Safe
Laboratory
practices
Dr. Sabyasachi Sarkar
MBBS, MD
Hazards in the Laboratory
Major categories of hazards
Biological
Chemical
Electrical
Fire hazards
Identification of hazards
• United Nation has classified 9 types of
hazardous material in clinical laboratory
1. Explosives
2. Compressed gas
3. Flammable liquids
4. Flammable solids
5. Oxidizer materials
6. Toxic materials
7. Radioactive materials
8. Corrosive materials
9. Miscellaneous materials
Identification of hazards
Appropriate hazard warning
may be given using:
• Words
• Pictures
• Symbols
• Combination of all above
Identification of hazards
Biological Hazards
Biological Hazards-Examples
Human blood Items that have been affected by blood and other
and blood body fluids or tissues that contain visible blood.
products
Animal waste Animal carcasses and body parts, any bedding
material used by animals that are known to be
infected with pathogenic organisms
Human body Semen, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, vaginal
fluids. secretions, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva,
and peritoneal fluid.
Microbiologica Specimen cultures, disposable culture dishes,
l wastes. discarded viruses, devices used to transfer or mix
cultures.
Pathological Unfixed human tissue, waste biopsy materials,
waste. anatomical parts from medical procedures or
autopsies
Sharps waste Needles, glass slides and cover slips, scalpels, and IV
tubing that has the needle attached.
Biological Hazards-Safety levels
Level Definition Example
Biohazard Level 1 Agents that pose minimal E. coli,
threat to humans and the Bacillus
environment subtilis,
Naegleria
gruberi.
Biohazard Level 2 Agents that can cause HIV,
severe illness in humans hepatitis B,
and are transmitted salmonella
through direct contact
with infected material
Biohazard Level 3 Pathogens that can Tuberculosis
become airborne and Coxiella
cause serious diseases burnetii.
Biohazard Level 4 Pathogens that pose a high Ebola virus
risk of life-threatening Lassa virus.
disease for which there are
no treatments.
Biological Hazards-How exposure
happens?
• Accidental puncture with needles
• Spraying of infectious materials by
a syringe
• Spilling or splattering of infectious
material on benchtop or floor
• Centrifuge accidents
• Cuts or scratched from
contaminated vessels or glassware
Biological hazards-How to prevent exposure
Use Barrier protection • Use Gloves, Masks, protective eye
ware, gowns while handling
potentially infectious sample
• Change gloves between handling two
samples or two patients
• Use face shield when there is
significant chance of splattering of
sample
• While leaving the lab remove
protective clothing
Hand washing etiquette • Encourage frequent hand washing in
laboratory
• Wash hands whenever gloves are
changed.
• Keep your hand from mouth, nose
and other mucous membrane
Biological hazards-How to prevent
exposure
Careful & proper pipetting • No Mouth pipetting
• Don’t blow out pipette
containing infectious material
• Do not mix potentially
infectious material by bubbling
air through it
Handle sharps carefully • Avoid using syringe whenever
possible
• Dispose all sharps carefully in
puncture proof containers
Biological Hazards-How to prevent
exposure?
Careful • Inspect tubes for cracks
centrifugation • Inspect inside of trunnion cap for signs of
erosions
• Be sure that rubber cushions are free of
glass pieces
• Balance centrifuge properly
Practice cleanliness • Decontaminate all surface and reusables
with appropriate cleaning agent
• Periodically clean out refrigerators
• Minimize splatters and spills
• Segregate laboratory waste at source and
dispose in colour coded biohazard packets
Chemical Hazards
Chemical Hazards-UN Classification
Class-1 Explosives
Class-2 Compressed gases
Class-3 Flammable liquids
Class-4 Flammable solids
Class-5 Oxidizer material
Class-6 Toxic materials
Class-7 Radioactive material
Class-8 Corrosive material
Class-9 Miscellaneous material not elsewhere
classified
Chemical Hazards-How to prevent
exposure/accident
• All bottles containing reagents must be labeled.
Proper • Bottles of chemicals should be held by its body with
Handling of one or both hands depending on the size of the bottle.
containers Should not be held by the neck
• Glass containers with chemicals are to be transported
in rubber or plastic containers to prevent breakage.
• Cart should be used to transport heavy bottles from
one place to another.
Chemical Hazards-How to prevent
exposure/accident
• Acid should be diluted adding them slowly to
water. Never add water to concentrated acid.
Careful • Wear safety glasses while working with strong
handling of acid or alkali
strong acids
or alkali • Acid and other caustic materials should be mixed
in sink to provide water for cooling
• Use automatic dispenser .No mouth pipetting
• Always transport cylinders using a hand truck to
which the cylinder is secured.
Careful • Leave the valve cap on the cylinder until its ready
handling of to use.
compressed • Chain the cylinders when empty.
gases • Always check the composition of the contents of
the cylinder before connecting.
Chemical Hazards-How to prevent
exposure/accident
• Volatile organic solvents in a clinical
laboratory represents a potential fire
hazard/toxicity from inhalation of
fumes.
• They should be used under a fume
hood.
Careful handling of
volatile liquids • They should be stored in a metal
storage cabinet that is properly
vented.
• The maximum permissible working
volume is 5 gallons per room outside
the metal cabinet.
Electrical Hazards
Electrical Hazards-How to prevent?
• Worn wires in any equipment must
be changed immediately
Maintenance of proper • All equipment should be grounded
electric connections with a three prong plug.
and wires
• Use of extension cord is prohibited.
• Do not touch any electrical
instruments with wet hands.
Careful handling of • Do not touch any equipment with
electrical equipment. liquid spill on it.
• After use always switch off the
instrument and pull out the plug.
Fire Hazards
Fire Hazards-Classification and
extinguisher
General Laboratory Work Practices
-General Rules of Safety
1. Non standard activities such as running,
jumping, in laboratory areas are prohibited.
2. Do not work alone in a laboratory or a
chemical storage area undertaking task that is
considered hazardous by the laboratory .
3. All Spills of liquid although in quantity must be
General cleaned instantly to avoid contact with skin or
Rules of clothing.
Safety 4. Lifting of weighty things must be carrying out
in the correct manner.
5. Every one must ensure the laboratory is clean
after work is completed.
General Laboratory Work
Practices –Personal hygiene
1. Do not drink, eat, or apply cosmetics in the
laboratory or chemical storage areas.
2. Never use ice from laboratory ice machines for
beverages.
3. Proper foot protection shoes to be worn by
laboratory personnel.
4. Proper clothing which offers protection from
splashes and spills, & easily removable in case of
Persona accident and fire resistant should be worn in the
l laboratory.
hygiene 5. Laboratory clothing should always be kept clean
and to be replaced as and when required.
6. Lab coats, respirators, or other protective gear are
not to be worn outside the laboratory and must be
left in the lab areas when not in use.
7. "Sniff-testing" of chemicals should not be done.
8. Always use a bulb to pipette chemicals
General Laboratory Work Practices –Glassware Handling
1. Only glass in good condition should be used so as
to avoid injury in laboratories.
2. Hand protection should be used when picking up
broken glass.
3. When using glass tubing, all ends should be fire
Glassware polished.
Handling
4. Lubricate tubing with glycerin or water before
inserting into rubber stoppers or rubber tubing.
5. Use leather gloves to protect hand when inserting
glass tubing.
6. Do not store glassware near the edge of shelves.
7. Do not attempt to catch glassware if it is dropped
or knocked over
Thank you
Your Questions and quarries are always
welcome
9593879238
drssarkar1987@[Link]
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