Presented by
Gabriele Violettis
29 CFR 1910.1450
Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in
Laboratories.
WHY LABORATORY SAFETY ?
 Because is required by:
 OSHA
 FDA
 CAP
 AABB
 JOINT COMMISION
WHY IS LABORATORY SAFETY IMPORTANT?
 TO PREVENT:
 Adverse health effects from exposure to chemicals
 Exposure to organisms, diseases, etc. in laboratories
 Laboratory equipment hazards - if not maintained properly
 General safety hazards such as, fire, falls, blood borne
pathogens exposure, electrical.
LAB SAFETY COURSE OBJECTIVES
Assessment and Findings
Recommendations
Importance of written laboratory program
Importance of safety equipment and personal protective
equipment
To show importance of care of equipment
Assessment
 Engineering Controls inspected:
 Biological Safety Cabinet
 Fume hoods (inspected yearly by IH)
 Anti-splash safety shields
 Equipment guards (gears, belts, fans, chains)
 Fire exits, doors, alarms, signs and extinguishers
 Safety showers and eye washing stations.
Assessment cont.
 Administrative Controls:
 Chemical Hygiene Plan, Safety Procedure Plan
 Emergency Disaster Plan
 Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Plan
 Updated SDS and AUL (Authorized User List)
 Appointment Letters for Safety Representative
 HazCom training and training records
Assessment cont.
 Work practices:
 Chemical or biological exposure and spills perform
procedure as recommended (i.e. flush eyes for 15
minutes)
 Proper PPE inspection before each use and periodically
 No drinking, eating, smoking or apply lip balms in the
laboratory areas
 Wear only close toe shoes in the laboratory spaces
 Use fume hoods if working with a volatile substance
 Be aware of any other unsafe conditions
Assessment cont.
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Required by all personnel that works in the Lab
 Lab coats, buttoned and used only in lab areas
 All PPE must be removed prior entering a clean area
 Goggle, masks, face shields should be worn if a possible
face exposure exists
Recommendations:
 HazCom, Chemical Hygiene, Safety procedures and
Blood Borne PathogenTraining should be performed
to:
 all laboratory technicians
 All employees, including service groups
 supervisors
 visitors
Recommendations cont.:
Review should be performed:
 new employees
 new procedures
 a change in procedures
 new equipment
Recommendations cont.:
LABORATORY PROCEDURES
MUST BE SITE SPECIFIC !
based on lab needs,
conditions, and equipment
Recommendations cont.:
Laboratory departments:
 Pathology
 Chemistry
 Biology
 Blood Donor Centers
Recommendations cont.:
Recommendations cont.:
Areas to cover:
 General safety procedures and rules
 Material handling and care
 Equipment handling and maintenance
 Safety equipment
 Fire safety
 Electrical safety
 Emergency response plans
 Disposal procedures
 Inspections
Recommendations cont.:
General safety procedures:
 No food or drink allowed in the laboratory
 No mouth pipetting
 No acrylic nails
 Wear required personal protective
equipment
 No smoking in laboratory
 Maintain good housekeeping habits
Recommendations cont.:
Housekeeping and glass handling
Bad example of glass handling
Recommendations cont.:
 Great Glass handling example.
Recommendations cont.:
 proper labeling, including wastes
 proper storage



storage cabinets
store compatible chemicals together
rooms properly vented & correct temperature
Recommendations cont.:
Chemical handling
 Maintain a current inventory and an
updated AUL
 Proper handling
 use the SDS for labeling
 acids poured into water never vice versa
 take precautions and use proper equipment when
stirring or heating flammable liquids
 follow “OSHA standards” for labeling all chemicals
Recommendations cont.:
Handling Biohazard and infectious disease
 Allow only authorized individuals in infectious disease
laboratories
 Do not allow individuals to work alone
 Comply with proper procedures when performing
maintenance on equipment (Manufacturer instruction)
 Use proper containers for transportation, incubation, and
storage
 Labeling all laboratories specimens
and cultures
 Proper Hygiene and disinfecting procedures
 Procedures for exposure or release of material
Recommendations cont.:
Handling Lab Equipment
 Proper installation
 Training on proper use
 Manuals or written
procedures available
 Inspections
 Maintenance
 DOCUMENT
 Manufacturer Instructions
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
 Safety equipment
 First aid and Medical Kit
 Showers and eye washing
stations
 Fire extinguishers, alarm
and signs
 SDS’S
 PPE
Recommendations cont.:
Fire Safety
 Fire extinguishers, alarms and signs inspected
monthly
 Fire drills performed at minimum annually or as
directed by local policies
 Fire extinguishers training
 Perform Emergency Disaster drills at least annually
and train personnel periodically or introduction of
new policies
Recommendations cont.:



