Lab Safety: Everyone Is Responsible!
Safety In the Microbiology Lab
Rules and Symbols
Mr. Norazli Ghadin
Lesson objectives
• To know the general rules in microbiology
lab
• To know how to maintain aseptic condition
• To know how to discard microbiological
waste
• To apply the rules when in the labs
Importance of rules
• Ensure safety of operator (YOUR SELF!!!!!!)
• Safety of samples
• Successful laboratory experimentation
• Minimize hazards
Routes of infection
• Oral
• Skin
• Conjunctiva
• Lungs
General Safety Guidelines
• Be Responsible at All Times.
• Follow all instructions carefully.
• No horseplay, practical jokes, pranks,
etc.
• Do not play with lab equipment until
instructed to do so.
• Food, drink, smoke and gum are not
allowed in the microbiology lab .
Lab Safety: Everyone Is Responsible!
General Safety Guidelines
• Don’t lick labels.
• Don’t drink from laboratory glassware
• Don’t wander about the laboratory; cause:
– Accidents
– Distract others
– Promote contamination
• Operate centrifuges, homogenizer and shakers
safely
• Immunize the laboratory workers
General Safety Guidelines
• Keep the microbiology lab clean
and organized.
• Notify supervisor immediately
of any accidents or unsafe
conditions in the microbiology
lab !
• Wash your hands with soap and
water after work.
Lab Safety: Everyone Is Responsible!
General Safety Guidelines
• Listen to or read instructions
carefully before attempting
anything.
• Wear safety goggles to protect
your eyes from chemicals,
heated materials, or things that
might be able to shatter.
• Notify your teacher if any spills
occur.
General Safety Guidelines
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Keep your hands away from your face.
Tie back long hair away from shoulders .
Wear glasses rather than contact lenses.
Never put into your mouth
– Pencils
– Pens
– fingers etc
• Clean up your lab area at the conclusion
of the laboratory period.
General Safety Guidelines
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Roll up loose sleeves.
Button-up your Lab Coat
Lab coat thickening.
Know the location of the
fire extinguisher, Gas
isolation switch, fire
blanket, eyewash station,
first aid kit & Exits.
• Keep your work area
uncluttered.
General Safety Guidelines
• Take to the lab station what is
necessary, Left outside
– Coats
– Jackets
– Bags and books not required
for the laboratory session.
• Cover any open cuts on hands
and other exposed skin surfaces
General Safety Guidelines
• Wear mask N95 4 mycobacterium.
• Do not wear any jewellery.
• Carry out procedures to minimize risks of :
– Spills
– Splashes
– Production of aerosols.
• No slides or cultures are to be taken from,
or brought into the lab without permission.
General Safety Guidelines
• Don’t use your Mobile.
– Medical devices
– Chemicals
– With gloves
– RF interference
• Do not attend calls with gloves.
• Writing
– Without gloves
– Working area
General Safety Guidelines
• Avoid wearing artificial nails
• Keep natural nails <1/4 inch
• Foot wear that completely
covers the foot is required
• No Open shoes
• No rings or hand accessories
• Do not wear loose clothing that
could catch on fire
• Do not open doors with glows
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT and PROCEDURES
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Gowns
Safety Glasses and Eye Protection
Gloves
Mask
Hand washing
High Risk Individuals /Antenatal
Considerations
Hand washing
Chemical Safety
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Do not inhale the fumes.
Never pour water into a
concentrated acid.
Wash hands.
Wear goggles
Lab apron
Never taste any chemicals
(never taste anything).
Electrical Safety
• Lay electrical cords where no one can
trip on them or get caught in them.
• hands dry before using electrical
equipment.
• Never poke anything into electrical
outlets.
• Unplug cords by pulling the plug and
not the cord.
• Unplug all electrical equipment at the
end of the lab period.
Heating Safety
• Let burners and hotplates cool down
before touching.
• Use tongs and/or protective gloves.
• Never reach across an open flame.
• Wait until the striker is in place before
you turn on the gas.
• Heating a test tube, move it around
slowly.
• Dry glassware should be heated.
• Do not hold it in your hand
• Never leave a burner or hotplate
unattended.
Hypodermic syringes and needles
• Common causes of occupational infections.
– Collection
– Processing
– 25%.
• Avoid quick & unnecessary hand movements.
• Examine for chips and cracks, and needles for
barbs and plugs.
• Use needle locking syringes.
• Wear gloves.
• Fill syringes carefully to minimize air bubbles
and frothing.
Hypodermic syringes and needles
• Expel air, liquid & bubbles vertically into a
disinfected cotton swab.
• Don’t forcefully expel into an open vial for
mixing.
• Mixing if the tip is held below the surface of the
fluid.
• Don’t manipulate by hand.
• Place directly into a puncture-resistant container.
• Decontaminate before
– Disassembly
– Reuse
– Disposal.
CLEANING & Waste Disposal
• Separate the non-infectious from the
infectious waste.
• Dispose the infectious waste to
– Minimizes the risk to both staff and students
– Facilitates the recycling of reusable material.
Sharps
• “Yellow" sharps container at the back of each
laboratory.
