The Basic Understanding of the Plant Pathological Laboratory - Report Example

LABORATORY CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN AUDIT REPORT By (Name) Institution Instructor Class/Course City Introduction The purpose of this report involved performing a complete walk through audits of the Plant pathology lab (SNET laboratory). After the proposed general laboratory audit undertaking of the plant pathology laboratory of the organization, the primary focus of this audit majorly was on the following issues; i. Assisting the organization to fully understand the current status of the plant pathology laboratory as it is ii. To provide clear and practical advice and recommendations on the improvements of the plant pathology laboratory of the organization iii. To identify certain resources and facts that maybe required for further development of the plant pathology laboratory systems Methodology The organization intended a complete audit of the lab in order to have a complete review of the plant pathology lab system. In this case, therefore, the review involved the laboratories and the office areas. This review comprised most effectively the physical inspection (which was routinely done) of all the work areas during which photographs were taken for the report purposes and a final review of the relevant policies and procedures. The physical reviews covered the following areas; A map/floor plan of the laboratory indicating the presence of all different parts of the lab including benches, fume cupboards, chemical storage, gas cylinders, doors etc. The documents reviewed covered the following areas i. Documentation of the hazards and controls ii. Emergency management procedures Manual iii. Chemical Database/Inventory (electronic) iv. Occupational Health and Safety Policy and relevant procedures v. Safe/Standard Operating Procedures vi. Risk Assessments vii. Laboratory Safety Manual Comparison of the requirements for laboratory construction in AS2982.1 with the physical layout as viewed in SNET. This was followed with a comprehensive corrective determination actions needed to be in place in order for the whole laboratory to conform to the AS2243 Laboratory Safety requirements. This was done with a synopsis analysis of the laboratory safety standard, with the available materials for the course. Finally, a proper action plan for the corrective actions for the problems found in the laboratory was drawn. Analysis The physical reviews The physical reviews looks into the maps/floor plan of the laboratory indicating the presence of all different parts of the lab including benches, fume cupboards, chemical storage, gas cylinders, doors etc. The analysis of the physical reviews was more importantly aided by the pictures and photographs that were taken to intensify the status of the different parts of the laboratory. The pictures below show the detailed of the laboratory equipments indicating all the specifics of the pathological laboratory equipment. Picture 1 shows the floor map. The red point is the risk equipment and the blue point is location of taking picture. Picture 1: Hide floor plan Chemical Refrigerator Picture 6: Electrophoresis Picture 7: Incubator Microwave Oven Microwave oven, normally used in many biological laboratories, quickens the heat samples with smaller volumes (e.g. aqueous suspension containing agarose gel to initiate gel formation). Care to be taken in order to ensure that the microwave is not used during certain experiments and that precautions are taken against potential hazards. Laminar Flow Cabinet The safety cabinet provide a personnel protection from biological molecules used within them. Care need to be taken with specific procedures during usage. MSDS Folders These folders contain the material safety data sheets for the chemical and samples present within the laboratory. Corrosive cabinet The corrosive cabinet stores corrosive chemicals. As was reviewed, the door of the cabinet had been corroded (rusted) and could no longer allow the door to shut fully. Fire Blanket The blanket is used to control small fires within the laboratory. Overfull Glass Bin This is the glass disposal bin where all broken glasses and used disposable glassware are to be disposed. Based on the review, this glass bin is overfull, and leads to a hazardous situation. Microscope Chemical Spill Considering the picture above, it is pretty obvious a large amount of powder is on the bench. Any chemical spill creates a hazard since the chemicals on the bench may react with other chemicals spilt or come into contact with personnel easily. This creates more hazardous situations. Petri Dishes A keen observation, as shown in the picture above, reveals that the petri dish has some biological sample left open in the laboratory. The petri dish is unlabelled making the researcher the only person who knows what it is, thus, creating hazards to other researchers in the laboratory. Stacked Petri dishes There are many Petri dishes used in the biological laboratories every day. If sufficient care is not taken, in terms of their storage, numerous hazardous situations are eminent. The Audit Findings The overall audit process was coupled with impressive progress that had been taking place in order to develop and implement the laboratory standards, plant pathological lab and safety management system with the limited resources. However, there were a number of few areas that required more examinations and concentration in order to bring up the lab up to speed with the required plant pathological lab standard requirements. The facts made and determined thereof have been done in a generalised manner, as there was evidence of similar issues across a number/all work areas. Where issue were laboratory specific, these laboratories have been identified. Where reference has been made to the physical containment level of a laboratory, this is done so the in the context of AS2243 Laboratory Safety requirements and does not refer to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OTGR) Certification process. While there was evidence of first aid kits, spill kits and fire extinguishers, being available throughout the areas, they were often obscured by other equipment of place in areas which were easily accessible. While signage was available, it was either not clearly visible or was did not conform to AS1319 Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment. The General House keeping Management Findings and Recommendations Reference material Need to be mounted and fully accessible. First Aid Kits need to be sign posted with 2 dimensional signs with the first aid symbol specified. Fire extinguishers should have at least 1 m clearance. Fire Blankets need to be unobstructed. Location of fire extinguishers should be in line with the Building Code of Australia. All fire blankets and extinguishers need to be regularly checked and tagged AS 1851 Maintenance of the fire protections systems and equipment Although the general housekeeping looked good, there are a number of areas where the A number of areas where well managed and items store effectively and efficiently in containers or cupboards. However, there