The Safe Laboratorian

1. Scenario
The Safe Laboratorian
Questions
Credits
By Sharon Wahl
UCDHS
The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

2. Scenario
You have just begun your career working as a
Clinical Laboratory Scientist in a rural
hospital. As you have received outstanding
safety training at your sponsoring institution,
UCDHS, you immediately notice multiple
safety violations. You are determined to
identify and rectify any potential hazardous
situations. However, you will also have many
seasoned coworkers who feel the safety
measures are unnecessary.
The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

3. Directions
• Use a scrap piece of paper balled up for a
game piece.
• Roll the dice. Move your game piece. If you
land on a biohazard….
– Select a question and answer it. If you answer
correctly you have successfully prevented a safety
incident and are awarded $50
• Each roll, you subtract $10 for time spent
away from patient care.
The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

4. Credits
All teachers and students at non-profit schools can use, revise, or adapt this game
at will at no cost on the condition that all prior designers are cited.
•
Adapted from “The Traveling Georgia Artist” by Lloyd Rieber, The
University of Georgia, May 20, 2003
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

5. Questions
Types of Biohazard Exposures
1
Responding to an Exposure
2
Spill Cleanup
3
Aerosol exposure
4
PPE
5
Troubleshooting
6
6
The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

6. That’s Correct!
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

7. Sorry, that’s not correct!
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

8. 1) Which of the following is NOT an example
of parenteral exposure?
• Splashing Patient serum into your eyes
• Inhaling infective micro droplets when a
TB patient coughs
• Getting stuck with a needle
• Scratching skin rash with contaminated
gloves
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

9. 2) What is the first thing you should do if
blood splashes in your eye?
•
•
•
•
Document the incident
Seek medical attention
Tell your supervisor
Flush the eye for 15 minutes
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

10. 3) To clean up a spill of biohazardous
material:
• Pour disinfectant directly on spill
• Discard cleaning materials in a garbage can
• Carefully pick up broken glass using a
gloved hand
• Wear protective equipment such as gloves
and a lab gown
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

11. 4) If safety caps on centrifuge buckets are not
used what may occur?
• Unbalanced load, leading to poorly
centrifuged samples
• Potential sample misidentification
• Serious aerosol exposure if there is a
spill or broken tube
• Incorrect centrifugation speed and time
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

12. 5) What are the consequences of wearing
shorts in the laboratory?
• None as long as a Lab Coat is worn at all
times
• None other than risk of personal comfort
in cooler areas of the lab
• Risk of skin contact with bio-hazardous
or chemical substances
• Disciplinary write-up for violation of
UCDHS dress code policy
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013

13. 6) Can you find a possible solution to finding
only empty bottles of purchased disinfectant
when you must clean up a small serum spill
on the work bench?
• No, supervisor must be notified
• Yes, for a serum spill a gauze square
moistened with water is sufficient for
clean-up
• Yes, Cover with absorbent bench cover
to limit your risk of contact
• Mix a 1:9 bleach: water solution and use
as clean-up disinfectant.
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The Safe Laboratorian, Sharon Wahl
2013