When it comes to PPE and the role it plays in lab safety, little more can be said about its importance that the healthcare industry hasn’t already expressed. Lab coats, goggles, gloves, and face shields are all necessary for preventing staff injuries and exposure. The science is clear that...
In this guest column, Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare in Virginia, and otherwise known as “Dan, the Lab Safety Man,” discusses the important issues that affect your job every day. When you think about laboratory safety, images of...
Ensuring safety within hospital environments is a multifaceted challenge that requires constant vigilance and adaptation. Healthcare facilities must navigate complex regulatory landscapes, maintain intricate safety systems and foster a culture of continuous improvement to protect patients, staff...
You can’t use bleach on everything in your laboratory. Cleaning and disinfecting the myriad of surfaces, tools, and equipment in your lab requires a variety of cleaners, soaps, and disinfectants. While one cleaner might be good for killing off acid-fast bacteria, it might damage or corrode your...
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF), such as Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease, represent an ongoing threat even if their chance of occurrence on U.S. soil may seem low. These highly infectious diseases not only carry a high mortality rate but also present unique challenges for hospital...
As we leave 2024 behind us, laboratory safety officers and staff should look ahead to the challenges and promises 2025 will bring. Some lab safety issues will remain evergreen, such as sharps safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance. Meanwhile, things like emerging diseases,...
The year draws to a close, and it’s time for laboratory safety workers to look back at all the laboratory safety stories and topics we’ve covered this year. After all, many lab safety issues from 2024 will cross over with us into 2025.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 24 laboratory workers were infected with a strain of Salmonella typhimurium, an enteric pathogen. The infections were reported in 16 states across the country. Of those infected, six were hospitalized with symptoms such as...
Stress is a natural response that everyone deals with, but being able to manage it during a laboratory emergency can make all the difference in how things turn out. It’s not wrong to feel stress under pressure, and there are ways to cope with your stress response before, during, and after a...
One of my favorite comic book story arcs is a miniseries called The Watchmen. In the story, the superheroes get a bit out of control and a common phrase emerges from the people: “Who watches the Watchmen?” The idea makes me think about how safety issues in labs can sometimes occur...
