Foundation training in laboratory safety Faculty Safety Managers: Jan de Abela-Borg and Stefan Hoyle

Training program Module 1: Principles of laboratory safety (including bio safety) Module 2: Hazardous chemicals Module 3: Gases, cryogenics and other hazards Assessment MCQs

Practice question – The best Dept at Imperial College is? A.Physics B.Life Sciences C.Chemistry D.None of the above

Learning outcomes Course Aim: Provide an understanding of how to work safely in the laboratory Module 1 Objectives: Be able to define Hazard and risk Describe basics of risk assessment Explain the relationship between Bio Hazard Groups and Lab Containment levels List the routes of exposure Describe the mode of operation of Microbiological safety cabinets

What are we trying to prevent? Injuries

Bad publicity

Damage to equipment and facilities

Exposing others

Compliance requirements UK legislation Faculties and Depts

Summary (1) Lab safety is important to prevent harm to individuals, equipment or facilities, the environment or the public image of the organisation (and therefore funding). The College follows the Regulations of UK law as set out in the UK Health and Safety at Work Act Students are treated as staff for the purposes of health and safety

Which one of these groups of answers illustrates good lab practice? A.Writing tidily in lab book, wearing labcoat and safety glasses, turning off lights when leaving the lab B.No eating or drinking, wearing labcoat and safety glasses, knowing correct waste routes C.Reporting accidents and near misses, leaving door open when working alone, cover cuts on hands with gloves D.No eating or drinking in the lab, leaving door open when working alone, wearing disposable gloves when transporting samples between labs E.Asking the cleaners to clean up chemical spills, turning off lights when leaving lab, wash hands before leaving lab

Good lab practice No eating, drinking, applying cosmetics or mouth pipetting Housekeeping Storing or using personal items in the lab (food, iPods, presents etc) Responsibility for work and the safety of others Labcoat, safety glasses and gloves Good glove practice and hand hygiene Covering cuts or grazes as appropriate Lab coat cleaning Dealing with spillages Reporting accidents and near misses Removing waste via the correct route and recycling

Risk assessment process Identify the hazard Identify who may be harmed Evaluate the risk and identify control measures Record the assessment Review the assessment Something with the potential to cause harm The likelihood and severity of harm occurring

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations “hazardous substances” Chemicals (incl toxins) Carcinogens Biological agents Any other substance hazardous to health inc wood dust, plant toxins, cleaning materials, oils and plenty more!)

COSHH risk assessment – general provisions Assess health risks Prevent or control exposure Use control measures Maintain, examine and test control measures Monitor exposure Health surveillance Information, instruction and training for persons who may be exposed Arrangements to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies

COSHH – preventing exposure Substitution - substituting ‘it’ with another substance which presents less, or no risk; using another process which doesn’t create a hazardous form of that substance. Segregation - If substitution is not possible then start by considering whether the work is adequately isolated from other staff, students, contractors or visitors. 1 st fundamental principle – prevent exposure Elimination – Don’t do it or;

No segregation increased risk of exposure

COSHH – controlling exposure 2 nd fundamental principle – control exposure Engineering control – Using equipment and lab design to prevent exposure for example, microbiological safety cabinet, enclosed centrifuge rotors, non absorbent lab furniture, laser interlocks, extraction for solder etc. Procedural control – Ensuring those doing the work are competent, follow procedures and where appropriate know emergency actions. Management control – Monitoring and reviewing controls to ensure implementation, for example, health surveillance, equipment maintenance, providing training, reviewing assessments.

COSHH – controlling exposure Substance / Process Engineering control Procedural control Managing control Homogenisation of human tissue with a needle. Use blunt needle or pipette tip. Ensure appropriate waste receptacle is available. Avoid using sharp needles. Avoid using clinical samples. Do not re-sheath needles Get Hepatitis B vaccination. Centrifugation of hazardous pathogens Enclosed centrifuge rotors Open rotors in microbiological safety cabinets Ensure disinfectant available Training for use of centrifuge Maintain centrifuge and rotors Get Bio agents health screening via Occupational Health

COSHH – Biological agents All biological agents must be classified in one of four Hazard Groups Hazard Group 1 Hazard Group 2 Hazard Group 3 Hazard Group 4 Increasing hazard to human health Lab containment Level 1 Lab containment Level 2 Lab containment Level 3 Lab containment Level 4

COSHH - biological containment

Which group of criteria should be used to place human pathogens in the COSHH hazard groups? A)Country of origin, virulence, concentration of culture B)Motility of microorganism, infectious dose, route of exposure C)Type of microorganism, route of exposure, country of origin D)Infectious dose, availability of treatment, survivability E)Incubation period, infectious dose, motility of microorganism

