lab safety and proffesional ethics

1. 1
General Laboratory Safety

2. 2
Staying safe means that you…
• Read labels on containers of chemicals
• Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Handle chemicals with care
• Use correct protective clothing and equipment
• Remember emergency procedures

3. 3
Chemical Labels
• Every container of chemicals is labeled by the manufacturer.
• The label will tell you
– Name of chemical
– Name, address and emergency phone number of manufacturer
– Physical and health hazards
– Precautionary measures
– First-aid instructions
– Proper handling/storage instructions

4. 4
Health Hazards on a
Chemical Label
• Carcinogen
• Highly toxic agent
• Toxic agent
• Reproductive hazard
• Irritant
• Corrosive
• Sensitizer
• Hepatotoxin
• Nephrotoxin
• Neurotoxin

5. 5
Typical Precautionary Measures
on a Label
• Do not breathe vapors
• Use in well-ventilated areas
• Keep container closed when not in use
• Avoid contact with skin
• Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling

6. 6
• Keep away from sparks, heat, and flame
• Do not store near combustible materials
• Store in tightly closed container
• Remove and wash contaminated clothing promptly
• Keep from contact with clothing and other combustible materials

7. 7
Common Signal Words
on Labels
• Danger – Can cause immediate serious injury or death
• Warning – Can cause potentially serious injury or death
• Caution – Can cause potentially moderate injury

8. 8
Special Symbols Used on Labels
Helps you recognize kind of hazard a chemical could
present if you are not careful
– Toxicity
– Corrosivity (acids and bases)
– Ignitability (flammable solvents and
certain solids)
– Reactivity (sodium and various water-reactive reagents)

9. 9
Color and Number Coded Label Systems
3
2
4
Colors represent kind of hazard
• Red = fire
• Yellow = instability
• Blue = health
• black = specific hazard
& personal protection
Numbers show degree of hazard
• 0 = Minimal
• 1 = Slight
• 2 = Moderate
• 3 = Serious
• 4 = Severe
NFPA-type label

10. 10
Color and Number Coded
Label Systems
NFPA-type labels
3
2
4
COR
Black = specific hazard
• OX = Oxidizer
• ACID = Acid
• ALK = Alkali
• COR = Corrosive
• W = Use no water
• Other symbols:

11. 11
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Provides more detailed information about a chemical, including
– Composition, information on ingredients (Section 2)
– Hazards identification (Section 3)
– First aid measures (Section 4)
– Accidental Release measures (Section 6)
– Handling and Storage (Section 7)
– Exposure controls, personal protection (Section 8)
– Stability and reactivity (Section 10)
– Toxicological information (Section 11)

12. 12
MSDS (cont’d)
Hazards Identification
– Inhalation: Respiratory tract (lungs) through inhalation
– Ingestion: Digestive tract through eating or smoking with
contaminated hands or in contaminated work areas
– Absorption through the skin or eyes: Dermatitis or damage
to the liver, kidney, or other organ systems
– Injection: Percutaneous injection of a toxic substance
through the skin

13. 13
MSDS (cont’d)
Specific possible health hazards:
– Acute poisoning (rapid assimilation of substance, i.e., carbon monoxide)
– Chronic poisoning (prolonged exposure, i.e., lead poisoning)
– Cumulative poisons (numerous chronic exposures, i.e., heavy metals)
– Substances in combination (synergistic effect, i.e., exposure to alcohol
and chlorinated solvents)

14. 14
MSDS (cont’d)
Potential Health Effects
– Eye irritation
– Nausea
– Dizziness
– Skin rashes
– Headache
– Existing medical conditions possibly aggravated by exposure

15. 15
• Emergency/first-aid procedures to follow
• Accidental Release Measures
 What to do if substance spills and leaks
 How to correctly dispose of substance
 Equipment/procedures for cleaning up
spills and leaks
MSDS (cont’d)

16. 16
MSDS (cont’d)
Handling and Storage
– How to handle and store substance safely
– Any other precautions (i.e., grounding containers during transfer of flammables)

17. 17
MSDS (cont’d)
• Exposure Controls, Personal Protection
 Respirator
 Gloves
 Eye protection
 Protective clothing
 Ventilation
• Special work and hygiene practices that should be followed

18. 18
• Exposure Limits
 Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
 TLV-C
 TLV-STEL
 TLV-TWA
 Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
 Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
MSDS (cont’d)

19. 19
• Toxicological Information
 LC50: median lethal concentration by inhalation in a single exposure over a specified time
period
 LCLO: lowest reported LC50
 LD50: median lethal concentration by a route other than inhalation
MSDS (cont’d)

20. 20
So, what is “highly toxic”?
• “Highly Toxic” is indicated by
– LD50  50 mg/kg body wt by ingestion to albino rats each
weighing between 200 to 300 gms
OR
– LD50  200 mg/kg by continuous contact for 24 hrs with skin
of albino rabbits each weighing between 2 and 3 kg
OR
– LC50  200 ppm of gas or vapor inhalation (or 2 mg/L of mist,
dust, or fumes) for one hour by albino rats each weighing
between 200 to 300 gms

21. 21
How can an MSDS be “Decoded”?
 See the glossary produced by CCOHS
http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/help/msds/msdstermse.html

