Health and safety in laboratory practice

Details

Title

Health and safety in laboratory practice

Type

Stage One

Module code

HLS311

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of the health and safety of laboratory practice, obtain an in-depth understanding of health and safety issues both locally and nationally in order to practise safely in a laboratory and to be familiar with the requirements for handling pathogens and to be familiar with the categorization of organisms as set out in The Approved List of Biological Agents (ACDP 2004), be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures and
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (2002)
• Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations (2001)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)
• Transport of Infectious Substances (2011) guidance
• The management, design and operation of microbiological containment laboratories (2001) guidance (HSE)
• Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises (HSE)
• Safe disposal of Clinical Waste (1999) guidance.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• technical procedures for performing an infection-prevention and control-oriented risk assessment when required for all procedures undertaken in the laboratory, in areas related to laboratory practice, and in the health care setting, for all categories of worker, including the pregnant and immunocompromised.

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of health and safety in laboratory practice to perform the clinical skills necessary to manage under supervision:

• to assess appropriately the need for health and safety precautions in relation to patient management.