OSH in Medical Laboratory Mr. K K LEUNG M(OSH) HRD HAHO Induction Program for Newly Recruited AMT 28 March 2008
Contents 1. Ordinance and Regulations 2. HA Safety Manuals 3. Chemical Safety 4. Biological Safety 5. Control Measures
1. Ordinances and Regulations Enforced by Labour Department Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509) Section 6 Employers to ensure S&H of employees Section 7 Occupier of premises to ensure S&H of persons employed at those premises Section 8 Employees at work to take care of others and to cooperate with employer Occupational Safety and Health Regulation (Cap. 509A) Section 9 (1) (a), (1) (b) Means of escape from a workplace Section 10 (1) Fire safety measures
1. Ordinances and Regulations Enforced by Customs & Excise Department The Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Cap. 145) 25 chemicals under 3 schedules Enforced by Fire Service Department Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295) Enforced by Environmental Protection Department Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance (Cap. 354) Clinical Waste Disposal Chemical Waste Disposal
2. HA Safety Manuals
2. HA Safety Manuals Chapter 5 Infection Control Chapter 12 Laboratory Safety Chapter 13 Chemical Safety Chapter 20 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Chapter 25 Biological Safety Cabinet Chapter 26 Respiratory Protective Program (for chemical exposure) Chapter 27 Chemical Fume Hood Manual
3. Chemical Safety Proper Labeling of Chemicals Container labels must give full chemical name, type of hazard, special precautions, and emergency information. Chemical labels should never be removed or defaced. Chemical labels should be legible and conspicuously placed.
3. Chemical Safety Proper Storage of Chemicals Ensure that incompatible chemicals are not stored in close proximity to each other Carcinogens (e.g. Auramine O) and highly toxic chemicals are preferably stored in locked cabinets Chemicals that are no longer needed should be disposed
3. Chemical Safety Storage of flammable solvents Storage of flammable substances in a metal cabinet (not exceed 35L) Don t store flammable substances in non-explosion-proof refrigerators Don t store oxidizers (e.g. Hypo-6, potassium permanganate) with flammable solvent (e.g. ethanol) Consider the location of flammable cabinet
3. Chemical Safety Storage of corrosives chemicals In polypropylene cabinets or well ventilated cabinets The door hinges and partitions should be checked periodically for any corrosion
3. Chemical Safety Explosion of Picric acid on 6 March 2001 At about 10am, staff of CUHK reported to Police that picric acid was found leaking in the Marine Science Lab. Police officers, firemen and officers of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Bureau discovered that chemical was stored in a rusty steel container and can be explosive if dry. 100 meters from the lab were cordoned off. Both north and south bounds of Tolo Highway between Sha Tin Racecourse and Kwong Fuk Estate were closed for about 10 minutes. Railway services between Fo Tan and Tai Po Market were suspended for 8 minutes. Related marine exclusion zone was in place in the nearby waters of Tolo Harbour.
3. Chemical Safety Prolonged storage of picric acid Picric acid with water content less than 40% is classified as explosives
3. Chemical Safety Mixing of incompatible chemicals Mixing of oxidizing agents (e.g. nitric acid, chromic acid, potassium permanganate etc) and organics (e.g. alcohol, acetone, formalin etc) in a close container Formation of carbon dioxide and fume, and built up pressure in container causing explosion Mixing of bleach solution with formaldehyde Formation of bischloromethyl ether a confirmed carcinogen Mixing of potassium permanganate with concentrated sulfuric acid Formation of explosive manganese heptoxide
3. Chemical Safety Mixing of bleach solution with acids Formation of chlorine gas
3. Chemical Safety 3. Chemical Safety Results of Improper Storage of Chemical Waste
3. Chemical Safety Strong Oxidizing agents KMnO4 Picric acid Recommendation: Stored separately
3. Chemical Safety Good Storage Practices
3. Chemical Safety 3. Chemical Safety Good Storage Practices
3. Chemical Safety Use proper cabinet Don t use filing and wooden cabinet to store chemicals
3. Chemical Safety No Food and Drink in refrigerator for storing chemicals
3. Chemical Safety General Guidelines for Handling and Transporting of Chemicals Studies the MSDS for those chemical and adopt the recommended safety procedures With spillage kits and appropriate PPE Whenever chemical are transported outside the laboratory, place the container in a secondary, nonbreakable container Carts should be used when possible Before moving containers, check and tighten caps, or other enclosures
3. Chemical Safety Emergency Preparedness for Spill 1) Spill response procedures 2) Spill clean-up procedures 3) Clean-up materials Adsorbent pads, pillows Spill-X-FP for formaldehyde Spill-X-A for acid Spill-X-C for alkali Spill-X-S for organic solvent 4) PPE 5) TRAINING?
3&4 Chemical & Biological Safety = Biological Safety Cabinet Chemical Fume Hood Don t Confuse BSC With Fume Hood
3&4 Chemical & Biological Safety Chemical Fume Hood Biological Safety Cabinet For chemical only Operator protection Not protect the product Environmental protected by air cleaning device in the ventilation system For biological only Operator protection Product protection (except Class I) Environmental protection
4. Biological Safety Biological Safety Cabinet HEPA filter DO NOT filter out gas & vapor, only filter particulates Chemicals may damage HEPA filter and induce exposure risk whether chemical & infectious Highly flammables may induce fire risk as BSC fan not spark proof May use for non-volatile toxic chemicals (cytotoxic drugs) or low-level radioactive materials Effectiveness of UV lamp for disinfection
4. Biological Safety Class I BSC Class II Type A2 BSC
4. Biological Safety Good Work Practices for BSC Users Before Work Allow to run for at least 5 mins Make sure UV light is off Remove unnecessary items Do not block front grill of cabinet After work Decontaminate Allow to run for 5 to 10 mins Close the cabinet door, switch off the fans and switch on the UV if necessary Remove PPE and wash hands
4. Biological Safety Good Work Practices for BSC Users While Working Perform work at least 4 inches in front of grill Never have more than one user at a time Do not rest arms on the front grill Slowly arms movement when moving items in and out of the cabinet Minimize no. of IN and OUT Always enter straight into the cabinet
4. Biological Safety Safe work area of BSC Safe Work Area Front grill area Perform work at least 4 inches in front of grill
5. Control Measures 1) Elimination 2) Substitution Change of material to a less hazardous form Eg. Purchase of pre-diluted formalin 3) Engineering 4) Administration Follow SOP Reduce individual exposure by job rotation & operation reschedule 5) PPE
5. Control Measures 5. Control Measures Engineering Control
5. Control Measures 5. Control Measures Engineering Control
5. Control Measures 5. Control Measures Gloves Guidance Notes on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Use and Handling of Chemicals; Occupational Safety and Health Branch, Labour Department
5. Control Measures Gloves are sized as the circumference of palm in inches S M L XL 6.5 7.5 8.5 9.5
5. Control Measures Goggles Vent holes (Impact resistant) Indirect Vent (Impact and chemical splash resistant)
5. Control Measures Improper donning of a N95 mask and a respirator
Points of Intervention EMISSION SOURCE AIR PATH WORKER Substitution Process change Automation Process enclosure Isolation Local exhaust ventilation Preventive Maintenance Change air direction Dilution ventilation Increase distance Erect barrier Move worker out of path Training and education Respiratory Protection Rotation
Concluding Remark Related Ordinances & Regulations Chemical Storage Chemical Handling Fume Hood Biological Safety Cabinet Control Measures
End of Presentation Thank You