22. 22
Handle Chemicals with Care
– Dispose of chemicals, broken glass, and other waste in approved containers
– Clean up broken glass and spills immediately
– Keep the lab clean and neat
– Store incompatible chemicals in separate storage areas

23. 23
Chemical Storage
• Labs have established separate storage areas for
 Flammable and combustible organic liquids and solvents
 Acids
 Dry poisons, salts, and oxidizers
 Bases
• Chemicals are stored in
 Chemical storage cabinets
 Flammable storage refrigerators (No food)
 Chemical storage refrigerators/freezers (No food)
 On shelves with retaining barriers

24. 24
Storage Fundamentals
• Identify incompatible chemicals – check the Material Safety
Data Sheet
• Isolate and separate incompatible materials
 Isolate by storing in another area or room
 Degree of isolation depends on quantities, chemical properties
and packaging
 Separate by storing in same area or room, but apart from each
other

25. 25
Storage of Flammable and
Combustible Liquids
• Storage must not limit the use of exits,
stairways, or areas normally used for
the safe regress of people
• Storage must be in:
 closed metal containers inside a storage cabinet, or
 safety cans, or
 an inside storage room Inside storage room

26. 26
Storage Cabinets
• Not more than 60 gal of Class I and/or
Class II liquids, or not more than 120
gal of Class III liquids permitted in a
cabinet
• Must be conspicuously labeled,
“Flammable - Keep Fire Away”
 Doors on metal cabinets must have a
three-point lock (top, side, and bottom),
and the door sill must be raised at least
2 inches above the bottom of the
cabinet

27. 27
Use correct protective clothing and equipment
• Eye Protection
 Safety glasses – flying particles, chemical splashes, dust
 Splash goggles – corrosive liquids, solvents, powders
 Face Shields – high pressure systems
• Respiratory Protection – normally not needed at LUC
• Skin and Body Protection
 Gloves – see the MSDS
 Aprons and lab coats – strong acids and bases
 Shoes – always worn in lab, closed toe and closed heel
• Hearing Protection – normally not needed at LUC

28. 28
Do not
– Use damaged glassware
– Store chemicals near heat, sunlight, or other substances
with which they might react
– Store materials on floors or other places where people
could trip over them
– Leave equipment unattended when its operating (unless it
is designed to do so or you have an SOP)
– Put custodians and fellow workers in danger

29. 29
If Overexposed to a Hazardous
Substance
• Get medical help immediately!
• Inform your lab supervisor
• Check MSDS for first-aid instructions.
• Some general guidelines are
• Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes
• Ingestion: Follow label and MSDS instructions
• Skin Contact: Stand under emergency shower and remove
contaminated clothing immediately
• Inhalation: Get to fresh air and get prompt medical attention

30. 30
Other Emergency Procedures
Fire: call 911, activate building fire alarm; safely use fire
extinguisher on small fires
Hazardous Chemical spill (over 1 pint): evacuate the room; close
door; call 911; consider evacuation of building

31. 31
Emergencies can happen, so
• Avoid working alone in the lab
• Know where emergency phone numbers are posted
• Review MSDS
• Know where to go and what to do in an emergency
• Know the location of the closest safety showers,
eyewashes, and fire extinguishers

32. 32
Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP)
Outlines specific work practices for all work
involving hazardous substances in the lab
• Gives procedures to follow when working
with hazardous chemicals
• Provides details on how your chemical exposure will be
monitored and limited
• Assures that you have the right personal protective
equipment (PPE)
• Specifies that some hazardous tasks to be approved in
advance by the PI

33. CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT

34. 7.0. Medical Laboratory code of
conduct
Ethics are standards of right behavior and moral
principles. A code of ethics is critical to
safeguard the patient ad the laboratory worker. The
Medical and Allied Professions Act
2001, including the Code of Professional Conduct ,
Medical Ethics, Zambia’s Code of Ethics
for Paramedical Professions, as well as the Medical
Council of Zambia all provide general
guidelines on medical ethics for laboratory personnel. 34

35. 7.0. Medical Laboratory code of
conduct continued.
Laboratory personnel are obliged to follow the Code of
professional Conduct, which helps to
remind laboratory staff of their responsibilities to
patients, their duty to uphold standards, and
their need to work with complete integrity.
35

36. Medical laboratory code of conduct
cont’d
Purpose of medical laboratory code of ethics:
 To inform the public about the minimum standards of
profession and to help them understand professional
medical laboratory conduct
 To provide a sign of the profession’s commitments to
the public it serves
 To outline the major ethical considerations of the
profession
 To provide general guidelines for professional
36

37. Medical Laboratory code of conduct
cont’d
 To guide the profession in self regulation
 To remind medical laboratory professionals on the
special responsibility they assume when they perform
their duties.
37

38. Medical Laboratory code of conduct
Medical laboratory personnel shall—
• Be dedicated to the use of clinical laboratory science
to benefit humankind irrespective of
nationality, race, creed, social status, infirmity, or nature
of health problems
• Exercise professional judgment, skill, and care and
recognize their limitations while
meeting established standards
• Provide expertise to advise and counsel other health
38

39.  Strive to improve their professional skills and
knowledge and adopt scientific advances
that benefit patients and improve the delivery of
test results.
• Uphold and maintain the dignity and respect of
our profession and strive to maintain a
reputation of honesty, integrity, and reliability
• Promote health care and the prevention and
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Medical Laboratory code of conduct
continued