Biological testing laboratories have high risks of infectious diseases. Since biological testing labs are full of samples from various patients, there is a high risk for bacterial and viral infections. People working in such laboratories, including researchers and lab technicians, need to remain cautious to protect themselves from getting sick.
Safety precautions are necessary for any laboratory, however, when you are working with highly infectious material, sometimes which is incurable, you have to remain extra vigilant.
Here are some safety precautions that every person working in a biological testing laboratory should remember by heart and follow with care.
1. Always Wear The Proper PPE
Laboratories require proper gear when you are working inside. You should always wear the proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) when you are inside the laboratory, whether working or not. Protection equipment will prevent you from accidentally touch with the infectious or toxic material present inside the lab.
Every laboratory displays a list of PPE that has to be worn at all times when inside the lab. However, some of the most common PPE items that you should know are,
- Safety glasses
- Surgical gloves
- Face shields or masks
- Lab coats
- Apron
- Respirators, in case of high infectious exposure.
- Shoes and head covers
2. Never Touch Things Unnecessarily
When you are inside a biological testing lab, refrain from touching anything unnecessarily. There are plenty of infectious items present in the lab. You never know which test tube contains a toxic substance. If there is anything unlabelled laying around in the lab, never taste or touch it.
You should have a clean workstation where you have placed all your required items neatly. You should not roam around in the lab purposelessly. It can only increase the risk of accidents.
3. Wash Equipment Thoroughly
Always make sure that you are washing your lab equipment with the best safety practices. Try not to touch the discarded material directly with your hands. For example, for DNA purification plates, use a centrifugal machine to clean the plates thoroughly.
Utilize automatic washers and liquid dispensers to clean the equipment. You should also make sure that the plates and text tubes are properly washed. Any residue can be hazardous. If anything is not cleaned properly, discard the equipment following the best safety precautions.
4. Label All The Things Carefully
Never leave your test tubes and Petri dishes unlabeled inside the lab. Always label your things with proper codes or names. Make sure that the label is readable and that everyone else in the lab understands the code written on the label.
Any unlabelled item in the lab can be suspicious. Therefore, if you know what you are working with, and want to keep your things secure, label your work properly. Also, make sure to write your initials on all your belongings to retain your autonomy at the workplace.
5. Disinfect The Surfaces Regularly
Laboratory surfaces are not clean. They might have the most germs than any other place since everyone is working on a different infection, chances are that the surfaces are contaminated as well.
Firstly you should make sure not to touch the surfaces unnecessarily. Always wear your surgical gloves in the lab. If you are not wearing gloves, make sure to sanitize your hands regularly.
Secondly, make sure to clean up the surfaces every day. The first thing you do when you enter the lab or reach your workstation would be to thoroughly disinfect the surface. It should also be the last thing you do before leaving the lab. The best way to disinfect the surfaces is by using a 70% ethanol solution.
6. Never Eat Inside The Lab
Eating should be strictly prohibited inside biological testing laboratories. When you are inside the laboratory, infectious particles may be present in the air as well. If you are eating anything in the lab, or even drinking something, chances are that you might end up getting sick.
If you feel thirsty or hungry, leave the lab, wash your hands and mouth thoroughly and then fill up your stomach. Eating inside the laboratory means inviting germs directly into your body.
7. Keep Separate Work Clothes
A laboratory researcher or technician knows how many times he or she might have spilled something on your apron or lab coat. When you are working in a biological testing laboratory, you can not afford these spills, and most importantly, you can not take those clothes to the outside world. You never know if the spill contains highly infectious particles.
You should always keep separate work and home clothes. Designate a place outside the lab to change your clothes. Make sure to disinfect your clothes before going out.
Final Words
Biological testing laboratories have highly infectious material present inside them. People working in such labs need to make sure that they are following the best safety precautions to keep themselves and their coworkers safe.
