KCMC HISTOLOGY LABORATORY

Safety Manual

[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
Introduction

This Safety manual is designed to implement and maintain a safe working environment in a Histology
Medical laboratory. As with all such safety guidelines, there are requirements to ensure that there is a
named Person ultimately responsible and that all employees take personal responsibility for

 Our own safety at work and,

 The safety of others who may be affected by it.

Every task requires risk assessment, with the aim that hazards be eliminated wherever possible. Where
this cannot be done, the risk from each hazard is reduced to as low a level as practicable, using the
following order of priority:

a) By substitution;
b) By containment; or
c) By the use of personal protective measures and equipment.

Safety is the primary consideration; cost is of secondary importance.

While this Safety Manual is intended for use throughout the currently recognized disciplines of medical

Laboratory services, other services and disciplines may find it useful and appropriate. However, medical
laboratories handling human pathogens requiring containment levels 3 and 4 will need to meet
additional requirements to ensure safety.
 1. Scope

This Safety manual outline all for safe practices in the Histology medical laboratory.

2. Terms and definitions

The following are the terms and definitions that applies with safety in Histology laboratory

2.1

Aerosols

System of particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog

2.2

Antisepsis

Method for avoiding infection in a wound or during a clinical procedure by the use of a chemical agent
such antiseptic.

2.3

Antiseptic

Chemical germicide formulated to be used on skin or tissue

2.4

Biological agent

Any microorganism, including those which have been genetically modified, cell cultures and human

endoparasites, which may be able to provoke any infection, allergy or toxicity

2.5

Cleaning

Process to remove any type of contamination, visible or not

2.6

Control of infection plan

Set of procedures to be used to limit spread of infection in either a hospital or a laboratory

2.7

Decontamination

Procedure that eliminates or reduces microbial or toxic agents to a safe level with respect to the
transmission of infection or other adverse effects

2.8
Disinfectant

Agent capable of causing disinfection

2.9

Disinfection

Process to reduce the number of microorganisms, but not usually of bacterial spores, without
necessarily killing or removing all organisms.

2.10

Ergonomics

Study of the efficiency of persons in their working environment

NOTE: This term includes biomechanics, work physiology, anthropomorphy and man-machine
interfaces.

2.11

Extraction hood

Fume hood

Cabinet or cover above a laboratory device for the extraction of air or fumes which prevents their
general circulation.

2.12

Hazard

Potential source of harm.

2.13

Hazardous waste

Waste that is potentially flammable, combustible, ignitable, corrosive, toxic, reactive, or injurious to
people or the environment.

2.14

Material safety data sheet

MSDS

Technical bulletin providing detailed hazard and precautionary information

2.15

Microbiological safety cabinet (MSC)

Biological safety cabinet - ventilated enclosure, intended to offer protection to the user and the
environment from the aerosols arising from handling of potentially hazardous and hazardous
microorganisms, with means for filtering air discharged to the atmosphere

2.16

Microorganism

Microbiological entity, cellular or non-cellular, capable of replication or of transferring genetic material

2.17

Noise

Unwanted sound in the form of acoustic energy which may adversely affect health

2.18

Personal protective equipment

Material, including clothing, used to prevent contamination of a person by chemical or biological matter

2.19

Radionuclide

Natural or synthetically produced unstable nucleus of an atom that emits ionizing radiation

2.20

Risk

Combination of the probability of occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm

2.21

Safety hood

Covering over a medical laboratory workplace or device intended to reduce risk to a laboratory worker

2.22

Spill kit

Set of equipment used for the removal of chemical or microbiological material from a laboratory surface
or apparatus

2.23

Splash guard

Device used to prevent personal contamination by a liquid

2.24

Sterilization
Validated process used to render a product free from microorganisms

2.25

Technical area

Space in a medical laboratory allocated for the preparation or examination of samples

2.26

Tissue

Any coherent collection of animal or plant specialized cells

3. Risk group classification

Biological agents are classified into four risk groups:

a) Risk Group I (low individual and community risk)

This group includes those microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites which are unlikely to
cause disease in healthy workers or animals (e.g. non-pathogenic biological agents).