Immediate washing of the skin and eye with generous
amounts of water is the most effective first aid
treatment for chemical burns (unless chemical reacts
unfavorably to water-MSDS)
must be available and must supply at least 15 minutes of
continuous water
showers must be tested for proper operation with results
documented
Recommendation cont.:
SDS
 Required for each chemical with
current information and updated
frequently
 All employees must be aware of its
location and how to properly read it.
Training should be performed.
 Must be accessible for employees in
the laboratory if required several
could be put in place as long as they
are readily available
Recommendation cont.
SDS information includes 16 sections:
1. Identification of Chemical
2. Hazard(s) identification
3. Physical data/composition/information of ingredients
4. Fire aid measures
5. Fire fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Exposure controls/PPE
Recommendation cont.:
SDS sections
9. Physical and Chemical properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport information
15. Regulatory information
16. Miscellaneous information
Recommendation cont.:
 PPE Agency responsibilities:
 Provide PPE for all employees
 at no cost to the employee
 train employees how to use PPE properly
 train employees on the limitation(s) of PPE
 train employees in proper care, storage, and
useful life, and disposal of PPE
 Inspection of PPE periodically on expiration
date and proper functionality
Recommendation cont.:
Appropriate PPE:
 Aprons, lab coats
 Gloves-latex, nitrile, neoprene
 Goggles, face shields, safety
glasses
 Respirators-full, partial, dust
mask
 Noise protection devices
Recommendation cont.:
Electrical safety:
 Protection of employees and





equipment
Inspect panels and plugs
GFIs (specified by code)
Authorized surge protectors
Inspection & reporting programs
LOTO program and training
Recommendation cont.:
Disposal procedures:
 chemical wastes
 Biohazard waste
 Glassware and sharps
 Spills, spilled kits and soiled linen
Recommendation cont.:
Disposal Procedures cont.
 Trained persons designated to handle disposal
 Meet all required rules and regulations
 Proper collection containers
 Waste collection contracts
 Does not expose humans, animals, plants, and
the environment upon disposal - may include
decontamination, sterilization, incineration,
autoclaving
Recommendation cont.:
Emergency Response and Disaster Plan
 Should be developed and maintained within the
Laboratory
 All employees should get trained and be aware of
location
 Drills on proper procedure should be done at least
annually
 Review with employees make sure they understand the
plan completely and their role
Recommendation cont.:
Emergency Response Plan should include:
 Recognizing emergencies
 Lines of authority
 Methods of communication
 Safe sites and evacuation routes
 Site security and control
 Decontamination procedures
 Provision for medical treatment
 Response procedures
 PPE
 After Action report
Recommendation cont.:
Inspection of Laboratories
 Develop an inspection report appropriate for laboratory
 cover all areas related to laboratory
 personnel practices
 operational practices
 equipment
 emergency protection equipment
 materials inventory
 miscellaneous
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Bloodborne pathogens. - 1910.1030 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016).
Osha.gov. Retrieved 11 December 2016, from
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10051
Department of the Navy. (2015). Safety and Occupational Health program manual (p. 134).
Okinawa, Japan: DON.
General requirements. - 1910.132 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016).
Osha.gov. Retrieved 11 December 2016, from
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9777
&p_text_version=
Hazard Communication | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2016). Osha.gov.
Retrieved 11 December 2016, from https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response. - 1910.120 | Occupational Safety and
Health Administration. (2016). Osha.gov. Retrieved 11 December 2016, from
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9765
Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories. - 1910.1450 | Occupational Safety
and Health Administration. (2016). Osha.gov. Retrieved 11 December 2016, from
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=1010
6
OSHA Occupational Chemical Database | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
(2016). Osha.gov. Retrieved 11 December 2016, from
https://www.osha.gov/chemicaldata/abbrev.html
Thank you for listening