Virology and Immunology Laboratory Risks - Case Study Example

Virology and Immunology Laboratory: OHS Audit of Research Laboratory Name Course Name Date 1.0 Introduction Hazards and risks are unavoidable in different facilities and strategic requirements. Virology and Immunology Laboratory is an example of location in which risks and hazards have to be understood, and corrective measures introduced to prevent occurrences of problems or complications. Numerous types of hazards exist and the appropriate strategy is to determine the hazard, and determine the severity resulting in identification of contingency measures. The paper discusses hazards and risks at Virology and Immunology Laboratory, identifies the mitigation processes, and discusses numerous processes important in championing health and safety. 2.0 Hazard and Risk 2.1 Hazard Hazard is the potential adverse health, harm, or damage to an individual or to a thing under defined conditions. The hazard causes harm to an individual or destroys the credibility of a component. For example, accidents are hazards to individuals while burning building is also seen as a hazard from the perspective of the building. Understanding needs embracing different factors ranging from the nature of the hazard and related consequences. 2.2 Risk Risk is the change of losing or gaining something of important/value. Values can be things such as financial wealth, emotional well being, social status or even health. Identification of risk is important in determining the appropriate direction in which contingency measures can be introduced. Hazard is directly linked to risk because it can negate the capacity of an individual to accomplished assigned duties effectively. 3.0 Risk Assessment Method In risk assessment, the first step is identification of the hazards and persons vulnerable. The second part is assessing the risk from two perspectives. The likelihood is evaluating the probability that the consequence would occur while severity defines the consequences of the risk occurring. In determining likelihood, some of the factors considered include persons likely to be affected, existing control measures, and extent of exposure and location of the hazard. Severity defines the consequences of any risk if protective measures are not in place. The severity defers based on situation and circumstances, and it is prudent to analyze situations independently. The risk assessment would be obtained through multiplication of the likelihood and severity. 4.0 Description of the Laboratory: Virology and Immunology laboratory The following image describes the laboratory and it illustrates the different products, which can be used to accomplish the requirements of the laboratory effectively. 5.0 Hazards Found Hazard Risks Assessment of Risk Suggested Control Measure Probability (10 = very likely; 1= very unlikely) Severity (10 = very severe, 1 = minor) Risk (Probability * Severity) Physical hazards such as radiation, weight, electricity, equipment, radiation, light and fire/heat Dropping of loads/weights 2 4 8 Carry weights that an individual can manage Injury through use of equipment 3 4 12 Use the right equipment for the right task Start of fires or heat 4 4 16 Understanding the different chemicals and using the electrical tools effectively Electrical shocks 2 3 6 Effective maintenance of electrical components and equipment Falls, injuries 4 4 16 Obstacles should be removed from the way Chemical hazards such as explosive, oxidizing, irritant, harmful, corrosive and toxic Harmful and explosion 2 5 10 Familiarize yourself with the different chemicals Corrosive, toxic and harmful 3 6 18 Use personal protective equipment Chemical reactions 3 7 21 Review and make appropriate changes based on the changing circumstances Chemical reactions 3 6 18 Containers of chemicals should be clearly labeled Health and safety threats 2 4 8 Carcinogens and toxic substance should not be stored on open shelves Health and safety threats 3 3 9 Safety bottle carriers should be used to move the chemicals Health and safety threats 3 5 15 Handle chemicals with care Biological hazards such as micro organisms, virus and bacteria Health and safety hazards 3 6 18 Utilization of personal protective equipment Infection, transmitting of biological products 4 5 20 A hand hygiene program should exist including surveillance strategies Contamination 3 10 30 Label and handle the samples according to documented approaches Misplacement of sample 2 10 20 Create and manage storage space/areas appropriately Ergonomic hazards such as design of workstation, manual handling, musculoskeletal, lifting problems Back injuries and other physical injuries 3 4 12 Adopting a natural and health posture while working Body injuries including ears and eyes 4 3 12 Utilizing protective equipments Tiredness 4 6 24 Taking