Chapter 28 : Laboratory Safety

Abstract:

This chapter defines the essential components of a laboratory safety program. The key to a safe laboratory environment is the development, implementation, and enforcement of a high-quality safety management program that considers worker safety as a responsibility of the facility. The risk from biological, chemical, physical, and radiological hazards is related to exposure levels, duration of exposure, toxicity or pathogenicity of the hazardous material, safety controls present, and other factors such as the general health or age of the laboratory worker. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies a number of practices that should be implemented to protect the worker from exposure to blood-borne pathogens, including an exposure control and risk assessment plan. The chapter describes various modes of hazard prevention such as handwashing, barrier protection and immunization. While disinfectants destroy all microorganisms, but not necessarily their spores on inanimate surfaces, sterilants are agents that kill all microbial life, including spores, on inanimate surfaces. The chapter provides discusses spill management, both for biological and chemical spills. A training program should include recognition and evaluation of fire hazards, planning to reduce the risk of fire, and all actions to take when a fire occurs. For effective and efficient management of infectious wastes, a comprehensive management plan is essential to ensure the safety of the employees handling the waste, and implementation of cost-effective strategies for waste disposal.