safety 125 lab slideshare

Why is Safety Important?Why is Safety Important?• Many potential hazards in

Veterinary Medicine–Anesthesia–Radiology–Zoonosis–Chemicals–Physical Hazards–Animals–Sharp objects –Heavy lifting

Specific Hazards in Clinical Specific Hazards in Clinical Pathology include:Pathology include:

•1. Physical Hazards•2. Electrical Hazards•3. Chemical Hazards•4. Biological Hazards

SafetySafety

• You need to make sure that:•The veterinarian is safe•The technicians/veterinary assistants are safe

•The owner is safe•The animal is safe•Everyone is kept safe

Physical Physical HazardsHazards

Physical DangersPhysical Dangers•Animal handling

– Animals are unpredictable– Anticipate bites and scratches

•Don’t put yourself in a position to be bitten.

– Use your safety equipment•Muzzles – for cats and dogs•Leashes – or towels to pick up•Gloves – for raptors & exotics•Bondage – cat bag or tape for feet

Muzzle!Muzzle!

Heavy LiftingHeavy Lifting

• Animal can be heavy!– Lift only up to 40 pounds alone– Lift only what you are capable of

lifting– Use the buddy lift often– Always lift with the power of

your legs, not your back– Back injury does not go away!!!

Electrical Electrical HazardsHazards

ElectricalElectrical• Could shock you or your patient

– Ground all equipment thoroughly– Disconnect electrical equipment

before repairs or replacement of bulbs and other items

– Check for exposed wires & have them fixed before use

– Keep cords away from birds, rabbits and young chewy critters

FireFire

• Can burn you and/or others– Know where to find blankets, fire

extinguishers & other equipment– Have a fire plan for escape– Find out what the policy is for

animals?– Use care with Bunsen burners,

open flames, dryers, autoclaves & other potential fire hazards

Potential Fire HazardsPotential Fire Hazards

Moving PartsMoving Parts• Use care when handling

equipment with moving parts– Centrifuge

•Never open it until it has fully stopped moving

•Use only if you have been trained•Must be balanced when running•Must be operated with the lid latched•Must be cleaned immediately if

anything is spilled or broken

Moving PartsMoving Parts•Dryer

– Never reach in until it has fully stopped

– Check the lint trap regularly

Chemical Chemical HazardsHazards

Chemical HazardsChemical Hazards

• Chemicals may cause burns– Careful when working with strong

acids & bases – wear protective gear– Careful not to splash chemicals– Wash off immediately any you do

get on your skin or in your eyes•Know where the eye station is

– Label all chemicals properly according to OSHA standards•OSHA = Occupational safety and

hazards association

ChemicalChemical• May be poisonous

– Toxic fumes •always use a fume hood

– Never put things in your mouth•Needle capping•Pipettes

• May be carcinogenic– Double gloving & special safety

equipment may be used

Biological Biological HazardsHazards

BiologicalBiological

•Zoonosis– Disease that is communicable from

animal to man– We can get it from animals and we

can pass it to other animals•Handle all specimens carefully•Gloves should be used if you have any

open wounds or cuts on hands•No eating or drinking in the work area

ZoonosisZoonosis• Toxoplasmosis

– Protozoan parasite causes damage to unborn fetus

• Other Parasites– VLM, CLM, Mites, Ringworm, etc.

• Rabies– Deadly disease of warm-blooded

mammals• Cat Scratch Fever

– bacterial, cat is not sick - anaerobic infection from bacteria under their nails

Other Hazardous Other Hazardous SubstancesSubstances

• DMSO– DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

• Formaldehyde• MLV Vaccines

– Modified live vaccines• Euthanasia solution

MSDSMSDS• All potential hazardous chemical that

you come into contact with in your working environment will have an MSDS. (Material Safety Data Sheet)

• The MSDS will list information on that chemical including:

–Hazardous ingredient information–Physical/chemical characteristics–Fire/explosive data–Precautions–Control measures –and much more

MSDSMSDS

• Know where you clinic or hospital keeps their MSDS

• Kept in a binder in a place accessible to all - Pharmacy

• Know where to find information on the chemicals you work with

Waste ManagementWaste Management

• An ongoing problem in Vet. Med.• Any item used to diagnose, treat,

or vaccinate an animal becomes waste

• Each type of waste is disposed of in a specific fashion regulated by OSHA– Occupational Safety and Hazard Ass.

4 Categories of Waste4 Categories of Waste

• Medical Waste• Biohazardous Sharps• Biohazardous Non-Sharp• Hazardous

– We will not have contact with hazardous waste

Medical Solid WasteMedical Solid Waste• Items that do not contain bodily

secretions– Non bloody/dried blood gauze or

bandage material– Gloves, no blood or contaminants– Soiled cage newspapers– Feces, Urine

• May be disposed of with regular trash, then into a locked dumpster prior to pickup

Biohazardous WasteBiohazardous Waste

• Any lab waste that may pose a threat to health – Blood, tissue, cultures etc.– Blood soaked gauze– Bloody or infected bandages– Dead tissue/body parts

• If not sharp, disposed of in red biohazardous bags

Sharps WasteSharps Waste• Any item used in the Dx, Tx, or

Immunization that has a sharp edge that may puncture skin– Slides/coverslips– Needles and syringes– Glassware used in testing– Scalpel Blades

• Must be disposed of in a puncture proof, rigid “Sharps” container

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste• Poses a significant threat to

human safety – chemotherapeutic agents– Pesticides– pharmaceutical products

• Each item should be disposed of using a specific rigid protocol.

