6/19/2015 As you go through the training you will have a better - PDF document

6/19/2015 � As you go through the training you will have a better understanding of the principals of laboratory safety and 1. how safety is utilized in every aspect of 2. Laboratory Management & Equipment your work activities and your life. operations workshop Rwanda Agricultural Board Rubona Station 15 th – 19 th June 2015 PRESENTED BY EPHY KHAEMBA • Training is by far the most important aspect of safety. This lecture provides an overview of some reduces illness/injury but also • increases worker efficiency and of the safety awareness. precautions you can Preventing hazards and increasing • practice in order to awareness is the goal create a safe lab environment. Emergency Plan 1. Hazards identification � THE FIRS T S TEP IS TO KNOW 2. Glassware safety 3. Fire Prevention � YOUR S URROUNDING. 4. Personal Protective Equipment 5. The exits and emergency escape routes General Lab 1. 6. rules/ housekeeping The positioning of the fire extinguishers and the 2. Vital lab information 7. Chemical safety fire alarms 8. S harps 9. the emergency security numbers 10. Risk groups 3. 11. Biological safety levels The location of first aid boxes and the first 4. 12. S afety equipment aiders 13. Decontamination 14. S pills Do not wait any longer than necessary to call, 5. 15. Waste management time is of essence! 1

6/19/2015 When you first walk into a lab you should always take note of the location of the: � S afety S howers Each lab should have an � S afety Eye Washes emergency plan detailing the emergency response � Emergency Exits procedures for your lab. � Fire Extinguishers � Emergency Electrical cutoff S witch Hazards are classified into two Health hazards 1. Physical Hazards 2. A HEALTH HAZARD is classified as a hazard that can do harm to people, but from a health definition. Breathing vapors from a harmful chemical is a health hazard, or exposure of a harmful chemical through absorption of the skin into your blood stream is an example of a health hazard. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: � Carcinogen � Irritants � Corrosives � The following guidelines should be checked every time you A PHYS ICAL HAZARD is classified as a deal with glassware hazard that can do external harm to your body ,your skin or other Inspect glassware before and after each use. 1. body parts. If you spill sulfuric acid Discard or repair any cracked, broken, or damaged 2. on unprotected skin, the acid will glassware burn your skin Thoroughly clean and decontaminate glassware after each 3. use. When inserting glass tubing into rubber stoppers, corks, or 4. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: tubing, follow these guidelines: � Explosive � Use adequate hand protection. � Flammable � Lubricate the tubing. � Hold hands close together to minimize movement if the glass breaks. � Never use laboratory glassware to serve food or drinks. 2

6/19/2015 The best method of fire fighting is • Do not pick up broken glass with bare preventing fire from occurring in or unprotected hands. the first place � Have good housekeeping • Use a brush and dust pan to clean up broken glass. practices. � Use the smallest amount of • Remove broken glass in sinks by using flammable solvents possible. tongs for large pieces and cotton held by tongs for small pieces and slivers. � Keep the flammable solvents away from ignition sources. • Place all the recovered broken glass � S tore flammables in a flammable into the broken glass container. storage cabinet. � don’ t panic, j ust simply: � Alert the people around you to evacuate the lab This is a photo of � activate the fire alarm. � If the fire is large or you do not feel comfortable a lab fire that trying to extinguish it, GET OUT , and let the occurred due to professionals do their j ob. improperly stored � If it is a small controllable fire, either smother the fire or use the correct fire extinguisher chemicals associated with the type of fire. � If trying to extinguish the fire always stay on the exit side of the fire. � Report the incident to the appropriate supervisors. � PPE is short for personal protective equipment. � This is the equipment that is necessary to protect yourself from hazardous materials. � PPE could be gloves, safety glasses, lab coat, shoe covers, respirator or any other item that could protect you from dangerous materials that you may encounter in the lab. 3

6/19/2015 � Knowing what to use and when to use it is � Knowing how to properly the key to properly protecting yourself. use PPE can be the key to adequate protection. There could be situations that would be more of a risk and require more PPE than others. � If it is too big or too small, it � The basic point to remember is that a risk is not right for you! Let assessment will help determine the PPE to your supervisor know if you be used need a different size. � In order to be able to rely on your equipment, you must take care of it. The next portion of the training is � Keep the PPE clean and disinfected. simply review and is meant to remind � It should be cleaned before and after use when you of responsible conduct in a possible. laboratory setting. As the hazards � Proper maintenance can not only extend the life increase, the risks increase, and the of the equipment, but also keep cost down. responsibility must increase. Keeping the cost down on the Personal Protective Equipment can help to better allocate the money toward larger equipment needed for research � Y ou should remember the following � Personal habits play a large role in minimizing hazards. The following measures must be taken: � No open-toed shoes � Do not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum or apply � No shorts unless a lab coat is used cosmetics, or remove/insert contact lenses while in � Restrain hair when working with hazardous the laboratory materials � Do not store food or beverages in the lab or in � Remove protective clothing right outside the chemical refrigerator workstation � Do not mouth pipette � Use the proper Personal Protective Equipment for � Wash hands before leaving laboratory or after the job handling contaminated material 4

6/19/2015 These safe practices should be followed to ensure safe working conditions: At the end of lab- make sure � Do not use chipped or cracked glassware – Each workst ation is cleaned up � Know emergency procedures –All common areas are cleaned � Keep the laboratory neat and clean up –All benches are wiped down � Use hazardous chemicals under a fume hood and biohazardous materials under a biosafety cabinet (BSC) � Decontaminate as needed � All procedures should be performed to minimize aerosol Your mother doesn’t work here clean up after yourself, How many problems can you identify in this Picture? � Emergency response plan � � Chemical hygiene plan � Lab safety manual � Hazardous waste management plan � Material safety data sheet location � S tandard operating procedures for equipment and for the processes in the lab. 5