were areas in which additional shelving would assist in keeping work benches free for in-use items (e.g. the electronics workshop, perfusion room). Chemical Management A number of chemical storage areas were reviewed. Over all the management of chemicals within the laboratory was good. There were a number of flammable liquid cabinets, acids and the like. In a number of areas, chemicals were not only stored within the cabinets, but were also contained in a secondary tray. There were a number of local issues which have been outlined in the physical inspection report. Storage Labeling Spill Kits Chemical Storage Findings and Recommendations Reference material Chemical storage cabinets: Protect the contents against damage; provide segregation between incompatible substances; contain spillages; and in the case of fire, to allow at least 10 min for escape of persons or use of fire fighting equipment. It was noted that chemicals were stored in the sumps of a number of cabinets, with the top of the sump being used as a shelf. This is an issue which can be quickly rectified. In general terms, labelling of chemicals in storage areas was good, however, there were a number decanted chemicals had either very little or no labels to identify the contents. AS/NZS 2243.2-1997: Safety in laboratories – Chemical Aspects There are many Petri dishes used in the biological laboratories every day. If sufficient care is not taken, in terms of their storage, numerous hazardous situations are eminent. Chemical spill creates a hazard since the chemicals left any-how on the bench may react with other chemicals spilt or come into contact with personnel easily. This creates more hazardous situations. While the cabinet is non-compliant with the current Australian Standards, in respect of Laminar Flow Cabinet, it is in good condition and would be deemed compliant until it requires replacing or is removed from its existing position. Corrosive cabinet on the other hand need not be tampered with due to its corrosive content. In general terms, labelling of chemicals in storage areas was good, however, there were a number decanted chemicals that had either very little or no labels to identify the contents. While there were a number of spill kits available for laboratory staff, in a number of cases they were not clearly labelled or accessible. Again this can be quickly rectified. Microbiology Findings and Recommendations Reference material Fridges, freezers, incubators and microwaves need to be signposted with biohazard sign and non-food or drink. Entry doors into laboratory areas should all be sign posted using signs as specified under AS1319 Safety signs for the occupational environment Fridges or Freezers holding flammable liquids should be intrinsically safe laboratory fridges or freezers and not a domestic type and clearly signposted AS/NZS 2243 Microbiological safety and containment Consider the summary in the table below; HAZARD PROBLEM CONSEQUENCES LIKELIHOOD RISK CONTROL Water spilt on floor Slipping hazard 3 (Moderate irreversible disability) B (Likely) High Elimination (mop up the spill) Unlabelled chemical found on bench Cannot recognise what is in container, therefore cannot be used in experiment 3 (Moderate irreversible disability) if used in chemical experiment Possibly 4 3 (Moderate irreversible disability) if used in chemical experiment Possibly 4 Medium Elimination/ Substitution (take back to store and replace with chemical in labelled bottle Overfull Glass Bin this glass bin is overfull, thus hazardous Irreversible reaction Most likely high Control mechanism Recommendations Storage of Chemicals All cabinets are manufactured in compliance with Australian Standard AS 1940:2004 and have a150mm deep integral leak proof sump that will contain any accidental spillage. Chemical storage cabinets for the storage of dangerous goods are intended to do the following; 1. Protect the contents against damage 2. Provide segregation between incompatible substances 3. Contain spillages 4. In the case of fire, to allow at least 10 min for escape of persons or use of fire fighting equipment While the cabinets are non-compliant with the current Australian Standards, it is in good condition and would be deemed compliant until it requires replacing or is removed from its existing position. It was noted that chemicals were stored in a number of cabinet, especially the corroded and open cases. This is an issue which can be quickly rectified. In general terms, labelling of chemicals in storage areas was good, however, there were a number decanted chemicals had either very little or no labels to identify the contents. Hazards and their control methods in the Lab A hazard is the way in which an object or a situation may cause harm. A hazard exists where an object, substance or situation has a built-in ability to cause an adverse effect. It is the intrinsic toxic properties of the chemical or biological material. This section looks into the Control of hazardous operations, Ventilation, Protective clothing and apparatus, and Ignition sources. Hazardous area classification is a technique for assessing the probability of formation of a flammable atmosphere and its likely duration. It has long been a widely used technique in the lab, as a step towards deciding whether electrical and other equipment needs special protective features in order to prevent it causing a fire or explosion. For control operations in the laboratory, it is helpful to consider separately releases which occur suddenly, but where the maximum release quantity can be specified, e.g. the fracture of a glass flask; and those where the release once started will continue until some corrective action is taken to shut off the release, e.g. closing a valve following failure of a plastic or rubber hose from a gas cylinder or mains supply. The volatility of the product is also an important factor, but this must be considered in the context of the temperature at which it will be used. So if you are pouring a solvent from one open container to another at a temperature below its flash point, there should be no hazardous area, because too little vapor is present. If you then distil the same solvent and the condenser cooling fails, vapor will be released, and the risk is much greater. Consequently, the comments on flammable liquids apply whenever they are used or stored above their flash point. Conclusion The basic understanding of the plant pathological laboratory is that it requires a predetermined policies and procedures in order to maintain the processes carried out. As reviewed above, all though the plant is effective, some point on the policies and procedures are however not in order. The standardized laboratory equipments need to be put in place in order to realize better and efficiently effectively chemical and biological lab operations and avoid hazardous situations. References AS/NZS 2243.6:2010 Safety in Laboratories. AS2892.1. Laboratory Construction and Design AS/NZS 2243 Part 2. Moran, G. C., & Labine, P. (1986). Corrosion monitoring in industrial plants using nondestructive testing and electrochemical methods: a symposium. Philadelphia, PA, ASTM. Read More