This document provides information on laboratory safety regulations, equipment, and procedures for dealing with common accidents and emergencies in the lab. It outlines the goals of laboratory safety to minimize risks through training and proper equipment. Federal regulations mandate specific safety programs. Basic safety guidelines include using certified equipment, regular decontamination, and disposable plasticware. Proper laboratory design supports safety with adequate space, cleanliness, flooring, and ventilation. Signage and labels communicate hazards. Required safety equipment includes biosafety cabinets, PPE, first aid kits, spill kits, fire extinguishers, and eye washes. Proper procedures are outlined for dealing with spills, injuries, burns, poisoning, and needlestick incidents to ensure

1. shaibana
ACCIDENT SAFETY
AND IMMEDIATE TREATMENT

2. • Goal of laboratory safety is to minimize the risk of
injury and illness to laboratory workers by
ensuring they have the training, information,
support and equipment needed.

3. LABORATORY SAFETYAND
REGULATIONS
• Federal occupational safety and health act in 1970
• Health and safety at work act in 1974
• Occupational safety and health administrator
(OSHA) has mandated 3 programs to ensure
safety of laboratory and health care personnel

4. • 1)deals with occupational exposure to chemical
hazards-Jan 1991
• 2)deals with occupational exposure to blood borne
pathogensMar 1992
• 3)concerned with use of safer needle device-April
2001

5. BASIC LAB SAFETY
• Use only certified safe equipment in the laboratory.
• Decontaminate all the equipment regularly and
before their serving or maintenance, use
appropriate disinfectants correctly.

6. • As far as possible , use disposable plastic ware to
avoid contamination( chemical , biological etc)
and breakages with ensuing dangers
• Regularly test and service biological safety
cabinets and fume cupboards.

7. LABORATORY
BUILDING
AND SPACE
• Ample working space is absolutely essential.
• Hygiene is of utmost importance. Whole facility
should be absolutely clean, uncrowded and devoid
of hindrances to movement.

8. • Scratch proof matt finish vitrified floor( slip
resistant). Walls should have white ceramic tiles
(resistant to chemicals & disinfectants).
• All benches should be 2½ feet high and those to
be used while standing should be at least 3 feet
high. The bench surface should be solvent and
acid proof.
• Every lab and/or its section must have at least 1
sink and 1 hand wash basin.

9. PHYSICALASPECTS OF A
LABORATORY
• The ambient
temperature should be
within comfort zone of a
human body (21-27 °C).
• A Good exhaust system
is a must for all
laboratories.

10. • Adequate ventilation is also essential but without
strong currents of air.
• Lighting should be more than adequate and places
where very delicate or fine processes are being
conducted should have additional lighting
provision.
• Windows that are exposed to bright sunlight can be
internally fitted with reflective films or blinds.

11. • There should be sufficient running water for the
laboratory.
• Sufficient power load must be available to the lab,
as most machines consume a lot of electricity.

12. SIGNAGE AND LABELLING
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
developed a standard hazards-identification
system (diamond-shaped, color coded symbol)
Health hazards -blue quadrant
flammable hazards-red quadrant
reactivity/stability hazards –yellow
other special information -white quadrant

14. SAFETY EQUIPMENTS
• Developed specifically for use in clinical lab.
• Employer should provide safety equipment's.
• Employee should comply with all safety rules and
use safety equipment's.
• Various safety equipment’s

15. Biosafety cabinets
 PPE
 First aid supplies.

16.  Spill kits
 Fire extinguishers
and fire blankets.
 Safety showers.
 Eye wash.

17. BIOSAFETY CABINETS
• Remove harmful particles while working with
infective biological specimens.
• Four levels of biosafety cabinet are described by
the centers for disease controls and prevention
(CDC).
• Level of biosafety cabinet depends on lab
operations.

20. PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENTS
• Protects the parts of body that
are exposed.
Eg;eyes, skin, respiratory tract
and digestive tract.
• Safety glasses: protects eyes
from splashes.
• Gloves: protect the hands.
polyvinyl or latex.

21. • Lab coats/aprons: protects the body from
splashes.
• Footwear: porous materials, open toed of sandals
not allowed.
• Respirators: depending on lab. Eg; HEPA filters.

