Hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been on OSHA’s “high-risk” workplace list for a few years. That means the regulatory agency has noticed an increased number of employee injuries there, and therefore OSHA inspections have increased in hospitals and labs as well. If an OSHA inspector arrives at your facility, you should not panic, but… The post OSHA in Your Lab: What to Do? appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities have been on OSHA’s “high-risk” workplace list for a few years. That means the regulatory agency has noticed an increased number of employee injuries there, and therefore OSHA inspections have increased in hospitals and labs as well. If an OSHA inspector arrives at your facility, you should not panic, but… The post OSHA in Your Lab: What to Do? appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

In today’s healthcare environment, workplace violence is a growing concern, and the laboratory is no exception. The fast-paced, high-stress nature of lab work, coupled with the emotional toll of dealing with critical patient samples, can create an environment where tensions may run high. While we often think of the laboratory as a “safe haven,” isolated… The post Staying Safe in the Lab: Managing Workplace Violence appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

While attending a conference recently, I noticed there were several talks about the importance of lab advocacy. It’s an important subject- laboratorians have spent years in the basement performing the tests which lead to the majority of diagnoses provided for patients. While it seems fairly easy for larger groups (like nurses, for example) to get… The post Where Lab Advocacy Meets Lab Safety appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

Laboratories are a unique workplace of of scientific inquiry and diagnoses, but they also pose specific risks to those who work within their confines. One significant concern is the potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens, which can lead to serious infections and health complications if not managed properly. To mitigate these risks, laboratories must adhere to… The post Safeguard Your Staff: OSHA Requirements for Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plans appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

Ergonomics is a safety topic that gets little respect in the laboratory, but it can become very important over time. The effects of poor ergonomics are cumulative, and they can appear suddenly. When they arise, the pain and treatment are often difficult, and as people age, healing is slower as well. Because the consequences of… The post Laboratory Ergonomics: It’s In the Details appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

The lab manager reported to me that an employee had a body fluid splash to the mouth, and the manager and the employee both wanted to know if it should be reported. At this point, the story breaks down into two pathways of discussion, one about lab exposures and one about the safety culture. Each… The post The Strange Anatomy of a Lab Exposure appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

When it comes to making a decision about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the laboratory, OSHA is pretty clear about how to go about making the selection. The use of risk assessments and task assessments is required by OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard, and these can be essential tools in making decisions regarding safety throughout the… The post Probable Problems with Phlebotomists and PPE appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

I have been a fan of Godzilla movies since my childhood, and the latest release (number 37 in the franchise for those keeping track) was not a disappointment. Godzilla Minus One is a Toho Studios production set in post-World War 2 Japan, a time when the country felt it was at level zero, its lowest… The post Laboratory Safety Minus One appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more

I recently completed a seven-month stint as an interim laboratory manager. One of my leaders asked me if the time in that role had altered my perspective about lab safety. Would I now treat other lab managers differently when I’m back to my Lab Safety Officer role? Would I be less strict about safety violations… The post Lab Safety Lessons appeared first on Dan The Lab Safety Man ..read more