It is a goal of each laboratory to ensure that safe work practices are established and followed. All laboratory personnel receive formal training in laboratory safety procedures and are familiar with and annually review the safety manual, which specifies practices and techniques designed to minimize hazards. Safety practices and techniques must be supplemented by appropriate facility design and engineering features, safety equipment and management policies.

Some general laboratory safety rules are outlined below. Since the risk of infection from work done in the clinical and diagnostic facilities in the Laboratory of Pathology is from contact-associated exposures, Biosafety Level 2 (BL2) practices, equipment and facilities are most applicable. The essential elements of BL2 practices, some general safety rules required by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and practices related to chemical hygiene are outlined below.

BL2 is suitable for work involving agents of moderate potential hazard to personnel and environment. In particular, laboratory personnel must have specific training in handling pathogenic agents, access to the laboratory should be limited when work is being conducted, appropriate precautions are taken with contaminated sharp items, and certain procedures in which infectious aerosols or splashes may be created are conducted in biological safety cabinets.

Most work, however, is safely performed on the open counter consistent with BL2 work.

The following policies apply to both agents assigned to BL2 and chemical hazards. These polices must be practiced by all laboratory sections. Additional safety policies may be specified within each laboratory section.

Last Updated 12/28/2009 10:41:35 AM