22. SPILL KITS
• Used fro spills.
• Types
-Mercury spill kit.
-cytotoxic chemicals spill kit.
-body fluid spill kits.

23. MERCURY SPILL
• Combine the droplets of mercury if possible
• Pick up as much mercury as you can using a syringe
• Apply an absorbent to the affected area

24. • Contain the waste mercury in a well labelled,
lidded plastic container
• Ventilate the room well
• Waste mercury should be sent for reclaiming or
disposal as toxic waste

25. Cytotoxic chemical spill
• isolate area and place signs if required
• access the nearest spill kit
• put on gown, mask, protective eyewear, shoe
coverings and double gloves contained in the spill
kit

26. • contain and cover the spill using appropriate
absorbent material provided in the spill kit
• use spill towels to wash area with alkaline
detergent
• use spill towels to rinse area thoroughly with water
and to dry area fully
• discard all waste into large blue poly bag
• remove shoe coverings and outer utility gloves and
discard into blue poly bag

27. • wearing inner gloves, seal blue poly bag and place
into chemotherapy waste poly bag along with
gown, mask and protective eyewear
• remove inner gloves and seal chemotherapy waste
poly bag
• place entire bag into purple cytotoxic waste bucket
• wash hands thoroughly with soap and water
• complete an incident report form

28. Body fluid spill
• Steps to Proper Blood
Spill Clean Up
• 1. Preparation & Safety
• 2. Place absorbent
material on spill
• 3. Apply Disinfectant
• 4. Clean Up the Spill
• 5. Dispose of
Contaminated Materials

29. • 6. Disinfect Spill Area Again
• 7. Clean the Equipment
• 8. Remove Personal Protective Equipment
• 9. Wash Your Hands
• 10. Report the Spill
• * These steps have been created based on
OSHA's recommendations for cleaning up blood
and bodily fluid spills.

30. FIRST AID KIT
• Sterile cotton or cotton wool
& gauze
• Medicinal adhesive tapes.
• Roller bandage of various
widths.
• A pair of scissors
• Ammonia
• Sodium carbonate(aqueous,
5% solution)

31. • Sodium carbonate (aqueous, 2% solution) in an
eye dropper bottle.
• Acetic acid(aqueous, 5% solution)
• Boric acid( saturated) in an eyedropper bottle.
• Soap powder solution

32. FIRST AID IN ACID BURNS
• Nitric, sulphuric, hydrochloric and
trichloroacetic acid.
• In all cases: wash immediately with large
quantities of water.
• Acid splashes on the skin:
• Wash with plenty of water first
• and then with Sodium bicarbonate solution.

33. • After the wash, apply a paste of Sodium
bicarbonate - Petroleum jelly mixture on the burnt
part for 10-15 minutes.
• Again wash with plenty of water.

34. • Acid splashes in the eye:
• wash the eye immediately with large quantity of
water sprayed from a wash bottle or rubber bulb.
Spray the water into the corner of
the eye near the nose. (
alternatively, hold the eye under
the running tap)

35. • After washing, put 4 drops of 2% aqueous sodium
bicarbonate into the eye
• SPILLAGE ON CLOTHES : Use dilute Ammonia
solution to neutralise the acid. Then wash with plenty of
water.
• ORAL INTAKE : Gargle with water first and then drink
at least 1 litre of milk or water followed by lime juice.

36. FIRST AID IN ALKALI BURNS
• Sodium, potassium and ammonium hydroxide
• In all cases: wash immediately with large quantities
of water.
• Imp: Alkali burns are more serious than, acid burns.
• Alkali splashes on the skin:
• Wash thoroughly and repeatedly with water.
• Bathe the affected skin with cotton soaked in 5%
acetic acid( or undiluted vinegar)

37. • Alkali splashes in the eye:
• Wash immediately with large quantities
of water sprayed from a wash bottle or rubber
bulb. Spray the water into the corner of the eye
near the nose.
• After this, wash the eye with a saturated solution
of boric acid(apply drops repeatedly).
• Refer the patient to a physician.

