Environmental & Facility Safety

Course Overview

Environment and Facility Safety is a specialty that sets requirements and implements practical aspects necessary to protect environment and control risks associated with the handling or storage and disposal of hazardous agents in clinical laboratories.

From a safety standpoint, it involves choosing proper Laboratory design according to size and types of lab activity, creating organized efforts and procedures for identifying workplace hazards and reducing accidents and exposure to harmful situations and substances.

Specialized laboratories might need to develop additional safety requirements to meet specific risk factors. It also includes training of personnel in accident prevention, accident response, emergency preparedness, and use of personal protective equipment.

Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity activities are fundamental to protect the laboratory workforce and the wider community against unintentional exposures or releases of pathogenic biological agents.

These activities are implemented using a risk assessment framework and through the development of a safety culture which is needed to ensure a safe workplace where adequate measures are applied to minimize risk of any potential exposure to biological agents. Laws, regulations, and inspections by local authorities determine in large part how a facility is designed, used, and maintained.

Course Objectives

After taking this course, you will be able to:

• Choose proper laboratory design.
• Identify safety and security issues to build and provide safe and effective program.
• Understand that safe and secure laboratory operations are essential components of compliance with the International Health Regulations and prevention of acute public health threats.
• Develop and maintain a risk management system to control or minimize risk to acceptable levels.
• Develop effective operational procedures for handling, storage and disposal of Hazardous materials.
• Enhance how to protect the property and occupants from fire and smoke.
• Maintain Utility management systems to minims the risks of operating failures.
• Respond to the disasters and emergencies that have the potential of occurrence with an evaluation of the structural integrity of the patient care environment.