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Does
Your Lab Comply with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard?
A bloodborne pathogen is any infectious material carried
in blood that can cause serious disease in humans. Some
of the better known diseases that can be transferred by
bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B and C and HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus). Even minimal exposure to these
pathogens puts a person at risk of contracting a serious
disease.
To help prevent the spread of disease, OSHA developed
the Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. The
standard provides minimum guidelines for employers and
requires their compliance. This basic protection is especially
important for workers whose jobs bring them into contact
with potentially infectious materials such as blood and
bodily fluids.
- Put an exposure control plan in writing. The employer
must first identify employees who will be exposed and
may occasionally be exposed to potentially infectious
material and write the plan to address ways to eliminate
or minimize employee exposures. The plan must include
documentation on the regulation itself, engineering controls,
work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Because new devices and products to help minimize exposures
are constantly in development, the plan should be evaluated
and updated annually. The plan should also document that
the employer has solicited input from frontline workers
in identifying, evaluating and selecting engineering
controls.
- Use engineering controls. These are devices such as
sharps containers, self-sheathing needles, mechanical
pipette devices and other medical supplies that help
to isolate and or remove the bloodborne pathogen from
the workplace.
- Enforce work practice controls. By instilling work
practice controls, the employer reduces the likelihood
of exposure by changing the manner in which a task is
performed. Examples of these enforcement practices include
proper hand washing techniques, proper disposal of needles,
and correct spill cleanup procedures.
- Provide PPE. Employers must make appropriate PPE,
such as gloves, CPR mouthpieces, gowns and masks, readily
available to all employees, and must replace it as needed.
- Make hepatitis B vaccinations available. All employees
who have occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
should have the hepatitis B vaccination made available
to them within ten days of assignment.
- Provide post-exposure follow-up to any exposed worker.
Employers must provide follow-up that includes lab tests
(including blood tests), a confidential medical examination,
testing for the source individual, and an offer of counseling,
to any worker who experiences an exposure incident. There
must be no cost to the worker and all diagnoses must
remain confidential.
- Use signs and labels to communicate hazards. Orange
or red-orange warning labels should be attached to containers
of regulated waste, plus refrigerators, freezers and
other containers used to store or transport blood or
other potentially infectious materials. Restricted-access
areas must be clearly marked.
- Provide information and training to employees. Training
must be done upon hiring and refreshed annually. Those
workers who are at greater risk must receive specialized
initial training.
- Maintain employee medical and training
records. Employers must maintain a sharps-injury log
unless they fall under an exempt industry classification
according to OSHA’s
standard on Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses.
For more information see EZ Facts® document
No. 177, Biological Safety Cabinets, at: http://www.labsafet
y.com/refinfo/ezfacts/ezf177.htm.
For information on biosafety and biological protection,
go to: www.cdc.gov.
LSS offers a complete line of biosafety-related
products. Use the links below to find them.
Cleaners and disinfectants /store/dept.asp?dept_id=486.
Biosafety PPE /store/dept.asp?dept_id=488.
Biosafety disposal /store/dept.asp?dept_id=487.
Sharps containers /store/dept.asp?dept_id=489.
Biosafety spill kits /store/dept.asp?dept_id=490.
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Request a Catalog
Get a FREE Lab Supplies catalog for yourself
or a colleague. You’ll find more than 1000 pages
of brand-name lab supplies and equipment inside. Click
here to request your FREE catalog, or call 1-800-356-0783.
Fume
Hood Inspection
Most labs are equipped with a ventilation system to help
control employee exposure to airborne contaminants. Probably
the most common system is the fume hood. Fume hoods are
engineered to contain harmful materials that may be toxic,
noxious, corrosive, flammable or odorous. However, in order
to be effective, a fume hood must be placed, maintained
and inspected properly to ensure worker safety.
When choosing the location for your laboratory fume hood,
be sure that it is out of the way of a main traffic flow.
Airflow through the hood can be altered simply by people
walking in front of the hood. Keep the hood away from other
air disturbances such as doors, windows, air conditioning
and other ventilation supplies or outlets. Extraneous air
currents such as these can also disrupt the internal flow
within the hood.
Proper maintenance on the hood should
follow manufacturer’s
recommendations but may include motor lubrication, checking
motor/blower belt tightness and tension and simply keeping
the fume hood work area clear of obstructions. The surface
is not the place to store chemicals and reagents, especially
when they’re open without the exhaust running. Routine
cleaning of the interior of the hood will keep airflow
running smoothly. Depending on the activity in the hood,
dust and particulates may be caught inside the baffle;
you’ll want to keep this from building up.
To be sure your hood is performing adequately
you’ll
want to have it inspected. The interval of inspection may
depend on your specific laboratory requirement and needs
and/or manufacturer’s recommendation.
The ANSI/ASHRAE 110-1995 Method of Testing
Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods (ASHRAE 110) is
the recommended inspection method that yields quantitative
data about a particular fume hood’s containment
capacity and this data can in turn be used to initiate
necessary improvements.
In the ASHRAE 110 test, a tracer gas is released at a
known rate inside the hood from a single point. Ten-minute
samples of the tracer gas are obtained in the breathing
zone of a manikin standing at three different positions
in front of the hood.
Another evaluation option includes a handheld anemometer
and smoke generator and recording the instantaneous or
short term average velocity readings at certain points.
This method does not take into account environmental factors
or supply air distribution.
The best way to determine user exposure
is personal air sampling using dosimeter tubes or badges.
Unfortunately, this method is impractical due to the
cost involved in the analysis and time involved while
waiting for results. Each person would need to be monitored
for each different agent they’re using.
