Fundamental of protective equipements.pptx

Fundamental of protective equipment. pptx

1. 1 CHAPTER 1: Introduction to PPE

2. 2 COURSE OVERVIEW Laboratory safety is essential when working with potentially harmful materials and other hazards. The intent of using personal protective equipment (PPE) is to create a barrier between you and hazards, minimizing exposures that can cause injuries and illnesses. This course highlights the importance of why and when to use PPE to help keep you safe, as well as considerations for using PPE effectively. This course was not designed to provide laboratory-specific applications of PPE. Please refer to your supervisor and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs) for detailed guidance on this matter. FUNDAMENTALS OF PPE IN CLINICAL LABORATORIES

3. 3 COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of this course, you will be able to: Describe how PPE helps protect laboratory professionals Recognize the hazards and risks associated with laboratory procedures Identify options, limitations, and considerations for selecting appropriate PPE Select appropriate PPE options for given clinical laboratory scenarios FUNDAMENTALS OF PPE IN CLINICAL LABORATORIES

4. 4 FUNDAMENTALS OF PPE IN CLINICAL LABORATORIES COURSE OUTLINE The course is divided into four chapters: Chapter 1 – Introduction to PPE Chapter 2 – PPE and Managing Risks in the Laboratory Chapter 3 – Selecting Appropriate PPE Chapter 4 – What Would You Do?   You will complete a final exam once you finish this course. To receive credit and a certificate of completion, you will need a score of 80% or better on the final exam. NOTE: At any point, you can leave this course and come back later to where you left off.

5. 5 CHAPTER 1: Introduction to PPE

6. 6 INTRODUCTION to PPE WHAT IS PPE? Clinical laboratories are at the forefront of public health defense since they detect and report epidemiologically important microorganisms and toxins, novel pathogens and infectious diseases, and emerging patterns of antimicrobial resistance. 1   The safe operation of clinical laboratories is critical for the care of individual patients, healthcare workers, the surrounding community, and the environment . Proper selection and use of PPE is an important factor in the safe operation of laboratories. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines personal protective equipment (PPE) as "specialized clothing and equipment used to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses."

7. 7 INTRODUCTION to PPE REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE OSHA regulates the general standards for workplace safety, which includes but is not limited to laboratory settings. These standards include PPE requirements and provide guidance for PPE training efforts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) develops and implements science-based national guidance for respiratory and other personal protective equipment and technologies.

8. 8 INTRODUCTION to PPE BENEFITS OF PPE PPE worn at work should be based on site- and activity-specific risk assessment, and SOPs, which may vary based on how and where the task or testing is being performed. The types of PPE used can help protect your body from hazards encountered in the laboratory environment. PPE helps: Protect you from potentially infectious materials and hazards Reduce contamination of surfaces inside the laboratory Enhance protection when used in conjunction with other safety measures

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10. 10 INTRODUCTION to PPE Eye and Face Protection Safety glasses, goggles, face shields, and surgical masks are general PPE used in the laboratory to help protect your face and/or eyes from flying objects, droplets, and splashes of potentially harmful substances. Face shields and surgical masks also help protect nose and mouth from exposures, except in the case of aerosols where respiratory protection is a better PPE option.    Safety glasses : Designed to protect eyes If personnel wear corrective lenses, they can either add safety glasses over the corrective lenses or wear prescription safety glasses    Goggles : Designed to protect eyes Provides higher impact protection in comparison to safety glasses Most often used when working with chemicals Face shields : Designed as secondary protection for the eyes, nose, and mouth (except in the case of aerosols) Can be impact and chemical resistant Should be combined with safety glasses or goggles as additional protection against impact hazards Should cover the forehead, extend below the chin, and wrap-around the sides of the face Surgical masks: Designed to protect the wearer's mouth & nose from splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions .

11. 11 INTRODUCTION to PPE Respiratory Protection for Biohazards Respirators help protect you from exposure to infectious aerosols or droplets that may be generated during routine laboratory procedures and can cause diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), influenza, tuberculosis, measles, and other infectious diseases. OSHA has specific regulatory requirements for respiratory equipment certification, fit testing, medical evaluation, maintenance, and training. There are two classes of respirators most often used in clinical laboratories: Filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) or N95s Also known as negative-pressure respirators, as the user is inhaling and pulling air through a filter generating negative pressure space between the respirator and the user's face Purify air inhaled by the user by filtering out small particles through a filter The most commonly used FFRs in clinical laboratories are N95 disposable respirators. "N95" is a term referring to the N95 filter class, which removes at least 95% of particulates of a certain size 4 Require fit testing, as respirator forms tight-fitting seal on wearer's face Cannot be used by workers with facial hair, as they may prevent an adequate seal between the respirator and the face

12. 12 INTRODUCTION to PPE Respiratory Protection for Biohazards There are two classes of respirators most often used in clinical laboratories: Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs)    Also known as positive-pressure respirators, as the PAPR's blower is doing the work pulling air through a filter and blowing it on the user's face generating positive pressure A blower pulls air through the filter in the facepiece to remove particulates   Based on the risk assessment, PAPRs can be used in certain laboratories when there is a potentially high exposure risk from aerosol-generating procedures Respirators such as PAPRs, in which the hood or helmet is designed to form only a partial seal with the wearer's face or hoods which seal loosely around the wearer's neck or shoulders May not require fit testing. Check with supervisor and review laboratory SOPs to determine if a fit test is required Can be used by workers with facial hair IF respirators are indicated by the risk assessment: Personnel must have medical clearance, be fit tested for respirators with facepieces that have tight-fitting seals, and trained annually They must be maintained. Please refer to your laboratory-specific SOPs and/or supervisor for guidance They REDUCE exposure, do NOT eliminate exposure – risk is never zero Remember: Facial hair can interfere with FFRs and other respirators with tight-fitting seals Surgical masks are NOT respirators! For chemical hazards, consult with your supervisor

13. 13 INTRODUCTION to PPE Body Protection Protective clothing such as laboratory coats and wrap-around gowns help shield the body from hazards in the workplace, such as splashes, chemicals, infectious bodily fluids, and other hazardous materials. The type of coat or gown you wear should be based on the hazard(s), procedures, and your laboratory-specific SOPs. Types of coats or gowns worn in the laboratory may include: Fluid-resistant or fluid-impermeable laboratory coat Disposable or reusable laboratory coat Solid front/wrap-around gown Button-down or snap laboratory coat Cuffed sleeves laboratory coat Body Protection Gloves help protect your hands from exposure to chemicals, temperature, and other hazardous materials and reduce risks associated with skin contact. Based on a laboratory-specific risk assessment, which should include considerations for governing rules and regulations, laboratory management sets policy regarding when to wear gloves and: Selects the type of gloves corresponding to the specific activity and hazard Verifies suitability of gloves prior to staff handling infectious and other materials Disposable nitrile and latex gloves are the most common types of gloves found in clinical laboratories. Alternative types of gloves must be provided for staff who have latex or nitrile allergies .

14. 14 INTRODUCTION to PPE Foot Protection Protective footwear helps protect your feet from splashes, chemicals, and other hazards. Protects entire foot (open-toe shoes are not allowed in the laboratory) Disposable shoe covers provide an additional layer of protection over your shoes Dedicated laboratory shoes minimize tracking infectious agents out of the laboratory Foot protection may include non-slip footwear that are shoes designed to reduce or prevent slipping

15. 15 SELECT ALL THAT APPLY Which of the following are examples of personal protective equipment? Goggles Face shields Long sleeve shirts Jeans