Laboratory Safety

Protocol

Zari Esa M.Saleh

MSc. Medical Science

2014-2015

School of Medicine

• 1st Semester 2.5%

• 1 Quiz + 1.5 Lab book

• Mid Year Exam 10%

• 2nd Semester 2.5%

• 1 Quiz + 1.5 Lab book

• Final Year Exam 20%

Introduction

• Laboratory safety rules are a major aspect of

every microbiology lab.

• Each student in microbiology laboratory must follow specific safety rules and procedures. The safety rules in this lecture are intended as guidelines and an overview of laboratory safety

Hazards of Clinical Laboratory work Clinical laboratory personnel and employees are subjected to the risk of the followings:

1. Biological hazards (infection-infectious agents).

2. Chemical hazards.

3. Physical hazards.

In response to these hazards, certain guidelines have been developed to protect workers and student in microbiological and medical labs through a combination of safety rules.

Biosafety levels.• Based on the degree of hazard posed by the infectious

agents, labs are divided into four biosafety levels.

• Biosafety Level 1: Agents are not known to cause

disease in healthy adults, however some organisms

may cause disease in immunocompromised

individuals.

• Agents include Bacillus subtilis, infectious canine

hepatitis virus, non-pathogenic E. coli species

• Standard practices are required for laboratory work at

this level and work may be done on an open bench top.

• Biosafety level 2: Agents associated with human

disease, generally required for any human-derived

blood, bodily fluids, tissues in which infectious agent

may be unknown.

• Agents include measles virus, Salmonella species,

pathogenic Toxoplasma, Clostridium botulinum,

hepatitis B virus

• Biosafety cabinets or other approved containment

devices autoclave for glassware proper disposal of

needles and sharp objects.

Biosafety levels.

Biosafety levels.

Safety cabinet

Needle disposal container

Autoclave

• Biosafety level 3: Agents with potential for respiratory (aerosol) transmission and may cause serious and potentially lethal infection.

• Agents include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, brucellae, and a wide variety of viruses including immunodeficiency viruses.

• Standard practice required along with a strict controlled access to the lab, special clothing and decontaminating all waste.

Biosafety levels.

• Biosafety level 4: Dangerous and novel agents with

high risk of life-threatening disease, aerosol-

transmitted

• Other related agents with unknown risk of

transmission are also studied.

• All agents are viruses, include Marburg virus, Ebola

virus, and Lassa fever.

• Maximum containment and decontamination

procedures are used in this level laboratories, which is

found in only a few reference and research

laboratories.

Biosafety levels.

Biosafety levels.

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory

1. The laboratory must

be kept neat, orderly,

clean and the bench

tops should be free

of non-essential

material

2. Protective laboratory clothing

(Uniforms coats, gowns) must be

available and worn properly and

fastened by all personnel including

students, visitors, trainees.

3. Suitable footwear with closed heels

and toes and with non slip soles

should be worn in the laboratory.

4. Long hair must be tied back or

restrained

Basic safety requirement in

microbiology laboratory

5. Do not bring food, beverages or tobacco products into the laboratory. Do not apply cosmetics in the laboratory. Do not eat or drink in the laboratory

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory

6. Oral pipetting is

prohibited. Use

appropriate pipetting

devices that bypass use of

the mouth.

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory

7. Clean your workbench with disinfectant at the

beginning and at the end of the laboratory

exercise. Report any spilled reagent or culture

however minor, to the instructor.

8. Wash your hands with soap and water before and

after the lab. Don’t use towels.

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory

9. Never remove cultures, reagents, or other materials from the laboratory unless you have been granted specific permission.

10.Inoculated media placed in the incubator must be properly labeled with your name, date, and nature of the specimen.

11.All reagents and equipment must be returned to their proper place at the end of the lab.

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory

12.Pencils, labels, or any other

materials should never be placed

in your mouth.

13.Caution must be taken when using

gas burners. Be sure gas burners

are turned off when finished.

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory

• All used cultures and contaminated glassware should be put into a designated container to be autoclaved.

• Contaminated plastic and other disposables are to be discarded into a separate container also to be autoclaved.

Basic safety requirements in microbiology

laboratory