Essential Workplace Safety Guidelines: Protecting Against Infections and Hazardous Materials

 Q1: How can I be infected at work?

• Avoid contact between mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) and infected blood or body fluids.

• Prevent contact between broken or damaged skin and infected blood or body fluids.

• Be cautious of injuries with contaminated needles or sharps.

Q2: What about between lab spaces?

When moving materials or equipment between labs or buildings:

• Utilize secondary containment like a bucket whenever possible.

• Follow the "one glove policy" - wear one glove to handle materials and keep one hand ungloved for opening doors, pushing elevator buttons, etc.

• If handling with one hand isn't feasible, use a cart or ask a lab mate for assistance.

Q3: What to do if you have an exposure?

• Cease work immediately and notify others in your vicinity.

• If there's a splash or spill, wash the exposed area with soap and water for 15 minutes; irrigate mucous membranes with water for 15 minutes.

• Seek medical attention if necessary. During business hours, visit the UMMC Emergency Room or contact your personal physician. After hours, seek attention from the nearest emergency room.

• Report the incident to your supervisor/sponsor and EHS promptly, but prioritize medical treatment if necessary.

Q4: Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The SDS comprises 16 sections under GHS:

1. Identification

2. Hazard(s) identification

3. Composition/information on ingredients

4. First-aid measures

5. Fire-fighting measures

6. Accidental release measures

7. Handling and storage

8. Exposure controls/personal protection

9. Physical and chemical properties

10. Stability and reactivity

11. Toxicological information

Q5: Who is required to receive this training?

If you:

• Determine hazardous wastes

• Add or remove hazardous waste from accumulation containers

• Respond to spills, fires, or explosions involving hazardous waste

• Perform tasks involving occupational exposure to hazardous waste

Q6: What is hazardous waste?

Hazardous waste refers to any waste that poses a threat to human health or the environment due to its chemical, biological, or physical properties.

Q7: How do I accumulate hazardous waste?

Hazardous waste can accumulate from various sources such as industrial processes, household products, medical facilities, and agricultural activities.

Q8: How do I dispose of hazardous waste?

Hazardous waste must be disposed of through proper channels, such as licensed waste management facilities or specialized hazardous waste collection programs. Characteristics of hazardous waste include being ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic.

Q9: Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention?

Strategies to minimize hazardous waste include reducing consumption, recycling, reusing materials, and implementing pollution prevention measures in industrial processes.

Q10: How do I respond to emergencies involving hazardous waste?

Emergency response to hazardous waste incidents involves evacuating affected areas, containing spills, and notifying relevant authorities for proper clean-up and disposal.

Q11: Special Medical Waste (SMW) Disposal

Medical waste, including sharps and infectious materials, must be disposed of according to regulations, often through specialized medical waste disposal services or facilities.