• We don’t usually come in contact with these.

Sharp’s ContainersSharp’s Containers• Must be labeled with:

– Hospital name– Address– Phone number– Date circulated

•Do not fill higher than fill line or ¾ full

• May be kept for 6 months or ¾ full – then disposed properly

Biohazardous BagsBiohazardous Bags• Must be labeled with:

– Hospital name– Address– Phone number– Date circulated

• May be kept for 6 months or ¾ full – then disposed properly

• Both Bio Bags and Sharp’s must be sealed & sterilized when full

DisposalDisposal• Pay a licensed biomedical waste

pickup firm to process your waste– many clinics do this

• Hauler agreement and receipts must be kept

• Autoclave the waste yourself and put it into your locked dumpster for disposal

• Records of autoclave maintenance & quality control, as well as waste weight amounts must be kept

Use the Common Sense Use the Common Sense ApproachApproach

• Wash your hands often• Clean up spills immediately• Close cupboards and drawers

when not in use• All ways keep cages clean• Avoid lifting heavy objects• Avoid bites & scratches

Use the Common Sense Use the Common Sense ApproachApproach

• Use your safety devices• If unsure, ask• Be careful with cords and

electricity or open flame• Pass sharp instruments handle

first – scalpels, needles• Keep hair back, jewelry to a

minimum

Use the Common Sense Use the Common Sense ApproachApproach

•Dispose of biohazardous items correctly– Biohazardos bags– Sharps containers

• If injured inform an Instructor immediately!

•Use common sense!!!

Injury ProtocolInjury Protocol• Notify an instructor• Get help to put away patient or

needle/syringe• Clean wound with soap and water• Write out proper injury form

– See instructor or Carol

• Seek medical attention at the student Health Center

Personnel RulesPersonnel Rules

•No Food, drink, candy, smoking or gum is allowed in the classroom or lab area during class time

• A white lab coat must be worn during lab class

•Hair must be tied back and jewelry to a minimum

Personnel RulesPersonnel Rules

• Bare feet, high heels and sandals are not allowed in the lab

•Exam gloves must be worn when cuts or open sores are present on hands

• Hands should be washed with soap and water before & after laboratory procedures

Personnel RulesPersonnel Rules

• Hands should be washed with soap & water after handling all animals or contaminated materials

• Heavy animals should be lifted by 2 or more people using their legs not their backs

• An animal should be muzzled if there is any doubt as to its behavior

Personnel RulesPersonnel Rules

•Any accident must be reported to the instructor immediately

• Horseplay is not allowed in the lab areas

• Keep overall noise levels low when animals are in the area, loud noises frighten animals

Equipment RulesEquipment Rules

• Never use any equipment until you have been adequately trained on it’s use and have been given permission to use it

• Always use the manufacture’s instructions for operating equipment

• If in doubt, ask!

Equipment RulesEquipment Rules• If you are uncomfortable doing a

task on your own, ask an instructor for help

• You must pay strict attention to instructions and directions before beginning any task

• All sharps are to be disposed of in the proper red sharps container

Equipment RulesEquipment Rules• Pass all sharps handle first•Do not overload circuits with

ungrounded 3-prong adaptors or extension cords

• Keep electrical cords up off the floor and out of the path of foot traffic

• Avoid working with fluids around electrical wires and equipment

Equipment RulesEquipment Rules

•Clean all equipment immediately after use and store it properly

• Do not leave containers uncapped and subject to evaporation, contamination or spillage

• Some of the reagents & chemicals in the lab can be caustic & may stain skin or clothing

Facility RulesFacility Rules

•Students are responsible for cleaning the work areas properly before beginning laboratory procedures and at the end of every period

•Absolutely no food / drink for human consumption is allowed in the specimen refrigerators

Facility RulesFacility Rules

• Clean up spills immediately, so that no one falls or an animal ingests it

• Always clean a cage before you put an animal into it

• Keep all cupboards and drawers closed

• Keep sinks free of debris

Facility RulesFacility Rules

• Immediately report any unsafe equipment, furniture or behavior to the instructor

Review QuestionsReview Questions

• Why do we need to know about safety in the field we choose to work in??

• Because we need to insure that we, and anyone around us is not injured due to our ignorance.

Review QuestionsReview Questions

• Name three hazards in the workplace and how to avoid them.

• Fire – No open flames– Inspect all cords – Ground properly

Review QuestionsReview Questions

• What is biohazardous waste and what do we do with it??

• Biohazardous waste is any lab waste that may pose a threat to our health – Disposed of in red biohazardous

bags or “sharps” containers

Review QuestionsReview Questions

• Explain what using “common sense” means, and give some examples of using it.

• Common sense means we think before we act.– Washing our hands often– Using safety equipment – Asking for help if needed

Let’s Stay Safe!!!Let’s Stay Safe!!!