safety
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PPE: the correct procedures
PPE is perhaps the most important aspect of health and safety within the laboratory, whether it is viral research in containment laboratories or dissection in histology departments. Either way, the crucial element of safety is self-protection via personal protective equipment.
H
take when donning and doffing to ensure absolute
Make sure hair is all contained and covered by the
containment — a lot of speculation exists in this
cap. Likewise, do the same with shoe covers, so that
regard, relating to a biosafety lab in Wuhan, for
all laces, tassels, etc are covered.
one reason or another.
When donning glasses, ensure you select the correct ones, then inspect and clean before donning.
owever, safety does not stop
Steps to minimise risk of crosscontamination
3. Mask
cross-contamination, users must follow a strict procedure, in view of protecting the integrity of
1. Gloves
and ensure it is fitted and sealed properly. Bend
laboratory procedures.
Pre-donning gloves, used usually in sterile
the nosepiece to ensure the mask is effective. If
Containment laboratories are the most
environments, must be put on with care so as to
wearing a full-face mask or a hood, ensure it is
important to get right. Aside from masks — usually
ensure contaminants are not spread to the glove
sealed properly by inspecting or asking a colleague
P3 half-face respirators or full-face masks or hoods
fingertips. This step will ensure that when putting
to inspect all seal points. If this is required, most
— there is a full range of PPE which is used in order
the rest of the PPE on, contaminants are not spread
likely you will be in a separate room designed for
to fully isolate the body from the environment in
throughout the process, which would make the
safe donning. Ensure the face and neck are both
which you are working. It is critically important
PPE highly ineffective.
secure and there are no defects with the product.
with the simple donning of PPE. To prevent
to get the donning and doffing procedure for PPE
Take the glove by the cuff, taking care to touch
Carefully fit your mask — whether N95 or P3 —
4. Gowns
correct, in order to protect your own health, the
the externals as little as possible.
Don your coverall or gown using gloves and
integrity of the research and ultimately, all people.
2. Caps/shoe coverings/glasses
ensuring no part touches the floor. If using a full
This applies particularly to viral research where
Take your bouffant cap and ensure you handle the
coverall or hazmat gown with a hood, tuck the
containment relies on the care people in the lab
inside of the cap, stretching to pull over your hair.
hood inside the shoulder for proper fit.
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LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Feb/Mar 2022 | 41
