BY LIM AH SEE

Introduction
The principal objective of an assessor when deciding to award the IKM Laboratory Excellence Award – Safety Aspect is to determine whether the laboratory is able to carry out all the laboratory work in a safe and healthy manner. The assessment will also determine whether the lab staff is exposed to any hazardous situations. A laboratory is safe if the following conditions exist:-

• Good laboratory design to facilitate safe operation

• Staff responsible to health and safety aspects of laboratory

• Chemical hazard communication (Employee’s right to know) --Employees have the right to know the properties and potential safety and health hazards of substances to which they may be exposed. Such knowledge is essential to reducing the risk of occupational illness and injury

• Operation control over hazardous chemical and waste
  

• Safe use of equipment
  

• Standard operation procedures for major and minor emergency

• Complying with local laws and regulations

It is imperative that a laboratory which practises safety and health should have the following basic requirements:-

1. A good Laboratory Safety Manual (LSM) covering the following topics:-
   • Laboratory safety rules & practices (reference: common laboratory safety rules & practices by Lim Ah See); copies of this reference are available from IKM on request.
     
     
   • Safety equipment
     
     
   • Emergency response equipment
     
   • Safety in the laboratory covering the management of the following:-
     - Carcinogenic compounds
     - Reproductive hazards/toxins
     - Toxic substance
     - Acid & alkali
     - Solvent/flammable
     - Incompatible chemicals
     - Oxidising material
     - Compressed gas cylinder safety
     - Safety chemical storage (ref: Safe storage of chemicals in the workplace by Lim Ah See); copies of this reference are available from IKM on request.
     - Carrying glasses
     - Eye protection
     - Use of pipette
     - Experiments
     - Protective clothing
     - Electrical equipment
     - Refluxing
     - Distillation
     
     
   • Fire safety procedures
     
     
   • Chemical hazards
     - Classes of chemicals
     - General guideline on handling chemicals
     - Label and MSDS
     - Responsibility of person handling chemicals
     - Emergency response procedure for chemical spills
     
     
   • Radiation hazards

This list is not comprehensive.

2. Records to show that all laboratory staff who handle chemicals are adequately trained

3. Up to date MSDS on all hazardous chemicals available in the workplace are easily available

4. SOP on handling & disposal of laboratory wastes

5. Availability of emergency response equipment and PPE and maintained in good working condition

The following emergency response equipment and PPE should be available (mandatory):

• safety shower
• eye wash station (commercial type only.) Squeeze bottles are not allowed. The bottles do not contain enough water to be effective. Both the safety shower and eye wash station should not be in the toilet. Both of them should be mounted on a plumbed water line with sufficient water pressure
• safety glasses
• laboratory goggles
• face shield
• laboratory coats
• safety footwear
• safety gloves
• fire extinguishers
• spill response kits for various types of chemical spills
• respirators for dust and solvent
• fire blanket

Staff should be able to deal with the following types of emergencies:-

• small fire
  
• chemical spills
  
• release of toxic and corrosive gases
  
• release of pathogens and restricted biological materials
  
• power failure
  
• explosion

This list is not intended to be complete.

6. Properly maintained fume cupboards with face velocity set to manufacturer specification. Check also that the exhausted fumes do not re-enter laboratory.

7. Check to determine that the ventilation in the laboratory is adequate. If assessor smells solvent vapour or other objectionable odour when first entering laboratory then it can be concluded that the laboratory has ventilation problem. A good ventilated laboratory should be able to keep chemical exposures below the limits specified in USECHH regulation. 

8. Written out procedures to clean up different types of chemical spills (acid, alkali, solvent, mercury etc). Record to show that staffs are trained to use them.

9. Trained first aid staff and able to carry out the following :-
   • cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), kiss of life
   • bleeding
   • burns and scalds
   • choking
   • electric shock
   • simple chemical poisoning
   • unconscious person
   • asphyxiation
   • foreign body in the eye
     
     
10. First aid kit placed in accessible location in the laboratory and with the following contents:
    • antiseptic lotion to use with cotton wool to clean wounds, burns, cut etc
    • absorbent cotton for cleaning cuts etc
    • adhesive dressing (plaster) for covering wounds
    • bandage
    • self adhesive plaster
    • Panadol or Aspirin
    • Scissors , safety pin , tweezers for removing splinters
      
      

11. At least 2 fire escape routes in the laboratory. Check that the routes are not cluttered with obstacles.

12. Written out procedures for carrying out emergency drills and also having evacuation plan. Record to show that such drills are carried out at least twice annually.

13. Check whether laboratory is complying with local laws and regulation:-
    • OSH Act, 1994
    • OSH ( classification, packing & labeling of hazardous chemical) regulation 1997
    • OSH (use & standard of exposure of chemical hazardous to health) regulation 2000
    • Environment Quality act 1974
    • EQ (scheduled wastes) regulation 1989
      
      
14. Laboratory should have the following important telephone numbers:-
    • Fire department
    • Police
    • Hospital
    • Nearest poison center
    • Safety officer
    • Spill control group
    • First- aider
    • Laboratory Manager

THE MANDATORY SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR IKM LABORATORY EXCELLENCE AWARD ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

• Laboratory Safety Rules and Practices
• Safety Chemical Storage
• Safety Shower (not in toilet/ bath room )
• Eye wash Station 
• Safety glasses / laboratory goggles
• Face shield
• Laboratory coat
• Safety gloves
• Protective footwear (when necessary)
• Fire extinguishers 
• Spill response kits
• Respirators 
• Fire blanket
• Fire drill
• Emergency exits (fire escape routes)
• Properly maintained fume cupboards
• Chemical hazard communication 
• MSDS
• First Aids Kit

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