While exposure to chemicals is unavoidable when working
in a lab, the exposure levels can be minimized when proper
precautions are taken. Wear the proper personal protective
equipment and monitor the efficiency of your ventilation
system.
For a selection of fume hoods, go to: /search/results.asp?prodKeyword=fume%20hood.
For a selection of anemometers, go to:
/search/results.asp?prodKeyword=anemo
meters.
For a selection of smoke generators, go to: /store/dept.asp?dept_id=459.
For selection of air monitoring badges, go to: /search/results.asp?prodKeyword=air%20monitoring%20badges.
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Free “Lab” Dog
and Mousepad To
say “Thank you!” for
ordering from LSS, we’ll send you a colorful mousepad that
conveniently doubles as a 48-page notepad and two-year
calendar. It’s FREE with any order, but you MUST
request item FG-126395.
You can also have your own, six-inch tall,
Stuffed “Lab” Dog!
It’s cute, and it’s FREE with any order of
$125 or more, but you MUST request item FG-126400 when
you place your order. Offer
good through Dec. 31, 2005 or while supplies last.
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Spotlight
On EZ-Facts®
Electrical Safety—EZ-Facts
266
Electrical safety guidelines set by OSHA
help you reduce the risks of electrical hazards in your
workplace. 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S defines the difference
between unqualified and qualified electrical safety personnel,
proper work practices and provides information on electrical
protective equipment. Read more in EZ Facts® Document
No. 266, Electrical Safety. To view it, go to: /refinfo
/ezfacts/ezf266.htm.
Chemical Protective Clothing—EZ-Facts
190
EZ Facts® Document No. 190, Selecting
Chemical Protective Clothing for Vapor and Splash Protection,
provides definitions of the different levels of protection,
information regarding selecting material types and contact
information on the regulatory agencies for further guidance.
To view it, go to: /refinfo/ezf
acts/ezf190.htm.
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New
Products
Thermo
Electron Corporation’s new Orion Star Series
meters take handheld and 
benchtop
electrochemistry measurement to new levels of accuracy
and convenience. The series includes the first US-made
multi-parameter meter that can store up to 10 programmable
methods with password protection. Star Series meters
are built with the option of 21 CFR Part 11 compliance
in mind to ensure electronic records are as valid as
anything on paper.
Benchtop models are splash-proof, dust-proof and very
compact. Lightweight handheld models feature waterproof,
secure electrode connectors that are ideal for field work.
All models provide an intuitive user interface with bright,
easy-to-read LCD screens.
For more information click
here.
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Get
Your Calibration Done Here!
LSS now offers a service that helps you keep
your instruments in compliance. Get
temperature, humidity, electrical and electrochemistry
equipment received, calibrated, certified and returned
to you within five business days! Same thing for timers,
calipers, micrometers, force gauges and tape measures.
Top quality NIST calibration by an A2LA Accredited metrology
lab with ISO9001:2000 certification—all at the
lowest price available. Any product purchased from LSS
can be calibrated before it ships to you! For details call 1-800-356-2501
or go to www.lss.com/calibration.
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Count-the-Dogs
Winner The 2005
Lab Supplies catalog challenged readers to find and
count all 54 dogs that appeared throughout its pages.
From those who counted correctly, two winners were
chosen at random to receive a life-size (25" high), stuffed “Lab” dog. Congratulations
to our winners, Joy from Wahpeton, ND and Kirsten from
Reading, PA.
Because response to this promotion was so positive, plans
are underway to find a good home for another (stuffed)
dog in 2006.
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The
Lab Talk Challenge
Last issue’s challenge question
was:
Some 300 years ago an Italian named Bernardino
Ramazzini recorded his observations of musculoskeletal
injuries in occupations, but it was the mid-nineteenth
century before a Polish professor coined the term “ergonomics.” What
was this professor’s name?
Answer: Wojciech Jastrzebowski.
Congratulations to Greg of Corona, CA,
Sandy of Memphis, TN and Rebecca of Northville, MI. They
answered correctly and each received an Oakton® Waterproof
pH Testr 10 (an $80 value ) .
Here’s your
new challenge question:
What does ASHRAE stand for?
Send your answer to LSSLabTalk@labsafety.com no later
than Friday, August 26, 2005. Three lucky winners will
be selected at random from all correct entries received
by the deadline. Each winner will receive Nalgene RTK Safety
Wash Bottle Assortment Pack (a $26.90 value) and a Solar
Thermometer (a $27.30 value). Winners will be notified
by e-mail. Good Luck!
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Lab
Talk Back
Let us know what you think! We’ll send
a FREE LSS Padfolio and “LAB” Calendar-Mousepad
to five randomly selected respondents who answer all
of the questions below.
Thanks to Clair of Woburn, MA, Peyton
of Gordon, GA, and Earl of Bloomington, IL for responding
to all three Talk Back questions from our last issue.
Enjoy your LSS Padfolio and “LAB” Calendar-Mousepad
.
PLEASE NOTE: Answers
must be received by Friday, August 26, 2005. To
receive your FREE gift, you MUST include your name
and mailing address. This information must correspond
to your LSS.com registration information. If you
are not registered at LSS.com, don’t worry!
It just takes a few seconds. Click
here to register.
Lab Talk Back Questions:
1. Have you ever increased the size of a catalog purchase
in order to receive a gift being offered along with a certain
purchase amount?
2. LSS offers FREE Technical Support, plus Calibration
and Repair services. Are there any other services you would
like to see made available through LSS?
3. Which topics would you most like to see explored in
future issues of LSS Lab Talk?
Send your Lab Talk Back answers to LSSLabTalk@labsafety.com.
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