Laboratory Safety

General Laboratory Safety

Laboratories can be place of danger as a lack of experience and knowledge may contribute to a safety and health incident. We can never totally eliminate the risk of injury, however you can reduce them by abiding by a number of safety and health rules.

1. Ensure that you follow all instructions that your supervisor gives you.
2. Wear the correct clothing such as covered shoes and laboratory coats. Laboratory coats can easily be forgotten and thought of as waste of time however they provide valuable protection against such things as spills.
3. Use appropriate personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, hearing and respiratory protection when needed. Remember to always wear your laboratory coat and other protective equipment.
4. Eating, chewing, drinking, smoking, taking medication, or applying cosmetics is forbidden, as is mouth pi petting.
5. Never undertake potentially hazardous activities whilst working alone.
6. Familiarise yourself with the emergency preparedness procedures. Know the location of the nearest emergency shower, eyewash station, first aid kit, fire fighting equipment and emergency exits.
7. If chemical spillage's do occur and you are unsure of how to deal with it, STOP and immediately contact your supervisor or safety warden (Rod Robinson, 2372). You should however always know how to clean up the chemicals you are working with prior to beginning your work.
8. Never undertake repairs of electrical equipment. Unauthorised modification to electrical equipment is not allowed; only qualified persons are permitted to carry out electrical work.
9. Ensure you know how to operate equipment and machinery safely before beginning.
10. When planning a new experiment always consider the hazards that might occur and take the necessary precautions to eliminate or reduce these hazards.
11. Always report all known or observable hazards, incident and injuries to your supervisor and complete and submit the necessary report forms.
12. Be aware of posture: ergonomics. Prolonged postures without regular change are to be avoided.

Remember to always wear your laboratory coat and other protective equipment.

Housekeeping

Good housekeeping in the laboratory can reduce the risk of injury.

General Laboratory Safety

1. Cleanliness and tidiness

   • Leave equipment and workspace as found. WHEN YOU LEAVE, THE LABORATORY SHOULD BE CLEANER AND TIDIER THAN YOU FOUND IT.
   • When you enter the lab, leave your coat and bags in the doctor's room. Do not spread out your clothes in the lab!! Instruct your subjects to do the same.
   • Clean and sterilise surfaces and equipment after use. Be sure to come back and put the clean equipment away!!! (eg. do not leave mouthpieces and hoses in the sterilizing solution for more than 60 minutes!).
   • Clean not only the equipment, but also the floor around the equipment you used (blood, sweat etc.)
   • If something needs cleaning, then clean it!
   
   

2. Breakages/Malfunctions

   Everyone MUST report all breakages and malfunctions. In the first instance, inform your supervisor and then the technical staff, and also place a sign on the equipment to let other lab users know there is a problem. Sign and date this. Be sure to record the performance of the major pieces of equipment in their respective logs to make it easier for the monitoring of consumables as well as the actual machinery.

3. Ordering New Supplies

   • For consumable items (tissues, gloves, paper towels etc.), let the technical staff (Colin Phillips) know.
   • For sharps (scalpels, needles, lancets etc.) drugs (local anaesthetic, etc.) and chemicals (biochemistry kits etc.), tell your supervisor, who will then order the required goods through Rod Robinson.
   
   

4. Computers

   • Do not install any software on a computer in the lab without informing the Electronic Technicians.
   • Do not use the computers in the lab as storage space. Take the files you need to your own computer. Do not leave files on a computer in the lab without filing them in a folder with your name. Occasionally the hard drives will be cleaned and files with no clear purpose will be deleted.
   
   

5. Emergency Procedures

   Lab users should be familiar with the locations of safety and emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire alarms, first-aid kits, emergency telephones, exits and the School Evacuation Plan.

   • Rob Robinson is the School's designated Safety Officer and should be contacted (Ext. 2372) in the event of an accident.
   • The UWA emergency phone no. (2222) is shown on the handset.
   • A first aid kid is located in the technical area (ground floor).
   • Showers for rapid washing in the event of a chemical spill on skin etc. are located in the Exercise Biochemistry lab and also downstairs in the Technical storage area.
   
   

6. Safety Considerations

   • Loose clothing and long hair must be kept away from moving equipment (be SMART!).
   • Closed shoes must be worn when working in the lab.
   • Always wear protective gloves when handling chemicals or biological samples and/or waste. Safety glasses are also recommended.
   • DO NOT risk needle stick injury by attempting to re-sheath needles. For more information on needle and syringe disposal/needle stick injuries, see the UWA Safety and Health policy included as an Appendix to this manual.
   
   

7. Poisons Cupboard

   • By government regulation, products such as local anaesthetics (Xylocaine and Emla cream) must be stored in a locked cupboard. David Bishop holds the Poison's License for the lab, therefore he is responsible for maintaining a register of the stored products and he and Rod Robinson have keys to the cupboard.
   • To adhere to government regulations, the cupboard should be locked again immediately after removing the required products. DO NOT LEAVE THE CUPBOARD OPEN WHEN WORKING IN THE LAB.
   
