Five Tips to Staying Safe While Working in a Diagnostic Lab

Are you wondering where all your blood samples go when they are sent to a lab facility?  Do you wonder how they keep your samples safe from contamination?  As a lab that specializes in dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA, we offer quality lab testing services that focus on reliability, timeliness, and expertise.  Our lab technicians and employees follow strict safety protocols to ensure proper handling of patient samples.  These are a few tips that help our lab employees stay safe when they are working in the lab.

Wear Lab Attire

To keep yourself safe when working in the lab, dress appropriately. Closed-toe shoes, safety goggles, and lab coats should be worn daily by anyone working with dangerous chemicals or client tissue samples. Additional gear such as gloves, hearing protection, and other equipment may be needed depending on the experiment. You should also tie your hair back and away from your face to avoid contaminating the testing materials and protect yourself when working with flammable materials.

Follow Instructions

Whether you are listening to the instructor or lab supervisor or following a process in a book, it is vital to listen, and pay close attention. Be familiar with all the steps to follow for all experiments, tests, and procedures from beginning to end before starting any process. This will prevent mistakes, accidents, and injury. Besides, it will preserve the equipment used by ensuring correct care.  It is also crucial to be conversant with the proper laboratory safety signs and symbols.

Locate Safety Tools and Equipment

If something goes wrong, it is critical to know where the safety equipment is and how to use it. Examining the equipment regularly to ensure it is in good working condition is a good idea. For instance, does the safety shower produce water? Does the water in the eyewash appear to be clean?  Not aware of where the safety equipment is? Before beginning an experiment, go over the lab safety precautions and check for them.

Keep Food Outside of the Lab

Eating and drinking in the lab is a form of distraction that is prohibited.  Inside the diagnostic lab, there is far too much danger of food contamination. You may accidentally touch your food with a chemically or pathogen-coated hand, or you can mistakenly place it on a lab bench that has residue from previous experiments. Eating also poses a distraction when you need to be focused on your job.   

Remove Waste Properly and Safely

One crucial aspect of laboratory safety is knowing what to do with your experiment once it is over. Before you begin a test, you need to understand what you intend to do at the conclusion.  Understand the proper waste removal protocol in your lab setting.

These are a few tips that keep lab technicians safe when they are working in a lab.  If you want more information about our lab for dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA, contact us to hear more today.