Medical technologists working in clinical pathology laboratories are at risk of various potential chemical, physical, and biological hazards. To ensure the safety of their workers, every clinical lab should have essential lab safety equipment.
By being equipped with all the necessary safety equipment, clinical labs can assure their workers of reduced risk for serious injury. Are you preparing your clinical laboratory safety plan? You have come to the right place as we have rounded up the laboratory safety equipment essential in clinical labs.
10 Must-Have Clinical Lab Safety Equipment
Everyone’s safety is a top priority, so knowing and having the correct safety equipment for clinical pathology labs is a must. What is the safety equipment you need? Here are 10 essential pieces of lab safety equipment that everyone must know how to use to prevent accidents and promote a safe working environment for lab tech personnel.
Lab Coat
A lab coat is personal protective equipment (PPE) for a clinical technician to protect themselves from chemicals, infectious substances, and bodily fluids. They usually have a standard white design with a breast pocket and two lower outside pockets, but some come in different colors and can resist fire and chemicals. Wearing lab coats is a must at all times inside clinical laboratories.
Safety Goggles
Safety goggles or lab goggles give the eyes complete protection against hazardous substances. They are flexible, comfortable to wear, and made of polyvinyl chloride. Safety goggles are splash-resistant and have vents to help prevent the lenses from fogging. This eye protection gear can be worn over eyeglasses.
Fume Hood
A fume hood captures hazardous gases, fumes, and vapors and removes them through a fume hood filter and exhaust. A biosafety cabinet, on the other hand, uses a HEPA filter to ensure the safety of the surrounding environment and every lab tech against biological agents and maintain the quality of the material.
Fire Blanket
Wool treated with fire retardant liquid makes a fire blanket suitable for smothering flames if a lab catches fire. Alternatively, fire blankets are also capable of controlling and containing chemical spills. But do remember that a fire blanket is not reusable.
Lab Gloves
Disposable lab gloves ensure the hands are safe from hazardous substances when performing tests. There are different kinds of lab gloves, so knowing the ideal type for every lab application is vital. For instance, powder-free or lightly powdered latex gloves are perfect against water-based solutions, and nitrile lab gloves are excellent for more demanding applications.
Chemical Spill Kit
A chemical spillage kit is a piece of lab safety equipment all clinical laboratories should have. Spill kits for chemicals come in an easy-to-find bag and contain nitrile gloves, plastic bags, absorbent pads, tamper-proof tags and seals, and more, and they are effective in stopping fluids like solvents and oils from spreading in case of a spill.
Safety Storage Cabinets
Safety storage cabinets keep all hazardous materials and flammable liquids safe and away from everyone. Doing so prevents unwanted spills and exposure that may endanger every lab tech and the entire clinical laboratory.
First Aid Kits
Accidents happen in laboratory environments, so having first aid kits to treat common injuries is imperative. Laboratory first aid kits must contain items like bandages, lab gloves, antiseptic wipes, and eye pad dressings. The kit should be placed in accessible locations inside the lab.
Fire Extinguisher
Fire extinguishers are integral to the fire safety plan of clinical labs. They are excellent at putting out a small fire and preventing further property damage and loss of life. Fire extinguishers, however, need regular maintenance and must pass annual inspections to ensure they function well.
Eye Wash Station and Emergency Showers
Eye wash stations are an essential piece of lab safety equipment for cleaning, soothing, or refreshing the eyes. Every lab safety plan must include eyewashes and emergency showers for quick decontamination.
Common Questions Asked About Laboratory Safety Equipment
Fire extinguishers and fire blankets are the two pieces of equipment commonly used to respond to fires in the lab. Fire extinguishers are portable devices that can extinguish small fires, while fire blankets are made of fire-resistant material and can be used to smother small fires or to wrap around a person whose clothing has caught fire.
The first and most important step in clinical laboratory safety is properly educating and training all personnel on the potential hazards and safe laboratory practices. It includes understanding the proper handling and disposal of infectious materials, use of PPE, and emergency procedures.
A lab coat, safety goggles, and laboratory gloves should be worn in the clinical laboratory when handling biological specimens, performing diagnostic tests, or working with lab chemicals that may pose a health risk.
Laboratory safety measures ensure accurate test results, protect patients and healthcare workers from harm, and keep lab tech personnel safe from hazardous substances.
