AUBF INTRO (1).pdf
- 1. Safety in the Clinical Laboratory PREPARED BY: LGG,RMT ANALYSIS OF URINE AND OTHER BODY FLUIDS
- 2. LABORATORY STANDARDS ● CLSI (Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute) - Formerly NCCLS - Publishes national and international standard documents on a variety of laboratory testing procedures and policies for guidance on achieving better testing outcomes. QUALITY ASSESSMENT ❏ Variables Affecting the Quality of Laboratory Testing
- 3. LABORATORY STANDARDS QUALITY ASSESSMENT ❏ Establishing a Quality Assessment Program o effective communication ● adherence to established policies ● accurate and thorough documentation practices ● use of delta checks ● timely verbal reporting of all critical values ❏ Performing Quality Control Tests ❏ Quality Control ● A set of procedures and practices to monitor the testing process and verify the reliability, accuracy, and precision of the test. ● You must monitor each test with standards and controls (at least two levels) ● New tests must be validated
- 4. LABORATORY STANDARDS QUALITY ASSESSMENT ❏ Participating in Proficiency Testing ● External proficiency testing is mandated by CLIA ‘88 ● Unknowns from CAP or other approved lab ● Internal proficiency testing is also helpful for quality ● Establishing a Quality Assessment Program Ensures SAFETY IN THE CLINICAL LABORATORY ● OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - Worker safety issues ● CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Implements public health regulations, monitors reportable diseases and trends, categorizes lab tests
- 5. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS 1. BIOHAZARDS - biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or samples of a microorganism, viruses, or toxins (from a biological source) that can affect human health. a. Chain of infection - Source - Mode of Transmission - Susceptible Host b. Proper Handwashing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS: 1. All patients considered as possible carriers of bloodborne pathogens. 2. Recommends wearing of gloves, face shields, proper disposal of sharps. 3. EXCLUDED: urine & body fluids not visibly contaminated with blood
- 6. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS BODY SUBSTANCE ISOLATION: 1. Modification from Universal Precaution. 2. Not limited to bloodborne pathogens 3. Personnel at all times should wear gloves 4. MAJOR DISADVANTAGE: does not recommend hand washing after removal of gloves unless visual contamination is present. STANDARD PRECAUTION PATIENT-CARE EQUIPMENT HANDWASHING LINENS ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL GLOVES MASK, EYE PROTECTION & FACE SHIELD PATIENT PLACEMENT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS GOWN
- 7. Personal Protective Equipment 1. Gloves 2. Fluid-resistant gowns 3. Eye and Face shields 4. Centrifuge using capped tubes or cover centrifuge when using 5. Special precautions to specimen submitted via suspicious containers Handwashing - Hand contact as number one method of infection transmission Disposal of Biological Waste 1. Incineration - is the high-temperature burning (rapid oxidation) of a waste. It is also known as controlled–flame combustion or calcination and is a technology that destroys organic constituents in waste materials. 2. Autoclaving - 15 minutes in 121⁰c 15 psi 3. Pick-up by certified hazardous waste company
- 8. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS 2. SHARP HAZARDS - Discard sharps in puncture resistant containers located within work area. 3. CHEMICAL HAZARDS Chemical Spills ● Flush area with large amount of water ● Contaminated clothing should be removed immediately ● Do not neutralize chemicals Chemical Handling ● Never mixed chemicals unless specified ● Wear goggles when preparing reagents ● Do not pipette by mouth
- 9. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS Chemical Hygiene Plan OSHA also requires all facilities that use hazardous chemicals to have a written chemical hygiene plan (CHP) available to employees. The purpose of the plan is to detail the following: 1. Appropriate work practices 2. Standard operating procedures 3. PPE 4. Engineering controls, such as fume hoods and flammables safety cabinets 5. Employee training requirements 6. Medical consultation guidelines Chemical Labeling ● Poisonous ● Corrosive ● Carcinogenic
- 10. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS Material Data Safety Sheets - By law, vendors are required to provide these sheets to purchasers; - Information contained in an MSDS includes the following: 1. Physical and chemical characteristics 2. Fire and explosion potential 3. Reactivity potential 4. Health hazards and emergency first aid procedures 5. Methods for safe handling and disposal 4. RADIOACTIVE HAZARDS ❏ Effects of radiation is cumulative ❏ Degree of exposure related to: ● Time ● Distance ● Shielding ❏ Wear measuring device to detect amount of accumulated radiation ❏ Post radioactive symbols on doors if so.
- 11. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS 5. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS ❏ Continually observe for frayed cords and overloaded circuits ❏ Avoid unplugging equipments with wet hands or while cleaning. ❏ Remove source of electricity if electrical shocks are encountered or avoid transfer of the current 6. FIRE/EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS ❏ Store flammable chemicals properly ❏ Compressed gas should be located away from heat ❏ Fire blankets must be present in the lab ❏ If person’s clothes are burning, wrap in blanket to smother the flames.
- 12. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS 7. FIRE/EXPLOSIVE HAZARDS ❏ Store flammable chemicals properly ❏ Compressed gas should be located away from heat ❏ Fire blankets must be present in the lab ❏ If person’s clothes are burning, wrap in blanket to smother the flames - The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires that all health-care institutions post evacuation routes and detailed plans to follow in the event of a fire. - When a fire is discovered, all employees are expected to take the actions in the acronym RACE: ● Rescue—rescue anyone in immediate danger ● Alarm—activate the institutional fire alarm system ● Contain—close all doors to potentially affected areas ● Extinguish—attempt to extinguish the fire, if possible; ● exit the area
- 13. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS - The NFPA classifies fires with regard to the type of burning material - It also classifies the type of fire extinguisher that is used to control them. - The multipurpose ABC fire extinguishers are the most common. - It is important to be able to operate the fire extinguishers. The acronym PASS can be used to remember the steps in the operation: 1. Pull pin 2. Aim at the base of the fire 3. Squeeze handles 4. Sweep nozzle side to side.
- 14. TYPES OF SAFETY HAZARDS 8. PHYSICAL HAZARDS ❏ Avoid running in rooms and hallways ❏ Watch for wet floors ❏ Bend knees when lifting heavy objects ❏ Keep long hair pulled back ❏ Avoid dangling jewelry ❏ Maintain clean and organized work area ❏ Wear closed toe-shoes
- 15. THANK YOU