– Needles
– scalpel blades
– other sharp materials
• Always move the "sharps container" to your
work place to dispose of such items.
• Do not wander around the laboratory carrying
sharps.
Biogram Buckets
• Containers of general purpose phenolic,
hypochlorite (10 gm/L) laboratory disinfectant
• Used for disposal of small contaminated items
– used swabs
– capillary tubes
– wet slides
– Pipettes
– inoculated reagent strips
– glass culture tubes.
Biogram Buckets
• Disposing pipettes, place tip first into the
biogram
• Not for Gram stains, non contaminated paper or
matches.
• 1/40 dilution of the commercial product 18%
phenol equivalent.
• Change weekly; or if grossly soiled.
Biohazard Bin
• Centre of each laboratory.
• For the disposal of contaminated waste, e.g.
– Used culture plates
– Contaminated paper towel.
• Not to be used sharps & Any non contaminated
paper wastes.
• Do NOT use these bins for
– Paper towel discarded after hand washing
– Blotting paper discarded after blotting slides.
• autoclaved before disposal.
• Left open to allow penetration of the steam
Broken Glass
• When any glassware is broken, notify the
instructor immediately for assistance with
disposal.
– Non contaminated can be disposed of in the
Billy cans
– Contaminated should be placed into a stainless
steel Billy and autoclaved prior to disposal in
the glass bin.
Sink
• Don’t place any hazardous or infectious
materials.
• Don’t dispose of any solid material.
REPORTING OF INCIDENTS
• All accidents and major spills should be
documented on an "incident report form" through
the relevant Departmental Occupational Health
and Safety Officer
• Copies of any documentation relating to an
incident or safety hazard must be sent to both
MSO and a copy should also be retained.
First Aid
Injury:
What To Do:
Burns
Immediately flush with
cold water until burning
sensation is lessened.
First Aid
Injury: Cuts, bruises
What To Do:
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Do not touch without
gloves.
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Pressing directly on minor
cuts.
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Apply cold compress to
bruises to reduce swelling.
First Aid
Injury:
Fainting
To Do:
Provide fresh air and have
the person recline so that
their head is lower than the
rest of their body.
First Aid
Injury:
Eyes
What To Do:
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Flush eyes immediately
with plenty of water for
several minutes.
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If a foreign object is
lodged in the eye, do not
allow the eye to be rubbed.
First Aid
Injury:
Poisoning
What To Do: Find out what substance
was responsible for the
poisoning and alert the
teacher immediately.
First Aid
Injury:
Spills on the skin
What To Do: Flush with large
quantities of water. For
acid spills, apply baking
soda solution. For base
spills, apply vinegar or
boric acid.
First Aid
Injury:
Electrical shock
What To Do:
• Shut off the current at the
source.
• Remove wire with rubber
gloves.
• Alert the teacher immediately.
What’s Wrong With This
Picture?
What’s Wrong With This
Picture?
What’s Wrong With This
Picture?
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
When in doubt – ASK!!!
• Do not carry out a
new or unfamiliar
procedure until you
have been fully
trained & understand
the precautions
necessary for safe
working
• DO NOT GUESS!!!!
HAZARDS SYMBOLS
Explosive
• Chemical that will rapidly burn
and explode
(Highly Flammable)
• ‘Flash point’ –
temperature where
vopour of a solution
will burn if ignited.
• Solution with ‘Flash
point’ < 32’c
Oxidizing Substance
• Chemical that readily
release Oxygen.
• Contoh: HNO3, KNO3,
NaNO3, AgNO3
Toxix
• Harmful chemical
• Cyanide and mercury
nitrate – nerve, kidneyte
• ‘Iodine’ - lung and eye,
initiate ‘impetigo’
• Formaldehyde (dalam
Larutan 40% dipanggil
‘formalin’) – an irritant
(corrosive)
• All acid – burn tissue
in contact.
• NaOH and KOH –
irritate, vomit and
diarhea
(irretant & Harmful)
• Cylohexance, etanol,
Methanol, Ethyl acetate,
Butanol and Potassium
dichromate - dermatitis.
 a dan b-Naphtol - skin
irritant, damage kidney
 Naphthylamine - anesthetic
some drawbacks, irritation
pada mucous membrane
Carcinogenic chemicals
• carcinogens,
mutagens, teratogens,
respiratory sensitizers
and substances with
target organ toxicity.
• Eg:
• Ehtidium bromide,
benzene
Environmentally hazards
• These substances
damage or pollute the
environment.
Radiation hazards
• Ionizing radiation
• E.g: Uranium 235
• Rhodium
isotope
Biohazards
• Living organisms that
can cause infection
• bacteria, fungus, virus
Reference
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Food Standards Agency - Microbiological safety. html
Guidelines on Standard Operating Procedures for MICROBIOLOGY Safety in Laboratories. tm WHO
Microbiology Rules for Using Disinfectants eHow com. htmL
Microbiology Safety and Staff Induction Manual University of Tasmania Launceston Campus Version 2, February 2000
Mrs. Page Kennedy Middle School 2002-2003
Presented by: Leonard LaFazia