Safety for Health Science Students

Classroom Rules No running, climbing, or throwing. Keep bags and purses on shelf or under desk. Keep your hands to yourself. Respect yourself and others.

Lab Rules Students may not: –be in lab without teacher –be in storage areas without permission –sit or lay on beds –use equipment without permission

Fire Elements of fire –oxygen –heat (a spark or flame) –fuel One of these must be eliminated to extinguish a fire. Fire prevention –storage of flammable materials –maintenance of electrical equipment –non smoking facility

In Case of a Fire Know where extinguishers and emergency exits are Remember “R A C E” –R – rescue –A – alarm –C – confine –E – extinguish

Fire Extinguishers Four types –A – wood, paper, cloth –B – grease, oil –C – electrical –Combo – all purpose All fire extinguishers must be serviced yearly by a professional and checked monthly by the safety team

Using a Fire Extinguisher Remember the acronym “P A S S” –P -- pull the pin –A -- aim the nozzle –S -- squeeze the trigger –S – sweep from side to side

Hazardous Materials A hazardous material is any substance that presents a physical or health hazard. OSHA requires that employees understand the risks and know how to handle hazardous substances. Physical hazards can cause fire or explosions. Health hazards can cause be acute (short) or chronic (long) term.

OSHA Occupational Safety & Health Administration Requires that: All substances must be labeled Labels must identify: –physical & health hazards –precaution measures –PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) –directions for using substance safely –storage and disposal information –labels MAY NOT be removed

Standard (Universal) Precautions: Used to reduce the risk of exposure of skin or mucous membranes that could come in contact with materials that may contain blood-borne pathogens MAY include protective barriers such as: –Gloves –Gowns –Aprons –Masks –Protective eyewear

What are Standard Precautions? Precautions that apply to: blood or other body fluids containing blood semen vaginal secretions. They do not apply to: feces nasal secretions, sputum sweat tears urine saliva vomit unless these contain visible blood or are likely to contain bloodunless these contain visible blood or are likely to contain blood. However, most facilities adopt the policy of using PPE when in contact with any of these body fluids.

Transmission Based Precautions: Required, in addition to Standard Precautions, where airborne, droplet and contact transmission of infectious organisms may occur. Common transmission based precautions include: –hand washing –cleaning & sanitation of surfaces.

FOUR WAYS TO SPREAD GERMS (Transmission of Germs) 1. Airborne or respiratory route 2.Direct contact route 3. Fecal-oral route 4. Blood contact route

STANDARD PRECAUTIONS: How to Practice 1.Handwashing 2.Gloves 3.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 4.Sanitizing 5. Waste Disposal 6. Immunization

ADDITIONAL PPE Mask Aprons Gowns Face shields

Preventing Muscle & Back Injuries Ask for help when lifting or moving heavy objects. Always use large muscles when lifting or moving heavy objects. –Squat when lifting heavy objects. –Keep objects close to your body.

Safety Team A safety team, made of 6 students, will conduct an inspection each month, noting and reporting violations. All students are responsible for reporting unsafe conditions.

MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide detailed information about –Product & company identification –Ingredient information –Hazard identification –First aid measures –Fire fighting measures –Accidental release measures –Handling & storage –Exposure controls/ PPE –Stability & reactivity

MSDS Employees (students) must know the location of the MSDS and how to use them The MSDS book in my classroom is….

Clinical Rules Students must at all times: –stay within assigned unit –follow facility policy –dress appropriately –act in a respectful, courteous manner –be ready to leave at the proper time –work within your scope of practice doing what you are qualified to dodoing what you are qualified to do