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Język angielski w laboratorium

Laboratory safety

15.10.2015

Safety: Vocabulary

workbench

fume hood

safety shield

laboratory equipment

glassware

safety exit

laboratory coat

safety glasses/googles

laboratory gloves

skid-proof shoes

eyebath

fire extinguisher

fire blanket

shower

first aid kit

emergency response team

hazmat

waste disposal

chemical spill kit

flammable/inflammable material

incompatible reagents

pressurized equipment

hazardous chemicals

poisonous chemicals

corrosive reagents

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Only with Proper Guidance and a Trained Eye Can Injury and Illness be Avoided

We know that running a research lab is a challenge, to say the least. In all the hustle of

loading the autosampler, pipetting, pouring, and mixing for research experiments,

worker health and safety can be overlooked, inadvertently pushed aside or forgotten—

sometimes with dire consequences. Understanding the required Occupational Safety

and Health Administration (OSHA) programs and recognizing hazards will help you to

identify and minimize many of the common safety and health hazards associated with

running a research laboratory. This Safety Guys column will assist your navigation of the

health and safety maze. We present an overview of the most common hazards

encountered in typical research labs. Our hope is that one or more topics might strike a

nerve and motivate you to dig deeper to ensure a safe work environment.

OSHA tells employers that we must provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards.”

There are many specific OSHA standards that may apply to research laboratories. Most

notable is 29CFR1910.1450, “Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in

Laboratories,” also known as the OSHA Lab Standard.1 Other standards include hazard

communication, respiratory protection, and electrical and fire safety. In addition, there is

a “general duty clause” (Section 5(a)(1) that covers all other recognized hazards for

which specific standards may not exist, such as ergonomics and exposures to anesthetic

gases or experimental drugs.

Different types of hazards

An important first step in protecting worker health and safety is recognizing workplace

hazards. Most hazards encountered fall into three main categories: chemical, biological,

or physical. Cleaning agents and disinfectants, drugs, anesthetic gases, solvents, paints,

and compressed gases are examples of chemical hazards. Potential exposures to

chemical hazards can occur both during use and with poor storage.

Biological hazards include potential exposures to allergens, infectious zoonotics (animal

diseases transmissible to humans), and experimental agents such as viral vectors.

Allergens, ubiquitous in animal research facilities, are one of the most important health

hazards, yet they are frequently overlooked.

The final category contains the physical hazards associated with research facilities. The

most obvious are slips and falls from working in wet locations and the ergonomic

hazards of lifting, pushing, pulling, and repetitive tasks. Other physical hazards often

unnoticed are electrical, mechanical, acoustic, or thermal in nature. Ignoring these can

have potentially serious consequences.

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Chemical hazards

The use of chemicals in research laboratories is inevitable, and the potential for harm or

injury could be significant if they are misused or mishandled. OSHA has developed two

important standards to help mitigate these potential problems. The first is the Hazard

Communication standard (29CFR1910.1200) that deals with requirements for employers

to inform and train employees on non-laboratory use of chemicals.2 This would apply to

things in the lab such as pump oil, Chromerge, or liquid nitrogen used in dewars.

Although these chemicals are found in the lab, their use does not meet the criteria for

laboratory use.

The second, we’ve already mentioned. Known as the “OSHA Lab Standard,”

29CFR1910.1450 requires laboratories to identify hazards, determine employee

exposures, and develop a chemical hygiene plan (CHP) including standard operating

procedures. The “lab standard” applies to the laboratory use of chemicals and mandates

written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) addressing the particular hazards and

precautions required for safe use. This goes hand in hand with experimental design and

planning. Both standards require providing material safety data sheets and employee

training.

Biological hazards

Biological hazards encompass microbes, recombinant organisms, and viral vectors. They

also include biological agents introduced into experimental animals. Health and safety

issues such as containment, ability for replication, and potential biological effect are all

important. When working with biological hazards, ensure that procedures can be

conducted safely. Much of the work with recombinant DNA, acute toxins, and select

agents is now regulated by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture,

the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human

Services (including the National Institutes of Health). If your facility is conducting research

in these areas, you should have an Institutional Biosafety Committee to keep everything in

order and running smoothly.

The most prevalent biological hazards, in terms of frequency of occurrence, are simple

allergens associated with the use and care of laboratory animals. Health surveys of people

working with laboratory animals show that up to 56 percent are affected by animal-

related allergies. In a survey of 5,641 workers from 137 animal facilities, 23 percent had

allergic symptoms related to laboratory animals. These figures do not include former

workers who became ill and could not continue working.

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Physical hazards

Research facilities inherently have significant physical hazards present. Included here are

electrical safety hazards, ergonomic hazards associated with manual material handling

and equipment use, handling sharps, and basic housekeeping issues.

Many operations in the lab can result in lab workers assuming sustained or repetitive

awkward postures. Examples are eluting a column in a fume hood, working for extended

periods in a biosafety cabinet, or looking at slides on a microscope for extended periods.

What is found acceptable for brief or occasional use may become problematic if

performed for long durations or very frequently. Pain is a good indicator that something

is wrong. Conduct work with a neutral, balanced posture. Magnetic assist or

programmable pipettes can reduce frequency of hand force required to prevent worker

injury.

