S3Ep11: 10 Lab Safety Issues That Put You at Risk

Do you cut corners when it comes to laboratory safety? Little things like carrying your cell phone, rolling up the sleeves of your lab coat, or skipping the hurricane drill don’t seem like a big deal in the moment. But when you consider the potential risks to you, your colleagues, your family, and anyone else you might encounter, even small safety violations can have a big impact. On this episode of Inside the Lab, your hosts, Ms. Kelly Swails, MT(ASCP), and Dr. Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, are joined by Mr. Sean Kaufman, MPH, CPH, IFBA-CP, CEO and Founding Partner of Safer Behaviors, Dr. Jason Nagy, PhD, MLS(ASCP), QLS, Laboratory Safety Support Coordinator for Sentara Healthcare, and Mr. Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, CQA(ASQ), Laboratory Safety Consultant and Laboratory Safety Officer at Sentara Healthcare, to discuss the most common safety issues facing today’s medical labs. Our panelists explore the risks involved in having our cell phones in the medical laboratory and explain why so many leaders fail to hold their teams accountable for laboratory safety. Mr. Kaufman, Dr. Nagy, and Mr. Scungio describe why effective education is key in establishing a safety culture in the lab and how some of the things we do for the sake of safety increase our risk. Listen in for insight on effective emergency management planning and learn how to protect yourself and others from the greatest safety risks we face in the medical lab. Topics Covered · The top 10 safety issues facing today’s medical laboratories· The surprising personal items that have been found in drawers during lab safety audits· Examples of specimen transport safety issues · The 3 Cs of transferring specimens—coordination, communication, and common courtesy· The risks involved in having cell phones in the medical laboratory· Why effective education is key in establishing a safety culture in the lab (and what that looks like)· Advice on preparing for emergencies that don’t occur often· How laboratory leaders fail to hold their teams accountable for lab safety· How we cut corners around PPE compliance (lab coats, goggles and face shields)· The challenges around defining clean vs. dirty areas of the laboratory· Why most laboratories are lacking when it comes to chemical and waste management· How some of the things we do for the sake of safety increase our risk· How human risk factors (i.e.: interpersonal conflict, mental and emotional fitness, etc.) are the greatest safety risks we face in the medical laboratory Connect with ASCPASCPASCP on FacebookASCP on InstagramASCP on Twitter Connect with Mr. Kaufman Safer BehaviorsMr. Kaufman on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. NagySentara HealthcareDr. Nagy on LinkedInConnect with Mr. ScungioDan the Lab Safety ManMr. Scungio on LinkedInConnect with Ms. Swails & Dr. BrownMs. Swails on TwitterDr. Brown on TwitterResourcesLablogatoryOSHAInside the Lab in the ASCP Store