Reporting accident

One of my student ask me a question, the question he ask is that what is the magnitude of accident should we report to the head of the laboratory?

And my answer to him is that as long as the accident happened in the laboratory it does not has any magnitude being small or big must be reported laboratory head.

Any accident in the laboratory involving the personal injury even it is minor ones should be immediately reported to the person in charge of the laboratory. This first report should be followed by accident investigation report. When reporting an injury it must contain the name of the injured person the time and the place of injury and the nature of the injury. The investigation report most include the information on the injured person an account of the accident the cause of the accident the nature of the injury and the actions to be taken to prevent further reoccurrence.

Most laboratory accidental occur in two main course

1. Environmental factor

accident involving environmental factors include unsafe conditions such as inadequate safeguard use of improper or defective equipment hazard associated with the location or poor housekeeping.

2. Personal factor

This is another hazard in the laboratory a a personal factor, improper attire lack of skill or knowledge specific physical or mental condition and attitude to work this attributed to the personnel involving in carrying out the investigation or the laboratory test.

Laboratory safety equipment

Safety equipment has been developed specifically for use in the clinical laboratory. The equipment for accident prevention and control include

fire extinguisher

fire blanket

first aid supply

safety shower

eyewash station

spill kit

and hazard leveling systems

For personal protection safety glasses or protective work shared should be used to protect the eye and face from splash and impact gloves and rubberised sleeves or gown protect the hand arm or body. Close footwear should be used.

never use a bear foot in the laboratory