Summary (2) Risk assessment and planning is a essential part of safe and good science. All hazards must be considered when assessing the risk from lab work. Human pathogens are segregated into one of four hazard groups and must be used in a equivalent or higher containment level lab. COSHH requires that exposure from substances hazardous to health is either prevented or controlled

Routes of lab infection Ingestion Eating, drinking and smoking in the laboratory Mouth pipetting Transfer of micro-organisms to mouth by contaminated fingers or articles Skin (percutaneous) Skin puncture by needle or other sharp Bites and scratches by animals Existing cuts or scratches Conjunctivae Splashes of infectious material into the eye Transfer to eye by contaminated fingers or articles Inhalation Inhalation of airbourne organisms

Which of these measures help control percutaneous exposure? A)Replace sharp needles with blunt needles / re-sheathing needles after use / using correct disposal methods B)Using correct disposal methods / wearing disposable nitrile gloves / using plastic labware instead of glass C)Using plastic labware instead of glass / replacing sharp needles with blunt / using correct disposal methods D)Wearing disposable nitrile gloves / re-sheathing needles / using correct disposal methods

Controlling aerosols & droplets Secondary control measure the worker

Microbiological safety cabinets (MSC) Required for work at containment level 2 and 3 if the work presents a risk of aerosol exposure Must be correctly selected (type and make) Must be correctly installed Must be correctly used Must be correctly maintained

MSC - class I USER High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter

MSC - class II USER Exhaust HEPA filter Downflow HEPA filter

MSC – class III USER HEPA filter

MSC – airflow sensitivity MSC bench MSC bench 300 mm Do not have another worker at an adjacent bench Allow adequate room for workers at nearby benches

Differences between a MSC and a fume cupboard Microbiological safety cabinet Fume cupboard

Using a MSC Proper use: before you start work Proper use: whilst at the cabinet Proper use: after completion of the work

MSC users - training What you must know if using a MSC: Classification of cabinets Appropriate and inappropriate use of cabinets Mode of operation and function of all controls and indicators Limitations of performance How to work safely at the cabinet What to do if it stops working How to decontaminate after use Principles of airflow and operator protection tests

Summary (3) Identifying the route of exposure will help to identify the correct control measures Controlling exposure at source protects the individual and others who may could be affected. Controlling biological exposure via inhalation can be achieved by using MSCs If using a MSC ensure you are using the correct class (I, II or III) and get appropriate training.

Human blood and tissues Main infection hazard is HIV, HepB and HepC

Which of these donors can you consider to be safe in terms of handling their blood? A)1 + 3 B)1 C)3 D)None E)All 132

Universal precautions for human blood and tissue Get Hepatitis B vaccination Transport samples in robust containers. Use secondary containment. Wear gloves, labcoat and safety glasses when handling body fluids Use a MSC if generating aerosols or splashes Minimise use of sharps. If sharps are required use them properly Dispose of waste appropriately Know what to do in the event of an exposure (post exposure prophylaxis)

Which of these could you import into the UK without prior consultation with College safety personnel or Regulatory authorities? A) Oak leaves from Chernobyl B) GM modified mouse from Beijing C) Aphids from Seattle D) Glowing gonad mosquitoes from Nairobi E) Mouse Ear Cress from Rome

Importing material into the UK

Genetically modified organisms What is GM? Micro-organisms, plants and animals that have had their heritable genetic material altered by artificial means.

GMO Regulations (contained use) Assessment Notification Containment Emergency Plans Waste control Report accidents

What is GM? Gene of interest (insert) Vector Host e.g. bacterial expression system.....

GM assessment and class Requires that all GMOs are classified in one of four Classes Class 1Class 2Class 3Class 4 Increasing hazard to human health or the environment 1234 Containment Level Classification of GMM determined by Containment Level required

College procedures for GM projects All GM work must be assessed by the relevant GM Safety Committee BEFORE generation, use or storage of any GM material. If you are using GM material – ALWAYS ask to see the associated GM assessment If using Class 2 or 3 GM material you will need to be on Bio-agents health screening provided by College Occupational Health. Also remind your supervisor that the GM Form C needs to be updated

Summary (4) Treat all human body fluids or tissues as potentially infected Before importing any material into the UK check with a FSM or the Safety Dept GM material must be assessed and approved before it is cultured, stored, used or disposed of GM classification is based on the risk to human health and the environment