   

8. Security

   • Do not remove anything from the lab without permission.
   • Always lock the Laboratory door when unoccupied. Things can disappear very quickly.
   • Keep your valuables safe while working in the lab.
   • DO NOT leave polar heart rate monitors and stopwatches in the lab. They disappear!

Booking Procedures

• Bookings (including subject's name) are to be written in the lab diary that is kept by the radiometer.
• Please book as far in advance as possible to avoid potential conflict and disappointment! The lab works on a 'first come, first serve' basis wherever possible.
• Give an approximate start and end time for equipment usage. Do not forget to allow time for set-up, calibration and clean-up.
• If you require the WHOLE lab (eg. for performance testing or a large group), please indicate in your booking.
• List ALL the equipment you require (which ergometer, treadmill, skin fold callipers, etc…)
• Wherever possible, please try to book subjects in blocks to help with lab efficiency.
• Cancel bookings as early as possible if your circumstances change.

Cleaning And Sterilising Equipment

1. Polar heart rate monitors:

   • DO NOT immerse the transmitter belts in water. Rinse under hot water, wipe down with paper towels and leave to dry. The receivers (wristwatch) should be wiped down with paper towels.
   
   

2. Breathing Valves / Mouthpieces / Hosing / Nose clips

   • All breathing valves, nose clips, hosing and mouth pieces should be separated, rinsed thoroughly in hot water and placed into Milton solution for 1 hour (see instructions on wall and follow exactly).
   • It is very important you return and take items out of the sterilising solution.
   • If you suspect that these items have been left in solution for more than 60 minutes, PLEASE REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY.
   
   

3. Sweat

   • Sweat on equipment and floors is to be wiped away with paper towels. THIS IS TO BE CARRIED OUT AT THE END OF EVERY TESTING SESSION.
   
   

4. Blood Spills

   • All personnel involved in blood handling are required to wear latex gloves. All blood spills should be wiped away with alcohol.
   • Any items involved in blood/body fluid sampling are to be deposited in biological waste containers (see Waste disposal).
   • All sharps are to be deposited in sharps containers (see Waste disposal).
   
   

5. Muscle Biopsy Needles and Syringes

   • As soon as possible after the muscle sample is removed from the needle, all parts of the needle should be separated and washed off with running water, to remove all blood and tissue.
   • After washing, reassemble the needle and place it back into its plastic cover.
   • Sterilisation of the needles is performed at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Count the number of needles delivered and check that the same number is returned. When dropping off at the Hospital make sure the bag containing the needles is clearly labelled with "HM & ES, UWA".
   • The 50ml syringes used for suction can be re-used providing they are not soiled with blood or tissue. If so, dispose of correctly (see Waste disposal).
   
   

6. Rectal Temperature Probes

   • After use, discard any plastic covers and/or tape/gauze used to secure the probe, then wash off under running water, then place in Milton solution for 1 hour. DO NOT mix these probes with other items, such as mouthpieces, breathing valves.
   
   

7. Skin Temperature Probes

   • Wipe dry with paper towels to remove sweat.
   • If necessary, wipe with alcohol to remove tape adhesive.
   • Plastic holders (if used) should be wiped dry with paper towels.
   
   

Waste Disposal

1. Sharps

   • All sharps (needles, lancets, scalpels etc) must be deposited into sharps containers! No other waste should be placed in these containers!
   • When full, the sharps container is to be placed into the large Medi-Collect bin for removal from the lab.
   
   

2. Biological (Soiled) Waste

   • All (non-sharp) items, that have blood, tissue, saliva or sweat on or in them are to be placed into plastic bags marked for "Biological Waste". This includes vacutainers, soiled tissues and swabs, used alcohol wipes, syringes etc. Unsoiled paper waste, such as tissue boxes, alcohol swab covers, etc. must not be placed in these bags.
   • When full (or finished for the day) a biological waste bag should be clearly labelled with the appropriate sticker, firmly sealed and placed in the large Medi-Collect bin for removal from the lab.
   
   

3. Paper and General (Unsoiled) Waste

   • Other than sharps or soiled waste, all other paper and general waste that is unsoiled, must be placed into a general waste bin. DO NOT mix this type of rubbish with biological waste.
   • General waste bins will be emptied by the cleaners.
   
   

Animal Handling Procedures

Experiments with animals must comply with UWA, State and Federal guidelines for the care and use of animals for scientific research. See "Handling and Disposal of Animals" included as an Appendix to this manual.