38. • Swallowing Alkalis:
• Make the patient drink at once: 5% solution of acetic acid
or lemon juice or dilute vinegar( 1 part vinegar to 3 parts
water)
• Make them gargle with the same acid solution.
• Give them 3 -4 glasses of ordinary water.
• If the lips and tongue are burned by the alkali:
• Rinse thoroughly with water.
• Bathe with acetic acid.
• Send for physician consultation

39. FIRST AID IN POISONING
• Caused by :
 Inhaling toxic vapors or gases
( e.g.: chloroform)
 Accidental swallowing while
pipetting a poisonous solution.

40. • In all cases:
 Send to a physician or emergency, specifying
the toxic substance involved.
• Place the victim in the open air while waiting for
the physician.

41. FIRSTAID IN BURNS CAUSED
BY HEAT
• Severe burns:
• affecting large areas of skin.
• e.g.: burns caused when burning ether or boiling
water is spilled over the victim.
• Minor burns:
• affecting a small area of skin,
• e.g.: burns caused by hot glassware or a Bunsen flame.

42. •Severe burns:
• If the victim is on the fire, e.g.:
if splashed with burning ether
or other inflammable solvent,
roll them in a blanket or over
to smother the flames.
• Inform the physician on duty
immediately.
• Lay the victim on ground. Do
not remove the clothing.
Cover them.
• Do not apply any treatment
to the burns, this must be
left to the physician.

43. • Minor burns:
• Plunge the affected part
into cold water or ice-
water to soothe the pain.
• Apply
antibiotic(mercurochrome/
acriflavine) ointment to the
burn.
• Apply a dry gauze
dressing loosely.
• If the burn becomes
infected or does not heal,
refer the patient to a
physician/plastic surgeon.

44. FIRSTAID IN INJURIES CAUSED BY
BROKEN GLASS
• Wash the wound
immediately to remove
any glass pieces.
• Apply
mercurochrome/acriflav
ine ointment to the
wound.
• Cover with gauze &
adhesive tape.

45. • If the cut bleeds profusely, stop the bleeding by
pressing down on it with a compress. Refer the
patient to a physician.
• If the cut bleeds heavily with blood spurting out
at intervals, try to stop the bleeding with a
compression and call a surgeon/physician.
• Continue compression while waiting for
surgeon/physician’s arrival. He /she will decide
for further action

46. FIRSTAID IN CONTAMINATION BY
INFECTED MATERIAL
• Wounds caused by broken glassware containing
stool, pus etc..
• Wash the wound immediately with water.
• Check whether the cut is bleeding. If not, squeeze
hard to make it bleed for several minutes.
• Bathe the whole area, i.e. the edges of the cut &
inside the cut , with antiseptic lotion.

47. • Wash thoroughly with soapy water.
• Bathe again with antiseptic lotion.
• Refer the patient to a physician if the material
involved is known to be very infective, e.g. pus.

48. FIRSTAID IN BODILY DAMAGE
CAUSED BY ELECTRIC SHOCK
• A low- voltage alternating electric current(220V)
is usually used in lab and electric shocks are rare.
They may occur when faulty equipment is being
handled, particularly with wet hands. The
symptoms are fainting & asphyxia.
• Before doing anything else, put off the main
switch.

49. • Begin CPR( cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) if not
breathing /no pulse.
• Immediately shift the patient to emergency.

50. NEEDLE STICK INJURY
• Recapping
• Transferring a body fluid between containers
• Failing to properly dispose of used needles in puncture
resistant sharps containers.
• FIRST AID:
• Encourage bleeding and wash with soap and running
water.
• Clean the site with disinfectant like 70% alcohol.

51. • Report incident and discuss with supervisor.
• Consult medicine OPD or Emergency
• Document the incident on the forms available at
the office of CMS/nursing superintendant
•

52. • Investigations:
• Virology of technician and patient
• Follow up:
• Vaccination status Unknown /cannot be obtained
Give Hep B Immune globulin
Hep B Vaccine
• Vaccinated
No further hep B vaccine is reqired.
• Follow up HIV serology 6weeks ,3 months,6
months and 12 months.