b) Risk Group II (moderate individual risk, limited community risk)

This group includes pathogens that can cause human or animal disease, but under normal circumstances
are unlikely to be a serious hazard to healthy laboratory workers, the community, livestock or the
environment (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes). Laboratory exposures rarely cause
infection leading to serious disease; effective treatment and preventive measures are available and the
risk of spread is limited.

c) Risk Group III (high individual risk, low community risk)

This group includes pathogens that usually cause serious human or animal disease, or which can result in
serious economic consequences but do not ordinarily spread by casual contact from one individual to
another, or that can be treated by antimicrobial or antiparasitic agents (e.g. Salmonella typhi, prion).

d) Risk Group IV (high individual risk, high community risk)

This group includes pathogens that usually produce very serious human or animal disease, often
untreatable, and may be readily transmitted from one individual to another, or from animal to human or
vice-versa, directly or indirectly, or by casual contact (e.g. smallpox virus).

Medical laboratories dealing with Risk Groups III and IV infectious agents will need to meet additional
requirements to ensure safety.

NOTE In Europe, “Risk Groups I, II, III and IV” are termed “Hazard Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4”. For the purposes
of this
International Standard, the terms may be considered interchangeable and local usage will determine the
actual terminology required. Risk Groups II, III and IV may also be termed “pathogens” or “infectious
agents”.

4. Management requirements

4.1 Management responsibilities

Laboratory management shall have responsibility for the safety of all employees and visitors to the
laboratory.

The ultimate responsibility shall rest with the laboratory director or a named person of equivalent
standing.

4.2 Management of staff health

All personnel shall have documented evidence of training related to potential risks associated with
working with any medical Histology laboratory facility.

All personnel should be strongly encouraged to have immunizations to prevent infections associated
with organisms to which the person is likely to be exposed. For example, all personnel working with or
handling human blood, sera, body fluids or human tissue should be offered hepatitis B vaccine.

5. Designing for safety

5.1 Preliminary considerations

When new construction is being considered, or where a laboratory is already established and structural

changes are proposed, appropriate national and local building regulations and building codes containing

specific architectural safety standards for laboratories shall be followed. No structural or engineering
work

shall be undertaken without the appropriate permission being given by the laboratory director or
his/her

nominated representative.

NOTE International and national standards bodies are sources of helpful information.

6.2 General design requirements

Laboratories shall be designed to ensure that containment of microbiological, chemical, radiological and

physical hazards is appropriate to the level of assessed risks in technical work areas, and provides a safe

working environment in associated office areas and adjoining public space to limit risk to the
surrounding
community. Corridors and passages to the exits shall be clear of obstructions.

Copyright International Organization for Standardization

Provided by IHS under license with ISO

No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale

The laboratory should be designed to ensure a clear separation of phlebotomy facilities where they are

included in the laboratory area, sample reception, administrative and analytical areas. Each area should
have

environmental controls and facilities, furnishings, work surfaces and floor finishes appropriate to the
activity

being performed there. There should be sufficient unobstructed space for safe working, including
adequate

space around large pieces of equipment for maintenance personnel. There should be suitable and
adequate

designated spaces, proximal to, but safely separated from, laboratory working space for the safe and
secure

storage of samples, chemicals, records, and for rubbish or designated laboratory waste prior to disposal.

Dedicated handwashing sinks should be fixed within all areas where biological materials are handled.

Wherever possible, hand-operated sink handles should be replaced with motion-, elbow-, knee- or
footoperated

equipment. Sinks installed for hand washing in areas where biological materials are handled should

have unimpeded drainage (i.e. no stoppers in the basin) and the temperature of the hot water supplied
should

be such that hands can be held comfortably in the water flow.

A water temperature of 45 °C is recommended.

NOTE If taps (faucets) are hand-operated, it is good practice to turn them on using a paper towel or
similar material

to avoid hand contamination.

In designing the air-circulating system for the medical laboratory, effective separation between
contaminated

areas should be considered. Each area should have an individual air-circulating system.