Radioisotope Handling Procedures

• Experiments using radioactive material must comply with UWA and government guidelines for this type of research.
• For further information, go to www.safety.uwa.edu.au/policies

Liquid Nitrogen Handling Procedures

• Liquid N₂ is obtained from Physics, but can only be collected by walking there with one of our canisters and a trolley (see Colin Phillips). You can no longer drive there to pick it up as we are not permitted to transport liquid N₂ in a vehicle unless it is specifically designed for this purpose.
• Use thick protective gloves when handling liquid N₂ to prevent burns.

Needle and Syringe Disposal

These procedures provide guidelines for the appropriate disposal of needles and syringes used, or found, at the University and emergency action to be taken following a needlestick injury.Diseases caused by needle stick injuries have increased in recent years due to the proliferation of diseases such as hepatitis B and C and HIV in the population. For every 100 needle stick injuries involving hepatitis C positive blood, 4 result in transmission (4% risk). With hepatitis B needle stick injuries, the risk is 30% (30 in 100) and for HIV the risk is 0.4% (4 in 1000). Therefore, it is important for employees of the University to be aware of safe disposal procedures for needles and syringes and emergency action to take in the event of a needle stick injury.

Safe Disposal of Needles and Syringes

Syringes used in Education and Research

UWA Schools are responsible for supplying sufficient and appropriate sharps containers to allow disposal of all syringes used in education and research. Schools are to ensure that syringes are disposed of by incineration at a government authorised facility.

Employees, researchers and students are to place all needles and syringes in appropriate sharps containers immediately after use.

Syringes used in work with radioisotopes are to be placed in puncture proof containers within radioactive waste boxes. Syringes used in bio hazardous work are to be placed into commercial sharps containers and then into bio hazardous waste receptacles for disposal. All other syringes are to be placed in yellow sharps disposal containers.

What to do if you find a discarded needle and syringe?

Should you find a needle and syringe discarded in the laboratory or elsewhere on campus the following steps should be followed to minimise the likelihood of a needle stick injury.

1. Do not be alarmed.
2. If possible acquire a sharps container. If one is not available a container with a well secured lid, preferably a screw top, will be appropriate. Rigid plastic containers are the best (eg plastic milk, juice or soft drink bottles). Avoid using glass which may shatter, or aluminium can which may be squashed.
3. Don't touch the sharp point with your fingers or hands.
4. Pick up the used needle and syringe by the blunt end, away from the point.
5. Don't try to put the plastic protective cover back on a needle if it has fallen off.
6. Put the needle and syringe, point first, into the container. More than one can be placed in the container, but do not overfill. Do not carry the needle and syringe unless it is in a suitable container.
7. Make sure the container is tightly sealed.
8. Put the sealed container in a domestic rubbish bin (mobile green sulo bin) or deliver to Student Services Medical Centre at the Guild Village.

If you are uncomfortable in picking up the syringe please contact the Medical Centre on 6488 2118 for advice.

Needle stick injuries

Should a person suffer a needle stick injury, the following procedures should be followed.

1. 1. Wash the area gently with soap and running tap water as soon as possible.
2. 2. Apply an antiseptic and a clean dressing.
3. 3. Obtain prompt medical advice from your doctor, the University's Medical Centre or an emergency department of a hospital.
4. 4. Place the needle in a rigid plastic container and take it with you to the doctor.
5. 5. Complete the University's "Confidential Incident/Injury Report Form" and forward to the Safety and Health Office.

Should you become aware that discarded needles and syringes are becoming a problem within your area please report it to:

Handling and Disposal of Animals

Animal handling

All procedures on animals must comply with the Western Australia State regulations and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.

All procedures on animals must be approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) of The University of Western Australia (UWA). Any animal experimenter who wishes to use animals must have a current AEC approval for the research project to be carried out.

All animal users must have received a formal training in animal handling and experimentation that is approved by the AEC. In the absence of such training, one must enroll to the Programme in Animal Welfare, Ethics and Science (PAWS) course offered at UWA.

All animal users (with the exception of Honours students under direct supervision) must hold a current Vivisection License from the Government of Western Australia.

All animals must be purchased through the Animal Care Unit of UWA.

No animal should be kept permanently in the School of Human Movement and Exercise Science at UWA. Only short duration holding (less than three days) is allowed.

All animal holding and experimentation should be performed in the Animal Experimentation Room located in the Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory of the School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, with the fume hood switched on to maintain adequate ventilation.

Carcass disposal

The animals should be killed by anaesthetic overdose, and cardiac excision should be performed on the carcass prior to disposal.

All carcasses and other biological materials should be double-bagged and only temporarily stored (less than 48 hours) in the freezers of the Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory at the School of Human Movement and Exercise Science prior to being disposed of at the Animal Facility Unit on the Crawley Campus, UWA.

Radioactive carcasses should be stored and disposed of in accordance with Radiation Protection Office Guidelines.

The animal holding cages must be kept clean and stored away after usage.

