H"'"&d, carcinogens, to'ic or highly to'ic agents, reproductive
to'ins, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers, hepatoto'ins, nephroto'ins, neuroto'ins, agents that act on the hematopoietic system, and agents that damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Ph%(i*"l H"'"&d, combustible li"uid, a compressed gas, e'plosive,

flammable, an organic pero'ide, an o'idizer, pyrophoric, unstable 6reactive8, or water-reactive.

M"te&i"l S"fet% D"t" Sheet(, A document detailing safety information about each
hazardous substance must be available to employees at all times in an obvious and easily accessible location. The common format for the preparation of an %,5, lists each safety topic in separate sections, beginning with the product name, the manufacturer, important phone numbers to call for emergency information, the effective and review dates, and the signature of the person preparing the sheets.

Ph%(i*"l "nd He"lth H"'"&d(

A-3!+ 6American -onference of 3overnmental !ndustrial +ygienists8 and #! 6 iological e'posure !nde'es8 are particularly important for setting safety levels for e'posure to possible carcinogens, such as formaldehyde and 'ylene. The /)*A:s system is the most widely used method for labelling potential hazards of chemicals and reagents.

1FPA LABELLI12 SYSTEM

5anger rating key& ; < none 7 < minor 2 < moderate = < severe > < e'treme

+%!, 6+azardous material identification system8 rating of the /ational *aint and -oating Association commonly used for industrial compounds is similar to the /)*A. !t adds a **# code, ranging A to 9.

Th&ee $oint( th"t (ho!ld 3e #onito&ed to en(!&e " ("fe 4o&) en i&on#ent:
Time-weighted average 6T$A8 - level of e'posure a worker may e'perience during a normal ? hr. workday or a >;-hr. week. ,hort-term e'posure limits 6,T#(8 - the ma'imum concentration level a person may be e'posed to for a short period. -eiling 6-8 the level above which is no e'posure permitted at any time in areas where hazardous chemicals are used.

P&ote*ti e Me"(!&e( )our groups of *rotective %easures&

,tructural or building layout- the area where the chemical is handled is crucial to the safety of the worker. *rotective barriers- the availability and use of glass or plastic shields, chemical hoods, and even walls to prevent e'posure to a danger. *ersonal protection articles- necessary to eliminate any remaining hazards. #yeglasses, face masks, gloves, aprons, full protective suits, or self-contained breathing respirators may be appropriate. #mergency and first-aid supplies- should be standard in any area that contains potentially hazardous substances, along with easy-to-read instructons.

W"(te Di($o("l *rinciple for disposal&

5o not purchase or allow into your laboratory any substance for which a practical waste treatment and disposal option is not available.

Othe& S"fet% Con*e&n(

 #mployees should receive training in the proper body mechanics and availability of lifting apparatuses to avoid injuries. The safe operation of machinery and e"uipment is crucial. -ompressed gas may pose a threat if tanks are not securely anchored during used of storage. 0adioactive material re"uires special training, monitoring, and safety e"uipment if used in "uantities above the levels established by the government agencies, specifically the re"uirements set by the nuclear regulatory commission 6/0-8.