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Cytometry

Environmental Safety

Overview of Environmental Safety

  • Definition: Environmental safety refers to the procedures and practices used to minimize the impact of laboratory operations on the environment
  • Importance:
    • Protect the Environment: To prevent pollution of air, water, and soil
    • Comply with Regulations: To comply with federal, state, and local regulations regarding waste disposal
    • Promote Sustainability: To reduce the use of resources and minimize waste generation
  • Key Aspects of Environmental Safety:
    • Waste Segregation
    • Waste Disposal Procedures
    • Recycling
    • Resource Conservation

Waste Segregation

  • Purpose:
    • Properly categorize waste to enable effective disposal
  • Segregation Categories:
    • Biohazardous Waste:
      • Definition: Waste that is contaminated with potentially infectious materials (e.g., blood, body fluids, cell cultures)
      • Disposal: Must be autoclaved or incinerated to destroy infectious agents
      • Containers: Should be collected in red biohazard bags or sharps containers
    • Chemical Waste:
      • Definition: Waste that contains hazardous chemicals (e.g., solvents, acids, bases, dyes)
      • Disposal: Must be disposed of according to federal, state, and local regulations
      • Containers: Should be collected in appropriate containers labeled with the type of waste and hazard warnings
    • Radioactive Waste:
      • Definition: Waste that contains radioactive materials
      • Disposal: Must be disposed of according to federal, state, and local regulations
      • Containers: Should be collected in appropriate containers labeled with the type of waste and the level of radioactivity
    • Sharps Waste:
      • Definition: Waste that consists of sharp objects (e.g., needles, syringes, scalpel blades)
      • Disposal: Must be collected in puncture-resistant sharps containers to prevent injuries
    • Recyclable Waste:
      • Definition: Waste that can be recycled (e.g., paper, cardboard, glass, plastic)
      • Disposal: Should be collected in designated recycling bins
    • General Trash:
      • Definition: Waste that is not contaminated with biohazards, chemicals, or radioactive materials
      • Disposal: Can be disposed of in regular trash containers
  • How to properly select container:
    • Select a container that is rigid, leak proof, and puncture resistant

Waste Disposal Procedures

  • Biohazardous Waste:
    • Autoclaving: Autoclave biohazardous waste to sterilize it before disposal
    • Incineration: Incinerate biohazardous waste to completely destroy infectious agents
  • Chemical Waste:
    • Follow regulations for the disposal of chemical waste
    • Use appropriate chemical-resistant collection containers
  • Sharps Waste:
    • Dispose of sharps waste immediately after use
    • Do not recap, bend, or break needles
    • Do not overfill sharps containers
  • Radioactive Waste:
    • Waste should be properly decontaminated per facility and regulation guidelines

Recycling

  • Recycling Programs:
    • Implement recycling programs to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills
    • Recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and other materials
  • Source Reduction:
    • Reduce the amount of waste generated by the laboratory
    • Purchase products in bulk
    • Use reusable equipment and supplies

Resource Conservation

  • Energy Conservation:
    • Turn off lights and equipment when not in use
    • Use energy-efficient lighting and equipment
    • Optimize HVAC settings
  • Water Conservation:
    • Reduce water consumption by using water-efficient equipment and practices
    • Repair leaks promptly
    • Use water-saving techniques for cleaning and sterilization
  • Inventory Control:
    • Manage chemical inventories to minimize waste
    • Use the oldest chemicals first
    • Purchase chemicals only as needed

Emergency Procedures

  • Spill Response:
    • Have a written spill response plan in place
    • Provide spill kits with all of the necessary materials (e.g., absorbent pads, gloves, eye protection)
    • Contain the spill and prevent it from spreading
    • Clean up the spill using appropriate methods
    • Report the spill to the appropriate authorities
  • Exposure Response:
    • Have a written exposure response plan in place
    • Provide immediate first aid
    • Seek medical attention if necessary
    • Report the exposure to the appropriate authorities

Key Terms

  • Environmental Safety: Protecting the environment from laboratory operations
  • Biohazardous Waste: Contaminated with infectious materials
  • Chemical Waste: Waste containing hazardous chemicals
  • Sharps Waste: Waste consisting of sharp objects
  • Recycling: Collecting and processing waste materials for reuse
  • Source Reduction: Reducing the amount of waste generated
  • Energy Conservation: Reducing energy consumption
  • Water Conservation: Reducing water consumption