Contact details

For more information on any of the issues raised above, please contact Dr Paul A. Fournier (6488 1356) or the AEC Secretary, Research Services, Registrar's Office, UWA (Tel: 6488 7887).

Use of Radioactive Materials

All radioisotope users at the University are required to have attended and passed the Unsealed Radioisotope Handling Course (3-day course) within the first year of using radioisotopes, and preferably prior to starting such work.

All procedures involving radioactive materials at UWA requires the user to have completed a protocol application before commencing the work. Protocol forms are available from the Safety & Health Office (SHO) or from the SRSO. The forms must be completed, signed by the applicant and signed by the SRSO (thus ensuring that the appropriate school personnel are aware of the work proposed) before being sent to the SHO for a final assessment. The application is reviewed by the SHO and if approved it is signed and issued with a protocol number. Copies of the approved protocol are sent to the SRSO and the applicant. Any changes to an agreed protocol must be approved by the SRSO and SHO. Such changes may include alterations to the procedure as submitted, using larger activities or different radionuclides or performing the work in different radioisotope laboratories (which would also need to be registered).

Local Working Rules for Radioisotope Laboratory

1. Personal conduct. Eating, drinking, smoking and application of cosmetics in the lab are forbidden. No mouth operations are permitted. Avoid personal habits such as pen sucking or touching bare skin with potentially contaminated gloves. Always work carefully and tidily. When leaving the laboratory, monitor yourself, remove gloves, wash hands and monitor again.
2. Laboratory preparation. No unnecessary materials such as bags, brief cases and text books should be in the lab. Keep active and inactive areas separated and well labelled. Label all containers with the radionuclide, compound, activity, date and your name. All work with unsealed liquid radionuclides shall be carried out in a double container or over trays lined with absorbent paper to restrict the spread of any spilt liquid. The bench of the work area shall be covered with absorbent paper and the work area shall be identified with signs and or radioactive marking tape.
3. External radiation protection. Arrange work so that the hands and body are kept at the maximum practicable distance from high specific activity radionuclides by the use of tongs or other handling devices. Use suitable shielding materials (such as perspex for beta radiations) wherever possible.
4. Laboratory procedures. Practice runs with non radioactive materials are necessary for all new procedures. Contaminated items must be well labelled.
5. Airborne hazards. Operations that have the potential to produce vapour, dust, spray or radioactive gas shall be carried out in a fume cupboard or a glove box.
6. Monitoring. A contamination monitor with suitable detection characteristics for the radiations from the radionuclides in use shall be available at each work station. Personal monitors (film badges) are not sensitive to radiations from H3, C14 and S35. When worn, monitors should be located at waist level, remain at work, be changed regularly (every two months) and submitted for assessment if known or suspected exposures or contamination has occurred.
7. Solid wastes. Solid radioactive wastes must be well packaged and labelled.
8. Emergency procedures. In the event of a spill verbally warn others, restrict unnecessary movement into and through the area, report the spill to the School Radiation Safety Officer (Dr Paul Fournier, Tel: 6488 1356), treat contaminated personnel first and decontaminate laboratory and equipment.
9. Personal protective equipment. Laboratory coats, gloves and closed footwear must be worn at all times in the lab. Safety glasses should also be worn.

Radioactive Waste Disposal Procedures

Liquid Radioactive Waste

• Liquid radioactive waste is best disposed of via the sewer system. Such waste may only be disposed of via flushing sinks connected to approved radioactive drains provided for this purpose.
• Ensure that the activity per flush is below the dilution concentration limit for each radionuclide.
• Organic solvents are not to be disposed of via flushing sinks.

Solid Radioactive Waste

• Solid waste must be sealed in a red plastic bag and placed in a cardboard radioactive waste box.
• Waste must be segregated by radionuclide and waste type unless otherwise permitted. For example, the following waste should be packaged in separate boxes:
  • radionuclide
  • animal carcasses (will be stored frozen and incinerated)
  • syringes in a sharps container (will be incinerated)
  • scintillation cocktail contained in counting tubes (may be incinerated)
• All sharps (needles & broken glass) must be enclosed in a hard container (metal tin or plastic sharps container) before being placed into waste boxes.
• An estimate of the total activity of each radionuclide must be written in the details section of each box. Only units of activity (Bq, Ci and their derivatives) are acceptable.
• Do not use counts per second or Bq per mL.
• Current WA government regulations limit the activity of radionuclides in a waste box for landfill burial. Box limits for long lived radionuclides are:

  Radionuclide	Box Limit MBq µ Ci
  3H	48	1300
  14C	3.4	92
  36Cl	2.2	59
  22Na	0.63	17

  
  
• Boxes should be sealed with 50 mm wide masking tape such that the box label is not obscured.
• Do not use Caution - Radioactive tape on waste boxes.
• Ensure all wastes are labelled clearly and correctly.