Common laboratory accidents

 

COMMON LABORATORY ACCIDENTS

Causes of accidents

Poorly designed laboratory and overcrowding

Poor or careless handling of hand tools

Inadequate lighting / ventilation

Fall on hard, slippery floor, on sharp objects or heavy objects falling on a person

Careless handling, storage and transportation of chemicals or lab animals

Lack of or improper use appropriate personal protective equipment

 

Main accidents linked to the laboratory:

Infections: entry points include: mouth pipetting could lead to ingestion of pathogens, entry of pathogens through cuts, punctures …etc.

 

Burns and scalds: through use of flammable chemicals or spills of chemical corrosive on skin.

 

Cuts: handling breakages, using glassware with cracked edges.

A wound is a break in the continuity of the body surface (skin) which allows escape of blood and entry of micro-organisms.

 

Types of wounds

Ø  Incised wounds: caused by a cutting by a sharp edged object e.g. razor blade, knife, broken glass.

Ø  Lacerated wounds: caused by a rough object e.g. animal claws, saw cutting into the skin. Such wounds are normally irregular and have rough edges and not every deep.

Ø  Contused wounds: caused by heavy objects falling on the part of the body thus damaging the underlying capillaries and hence causing bleeding. Such wounds are normally swollen and open; bruises normally don’t show breakage on the affected skin surface.

Ø  Punctured wound: caused by a sharp pointed instrument driven into the body e.g. a nail, these wounds are normally deep with a narrow opening.

 

Harmful effects of the toxic chemicals: inhaling fumes from toxic chemicals and skin contact with toxic chemicals.

 

Injury from explosions: explosions can be due to

Ø  Leaking gas exploding or explosion of leaking gas.

Ø  Improper handling, storage and transportation of compressed gases or cryogens

Ø  Reactions between incompatible chemicals in storage areas

Ø  Improper storing chemicals under conditions of direct heat, light etc.

Electric shock: Shock is a condition of severe depression of vital organs of the body associated with poor blood circulation to the tissues. It is normally accompanied by severe injuries or emotional upset, it may result from poisonous chemicals or food, pain, excessive bleeding …etc.

 

Signs of shock

Ø  Cold or clumsy skin

Ø  Pale face

Ø  Rapid or slow pulse rate

Ø  Chilled feelings

Ø  Feelings of nausea and shallow breathing

 

Effects of shock and treatment

Shock can kill and it’s important necessary to save life by preventing shock through correcting causes for that particular shock ASAP.

 

 

Fire: from flammable chemicals/gases (for fire equipment: check of fire hazards as earlier discussed).

 

How to use a fire extinguisher correctly:

Pull the pin

Aim the extinguisher or nozzle at the base of fire

Squeeze the handle and release the extinguishing agent

Sweep the extinguisher from side to side across the base of fire until it appears to be out

 

                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST AID

Introduction

First aid is the immediate and temporary treatment given to the victim of accident or sudden illness using facilities or materials available at the time before disposal of the victim or casualty to the hospital if necessary for medical treatment.

 

Reasons for administering first aid

Ø  Prevent the condition from becoming worse while awaiting medical assistance

Ø  Promote recovery

Ø  Sustain life of a victim

First aid kit components

Ø  First aid manuals

Ø  Bandages

Ø  Cotton wool

Ø  Plasters

Ø  Antidotes

Ø  Emetics

Ø  Laxatives

Ø  Demulcents

Ø  Pain killers

Ø  Thermometers

Ø  Forceps

Ø  Safety pins

Definitions:

Antidote: a substance administered to render the poison harmless or to retard its absorption in the stomach e.g. milk of magnesia for acid corrosion, vinegar or lemon juice for strong alkali.

 

Activated charcoal is a universal antidote given to a victim of poisoning when the nature of the poison taken cannot be established.

 

Demulcent: a substance that relieves irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth by forming a protective film.

 

Aperient / Laxative: a substance given to the victim of poisoning to remove the poison by diarrhea e.g. castor oil, olive oil…etc.

 

Emetics: a medicine or other substance which causes vomiting and get rid the stomach off the poison e.g. mustard seeds, salt water, soapy water …etc.

 

 

First aid procedures

Electric shock

Symptoms of electric shocks:

Ø  Muscle tetany

Ø  Immediate loss of consciousness

Ø  Lack of breathing

Ø  Clumsy or cold skin

First aid procedure:

1.      Disconnect the power supply source

2.      Push or pull away the victim from the power line or circuit using a dry stick

3.      If unconscious begin administering artificial respiration

4.      Keep warm and reassure the victim

5.      Deliver to hospital for treatment

Scalds and burns

1.      Irrigate with plenty of water preferably in a shower room and remove the clothes from the area as possible

2.      Wash with saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate for acidic burns or ammonium chloride solution, boric acid or acetic acid for alkali burns.

3.      Cover the area with a piece of bandage

4.      Dispose the victim to the hospital.

 

Minor burns

1.      Relieving pain by dipping the affected area in cold water

2.      Excluding air and infections due to air by covering the affected part with clean cloth

3.      Treatment of shock

 

(Burn severity)

 

Exposure to liquid nitrogen (cryogenic material)

1.      Go immediately to the shower room and sprinkle cold water wipe away the cryogen

2.      Cover in warm clothing and something warm to drink

3.      Reassure the student

4.      Deliver to the hospital

Bone fracture

1.      Put the broken parts between two pieces of wood and then tie them to align the displaced bones

2.      Make the victim lie in a comfortable position

3.      Give painkillers

4.      Avoid touching or squeezing the broken parts and dispose the victim to the hospital.

Chemical eye injury

Irrigate with plenty of water while causing the water to drain away and not into the other unaffected eye. Add a few drops of castor oil. If it’s an acid injury, add a few drops of sodium bicarbonate while if it’s a base, add a few drops of acetic acid.

Gas poisoning

1.      Expose the poisoned victim to fresh air

2.      Administer artificial respiration immediately if breathing has stopped

3.      Keep the victim warm and calm

Swallowing an acid

Do not give an emetic but first give plenty of water then an antidote, next give milk or egg albumen in cold water and then dilute sodium hydrogen carbonate. Keep the victim warm and dispose him to hospital.

Chemical burns of the skin

Wash immediately with large quantities of water and neutralize with sodium bicarbonate (if it’s an acid burn) or boric acid powder (if it’s an alkaline burn).

 

Small cut

Wash with soap and water

Apply pressure with a piece of cotton wool

Disinfect the area with a skin antiseptic such as iodine.

Cover with a waterproof dressing

Encourage bleeding for two minutes

Seek medical attention

 

 

Importance of first aid training

To enhance skills that will enable:

Ø  Knowing what to do in case of an emergency or accident

Ø  Enabling the prevention of condition from becoming worse

Ø  Promote recovery of the affected victim

Ø  Sustain life of victims