As Medical Technologists. we face potential threats to our health, and so we have safety measures and protocols to be followed. below are some examples of hazards inside the laboratory:
SAFETY HAZARDS
These are the most
common and will be present in most
workplaces at one time or another. They
include unsafe conditions that can cause
injury, illness and death.
Safety Hazards include:
- Spills on floors or tripping hazards,
such as blocked aisles or cords
running across the floor
- Electrical hazards like frayed cords,
missing ground pins, improper
wiring
- Confined spaces
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS:
Associated
with working with animals, people, or
infectious plant materials. Work in schools,
day care facilities, colleges and universities,
hospitals, laboratories, emergency response,
nursing homes, outdoor occupations, etc.
may expose you to biological hazards.
Types of things you may be exposed to
include:
- Blood and other body fluids
- Fungi/mold
- Bacteria and viruses
- Plants
- Insect bites
- Animal and bird droppings
PHYSICAL HAZARDS:
Are factors within
the environment that can harm the body
without necessarily touching it.
Physical Hazards include:
- Radiation: including ionizing, nonionizing
(EMF’s, microwaves,
radiowaves, etc.)
- High exposure to sunlight/ultraviolet
rays
- Temperature extremes – hot and cold
- Constant loud noise
CHEMICAL HAZARDS:
Are present
when a worker is exposed to any chemical
preparation in the workplace in any form
(solid, liquid or gas). Some are safer than
others, but to some workers who are more
sensitive to chemicals, even common
solutions can cause illness, skin irritation, or
breathing problems.
Beware of:
- Liquids like cleaning products, paints,
acids, solvents – ESPECIALLY if
chemicals are in an unlabeled
container!
- Vapors and fumes that come from
welding or exposure to solvents
- Gases like acetylene, propane, carbon
monoxide and helium
- Flammable materials like gasoline,
solvents, and explosive chemicals.
- Pesticides
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS:
Occur when
the type of work, body positions and working
conditions put strain on your body. They are
the hardest to spot since you don’t always
immediately notice the strain on your body
or the harm that these hazards pose. Shortterm
exposure may result in “sore muscles”
the next day or in the days following
exposure, but long-term exposure can result
in serious long-term illnesses.
Ergonomic Hazards include:
- Improperly adjusted workstations and
chairs
- Frequent lifting
- Poor posture
- Awkward movements, especially if
they are repetitive
- Repeating the same movements over
and over
- Having to use too much force,
especially if you have to do it
frequently
- Vibration
reference; https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/FireSafetyN.pdf
FIRE PREVENTION
Fire is a chemical reaction that requires three elements to be present for the
reaction to take place and continue. The three elements are: Heat, or an ignition source, Fuel, Oxygen. These three elements typically are referred to as the “fire triangle.” Fire is the
result of the reaction between the fuel and oxygen in the air.
Fire Classifications
Fires are classified as A, B, C, D or K based on the type of substance that is
the fuel for the fire, as follows:
Class A—fires involving ordinary combustibles, such as paper, trash,
some plastics, wood and cloth. A rule of thumb is if it leaves an ash
behind, it is a Class A fire.
Class B—fires involving flammable gases or liquids, such as propane, oil
and gasoline
Class C—fires involving energized electrical components
Class D—fires involving metal. A rule of thumb is if the name of the metal
ends with the letters “um,” it is a Class D fire. Examples of this are
aluminum, magnesium, beryllium and sodium. Class D fires rarely occur in
the roofing industry.
Class K—fires involving vegetable or animal cooking oils or fats; common
in commercial cooking operations using deep fat fryers
https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-18796-09/fireprotection.pdf