Sharps containers are ubiquitous in research labs and following a few safety rules can

help prevent getting stuck with accident reports. Use only puncture-proof and leakproof

containers that are clearly labeled. Train employees never to remove the covers or

attempt to transfer the contents. Make sure these containers are only used for “sharps”

and that they get replaced when three-fourths full to prevent overfilling.

Many injuries stem from poor housekeeping. Slips, trips, and falls are very common but

easily avoided. Start with safe and organized storage areas. Material storage should not

create hazards. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers should be stacked,

blocked, interlocked, and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against

sliding or collapse. Keep storage areas free from an accumulation of materials that could

cause tripping, fire, explosion, or pest harborage.

Electrical hazards

Electrical hazards are potentially life threatening and found much too frequently. First,

equip all electrical power outlets in wet locations with ground-fault circuit interrupters, or

GFCIs, to prevent accidental electrocutions. GFCIs are designed to “trip” and break the

circuit when a small amount of current begins flowing to ground. Wet locations usually

include outlets within six feet of a sink, faucet, or other water source and outlets located

outdoors or in areas that get washed down routinely. Specific GFCI outlets can be used

individually, or GFCIs can be installed in the electrical panel to protect entire circuits.

Another very common electrical hazard is improper use of flexible extension cords. Do not

use these as a substitute for permanent wiring. The cord insulation should be in good

condition and continue into the plug ends. Never repair cracks, breaks, cuts, or tears with

tape. Either discard the extension cord or shorten it by installing a new plug end. Take care

not to run extension cords through doors or windows where they can become pinched or

cut. And always be aware of potential tripping hazards when using them. Use only

grounded equipment and tools and never remove the grounding pin from the plug ends.

Also, do not use extension cords in a series—just get the right length of cord for the job.

The use of hanging pendants and electrical outlets are widespread in research lab

facilities to help keep cords off of floors and out of the way. Check electrical pendants for

proper strain relief and type of box used. The box should be totally closed and without

any holes. If it contains knockouts or holes for mounting, it is not the right type for a

hanging pendant.

As a final check for possible electrical hazards, look over your lighting. Protect all lights

within seven feet of the floor to guard against accidental breakage. Slip plastic protective

tubes over florescent bulbs prior to mounting or install screens onto the fixtures.

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Conclusion

Research laboratories present many challenges. In the day-to-day bustle of conducting

research experiments, worker health and safety can be easily overlooked. However, with

proper guidance, a trained eye, and practice in noticing the mundane, we can find and

correct many common mistakes and prevent illness or injury. The Internet provides a vast

amount of valuable information that can be easily researched. Begin with the OSHA

website (www.osha.gov) and chances are you will find what you need. Be diligent and

remember: “Safety First!”

from:

http://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/2011/09/laboratory-hazards-and-

risks#.Vh7stPnNzcs

Further reading:

http://www.labmanager.com/lab-health-and-safety/2015/06/safer-science#.Vh7r7fnNzcs

Common sense is probably one of the most important parts of laboratory safety.

Unfortunately, as a lab professional, you've likely seen many things done in the lab that aren't

very smart at all. Here are 10 of the dumbest things writers from Bitesize Bio have seen done

– or even done themselves – in the laboratory.

• People working with their heads in the fume hoods

• Workers opening Beta-mercaptoethanol outside of a fume hood

• Making or storing food in the lab

• Eating close to or directly at the lab bench

• Balancing tubes by eye while using superspeed centrifuges

• People protecting their eyes while using a UV transilluminator but forgetting to protect

their arms and hands with sleeves and gloves.

• Lab workers thinking regular safety glasses will protect their eyes from UV

transilluminators

• Working without safety goggles or glasses

• Working without a lab coat or wearing a lab coat outside of the lab

• Using chemicals without reading the accompanying MSDS

1. Answering the lab phone with gloves on.

2. Using plastic test tubes with chemicals that eat plastic.

3. Using parafilm to cover test tubes (like above).

4. Picking up bottles by the bottle cap (probably loose).

5. Unlabeled reagents (my pet peeve) “Oh, I’ll just put this in the fridge overnight. I know what it is…” (I

accidently spilled something gross on my hands that stained them red. The person who put the

unlabeled anduncovered beaker in the fridge was nowhere to be found!)

http://bitesizebio.com/1899/stupid-lab-safety-mistakes/

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Find safety risks in the oragnization of the laboratories

and behaviour of chemists.

Explain the danger!

Suggest improvements.

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research lab on the Vila Velebita II, hydrobiological research ship circa 1970

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Nobel Prize winners, Dr Hitchings and Dr Elion working away c 1948.

Oh how times have changed!

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Ah the 1960s! Here we have a researcher working in at the Ontario Cancer Institute.

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Next week: Elements

• Look at PERIODIC TABLE

• Select an ELEMENT

• Prepare a short note (three sentences):

– appearance (physical features)

– chemical properties

– something unusual

Read one of the poems and check facts ☺http://www.chemistryviews.org/view/0/articles.html?sup=5619551&page=1

(vocabulary: properties)

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