SAFETY

Environmental Health and Safety
Lab Safety Guide - Machine Shop Safety
The following gives basic information on the use of shop machines that may be used within or adjunct to various laboratory work. Adapted from the NMSU Lab Safety Guide >>>

Safety Procedures/Guidelines for effective use of biological cabinet
This Guidelines/Procedures is intended as a minimum requirement to be applied by operators to protect the user, the environment, the product >>>

SAFETY DISPOSAL
DISPOSAL OF LABORATORY WASTE >>>
Avoid contamination of the water residue in the laboratory
Collection of residue in the laboratory
Hazardous chemicals
General Waste - Disposal procedures

COMFORT GUIDELINES
IMPORTANT ERGONOMIC INFORMATION
FEELS GOOD, FEELS BETTER...
Whether you spend five minutes or five houres using your keyboard, mouse, or trackball, these suggestions can help you stay comfortable and productive.

Some research suggests that:
- long periods of repetitive motion
- using an improperly set up work space
- incorrect body position, and
- poor work habits
may be associated with physical discomfort and injury to nerves, tendons, and muscles. If you feel pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, swelling, burning, cramping, or stiffness in your hands, writs, arms, shoulder, neck, or back, see a qualified health professional.

Follow the guidelines in this booklet to maximize your comfort and lessen the chance of injury.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR WORKSPACE IS SET UP PROPERLY...
Your keyboard and monitor should be directly in front of you with your mouse or trackball next to it. Place your mouse or trackball within easy reach so that your elbow can remain next to your side when using them.

DO
- DO adjust the height of your chair and table as to have the keyboard, mouse, or trackball at or below elbow height.
- DO use the adjustment mechanism on the keyboard, if necessary to obtain the prper keyborad height.
- DO remember, if you use a mouse pad, take its thickness into consideration when making the height adjustments.
- DO have your feet well supported and your shoulders relaxed.

DO place materials on your desk according to their frequency of use:
- Frequent - Put materials you use the most closest to you.
- Occasional - Put materials that you use occasionally no farther than an arm's length away.
- Infrequent - Put your infrequently used materials further away, but consider convenience.

Do place documents you need while typing close to the monitor to reduce frequent head turning and change of eye focus. You can use a document holder to help.

KEEP YOUR SHOULDERS, ARMS, WRISTS, AND HANDS RELAXED AND COMFORTABLE AS YOU WORK...
To keep your shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands relaxed as yuo work, let them hang loosely at your sides for a moment, allowing them to dangle toward the floor and to become relaxed. Try to maintain this relaxed feeling while you work.

DO
If you have a wrist rest or a palm rest, use it between keying tasks, not while typing. Using it while typing may increase the chance of injury.
When you use your keyboard, mouse, or trackball, avoid placing or supporting your writs on sharp edges or on your desktop.
As you use your keyboard, mouse, or trackball, make sure that your elbow is next to your side. Keep your wrist relaxed and straight-don't bend it up, down, or to either side. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Do not hunch or shrug.

PRACTICE GOOD WORK HABITS...
- Take frequent short breaks.
Get up and walk around at least a couple of times every hour.
- Vary your tasks throughout the day. Do something different with your hands and arms for a while.
- Use software features to customize your mouse or trackball to help you reduce stress to your arm, wrist, or hand by minimizing repetitive or awkward motions.

BE ALERT TO SIGNS OF DISCOMFORT...
If at any time during or after typing you feel pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in your hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, or back, or if you have any reason to beleave that you might be experiencing discomfort as a result of typing or from using the mouse, you should consult a qualifiled health professional.

TRAVELER SAFETY TIPS
1. Don't answer the door in a hotel or motel room without verifing who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call tho front desk and ask if someone from their staff is supposed to have access to your room and for what purpose.
2. When returning to yuor hotel or motel late in the evening, use the main entrance of the hotel. Be observant and look around before entering parking lots.
3. Close the door securely whenever you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
4. Don't needlessly display guest room keys in public or carelessly leave them on restaurant tables, at the swimming pool, or other places where they can be easily stolen.
5. Do not draw attention to yourself by displaying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry.
6. Don't invite strangers to your room.
7. Place all valuables in the hotel or motel's safe deposit box.
8. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
9. Check to see that any sliding glass doors or windows and any connecting room doors are loocked.
10. If you see any suspiction activity, please report your observations to the management.

PROTECTION DEVICES
A specific chapter (page 42/78) of the "Leonardo for Science" catalog is dedicated to the laboratory safety for operator, environment, product protection.

SPECIMEN DELIVERY IN HOSPITAL
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several other National Agencies recommendations, the transfer of a human specimen from a place of collection to a place of analysis is a critical step in term of operator's safety and specimen quality. The importance of this step in the analytical chain is too often underestimated.
It is therefore imperative to adopt a correct sampling transport device and protocol to be sure the sample reach the testing laboratory in suitable conditions.
The following tables have the purpose to help the safety officer of the hospital and the lab manager to chose the best combination for a correct specimen transfer. The tables can also be used as a general guide-lines to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure.

The basic recommendation
According to WHO, the specimen should be packaged in 3 layers:
(a) a primary watertight receptacle containing the specimen;
(b) a secondary watertight receptacle enclosing enough absorptive material to absorb all the fluid in case of leakage;
(c) an outer package to protect the secondary package from outside influence.
If the specimen should be transferred to an external place from the hospital via mail or aeroplane, special packing system should be adopted.

Several different cases of specimen delivery in hospital - Different containers for different needs >>>