6.3 Physical conditions

6.3.1 Lighting
Laboratories shall be illuminated naturally or artificially to a level that is optimal for safe working. Glare
and

distracting reflections should be minimized.

6.3.2 Temperature

Any equipment generating excessive heat or chill shall be isolated from the general workspace. Personal

protective equipment, including thermal protective gloves and appropriate clothing, shall be provided to
allow

for personnel safety and comfort.

Ambient temperature in laboratories should be controlled as far as possible to a level compatible with

laboratory worker comfort.

6.3.3 Ventilation

Any equipment with the potential to generate exhaust fumes or emit excessive heat, steam, odour or
toxicity

shall be isolated from the general workspace and placed under a suitable extraction hood. If such

arrangements are not possible, special arrangements for worker comfort shall be provided.

Local natural or mechanical ventilation is advised where unpleasant or nauseous odours could arise
from

certain manual processes.

Ambient humidity and changes of air in laboratories should be made compatible with laboratory worker

comfort and safety.

Air flowrates should be monitored regularly to ensure adequate ventilation and should be engineered to
avoid

dispersion of potentially infectious agents and toxic fumes.

Ventilation ducts should be isolated from the general workspace in order to avoid dispersion or airborne

infectious agents or smells in the rest of the workplace.

Copyright International Organization for Standardization

Provided by IHS under license with ISO

No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale

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ISO 15190:2003(E)
6 © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

6.3.4 Noise

Excessive noise levels shall be avoided within the laboratory workspace. Selection and location of
equipment

shall take account of individual pieces of equipment and their contribution to the cumulative noise
levels in the

work place. Steps shall be taken to minimize or attenuate noise generation.

6.3.5 Ergonomic factors

Laboratory activity, workspace and equipment (e.g. chairs, laboratory workstations, computer
keyboards and

displays), as well as vibration-producing and ultrasonic equipment, etc., shall be designed or positioned
to

reduce the risks of ergonomic distress disorders and accidents.

6.3.6 Design for working with viable pathogens

All laboratories working with viable biological agents shall have design characteristics appropriate to the

containment of microorganisms of moderate to high risk to the individual. Laboratories designed to

work with

organisms of Risk Group III or above shall include design characteristics for greater containment.

6.3.7 Door signs

Laboratories shall be identified at each entrance and exit point, with emergency exits marked so as to

distinguish them from normal exits. Signs at each site shall include the internationally accepted hazard

indicators (e.g. biohazard, fire, radioactivity) and other relevant statutory signs.

6.3.8 Laboratory security

Laboratory entrances shall have lockable doors. These door locks shall not prevent exit in an emergency.

Laboratory access shall be restricted to authorized personnel. Locks may be required for internal doors,
to

restrict entry while high-risk samples are being examined. Additional security measures, such as lockable

doors, locked freezers, limited access to specific personnel, etc., may be required when storing high-risk

samples, cultures, chemical reagents or supplies. The threat of theft and tampering with biological
agents,

samples, drugs, chemicals and confidential information should be assessed, and appropriate steps taken
to
prevent these acts from happening.

7 Staffing, procedures, documentation, inspection and records

7.1 Laboratory Safety Officer

An appropriately qualified and experienced Laboratory Safety Officer shall be designated to assist the

managers with safety issues. This person shall develop, maintain and monitor an effective laboratory
safety

programme.

An effective laboratory safety programme should include education, orientation and training, audit and

evaluation, and programmes to promote safe laboratory practice.

The Laboratory Safety Officer shall be authorized to stop activities that are unsafe. If there is a Safety

Committee, the Laboratory Safety Officer shall be at least an ex officio member of this Committee, if not
its

chairholder.

7.2 Procedures

The standard operating procedures for the laboratory shall include detailed instructions concerning any

hazards involved and how to carry out the procedure with minimum risk. Procedures shall be reviewed
and

updated at least annually by the management representative responsible for the work place activity. A
written

plan, including protocols for hazard communication, shall be developed. The plan shall include the
following:

Copyright International Organization for Standardization

Provided by IHS under license with ISO

No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale

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