regular breaks Tiredness, and loss of concentration 3 5 15 Eating healthy food and drinking enough water Exhaustion 5 5 25 Frequent medical checkups Psychological e.g. stress, discrimination, bullying and violence Stress 5 6 30 Seek for assistance and take frequent breaks Discrimination 1 2 2 Effective communication Bullying 1 2 2 Effective communication Violence 1 2 2 Employing conflict resolution strategies Loss of concentration 5 6 30 Frequent breaks and reflection on the requirements of the job Natural phenomena e.g. snow, ice, frost, wind and weather Weather problems 2 4 8 Availability of mitigation measures such as using fridges and cold rooms Earthquakes, tsunami 1 2 2 Structural reviewing on the integrity of the building Lack of samples to be used 5 6 30 Creating modalities and strategies on acquiring and managing samples Fire hazards and structural integrity of the building Fire hazards 3 6 18 Championing fire safety strategies including correct storage of different products Structural integrity 3 3 9 Frequent review of the building Absence of utilities e.g. water 3 3 9 Effective management of resources and liaison with different stakeholders on utility requirements and provisions Internal design of the laboratory 4 6 24 The equipment and other resources should be located based on the proposed design narrative 6.0 Control Devices Found/Strategies Control measure/device Risk to be controlled Use of this control First aid equipments To prevent worsening of injuries and accidents First recourse of accidents Fire alarm and detection devices Fire incidents Leak of gas and smoke Detect presence of smoke or fire Inform through alarm presence of fire Alert other stakeholders on presence of fire Fire prevention strategies Incidents of fire To reduce instances of fire Champion health and safety measures Understand the causes and consequences of fire threats Lighting and natural light Improve visibility Improve the ambiance of the laboratory Improving the clarity and seeing capability of the users of the laboratory To prevent occurrence of other problems that are attributed to invisibility Emergency exit Health and safety requirements Use to escape during accidents/emergencies Cleaning and wash room/sink Prevent health problems because cleaning reduces negative impacts on the body Prevent pollution of the environment through moving around with pollutants Hygiene and hygiene complications Prevention of pollution of the environment Championing cleaning and hygiene requirements Preventing contamination of culture and samples Fume area, and toxic area Pollution Oxidation and inhalation of dangerous products Prevention of respiratory problems Prevention of pollution of the environment Prevention of health and safety complications Personal protective equipment Eye and ear protection problems Cloths through the use of aprons Prevention of hearing and earring problems Prevention spoilage and dirtying of the cloths Prevention of contamination of cloths and encouragement of health and safety requirements 7.0 Plan for Corrective Actions Problem Corrective plan Lack of different fire extinguisher systems Different types of fire extinguishers should be in place to address the array of fire sources Modernization of fume chamber The model currently used does not reflect the requirements of the environmental sustainability Updating the risk assessment plan/strategy The risk assessment plan is obsolete and modern one should be developed to include modern hazards and risks 8.0 Conclusion In conclusion, the numerous processes including identification of risks and hazards are important in determining the contingency strategies and measures. The identified hazards should be addressed through creating mechanisms to prevent occurrence of the risk. The design of the laboratory is also important because it determines and contributes to the reduction of risks and hazards. Important factors such as natural light and provision of hazard prevention equipment and devices are crucial in limiting the consequences of the hazards. 9.0 References E Chambers, C., A Fetterly, K., Holzer, R., Paul Lin, P. J., C Blankenship, J., Balter, S., & K Laskey, W. (2011). Radiation safety program for the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, 77(4), 546-556. Johnson, D. R., Methner, M. M., Kennedy, A. J., & Steevens, J. A. (2010). Potential for occupational exposure to engineered carbon-based nanomaterials in environmental laboratory studies. Environmental health perspectives, 49-54. Lundgren, R. E., & McMakin, A. H. (2013). Risk communication: A handbook for communicating environmental, safety, and health risks. John Wiley & Sons. Teow, Y., Asharani, P. V., Hande, M. P., & Valiyaveettil, S. (2011). Health impact and safety of engineered nanomaterials. Chemical Communications, 47(25), 7025-7038. Read More