Managing safety in laboratories

The participants managing the biological spillage

The Biorisk Management Workshop with the goal of increasing awareness and risk perception among laboratory personnels and staff on biosafety and biosecurity was held at postgraduate laboratories, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 14 and 15 September 2015.

The main topics presented at this workshop include international and national biorisk management, biosafety and biosecurity, hazard and risk communication, bioethics and discipline, hazard identification and risk assessment, mitigation, good laboratory practices, chemical inventory and material safety data sheet preparation, sterilization and decontamination, waste management, and emergency response.

“The participants shared their own experiences on the minor accidents that occurred to them while conducting their experiments. Some of these near misses could have led to adverse consequences,” said Postgraduate Degree Programmes Head and Centre for Cancer Research ChairpersonProf Dr Lim Yang Mooi. She added that near misses or accidents could be avoided if handled properly. At the workshop, the participants realised that some of their common practices in the laboratory were not safe and needed to be improved.

3M Malaysia and Esco Global Malaysia were also invited to present talks. 3M Technical engineer, Sherlyn Voon provided training on the use and selection of personal protective equipment against biological and chemical hazards.

Voon demonstrating the correct way of using a respirator

Esco Global sales manager Janice Yap shared the correct way of using the biosafety cabinet, laminar air flow and fume hood. These function to protect laboratory personnel. Misuse of these equipments could lead to harm coming to the user, other laboratory personnel, and the environment.

Later there were video presentations on laboratory hazards, biosafety practices, and emergency preparedness at the workshop. Last were interactive sessions through group discussions, activities, and drills on biological and chemical spillages, as well as first aid and emergency response conducted to enhance the learning process.

This workshop was organized by the UTAR Institutional Biosafety Committee and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Postgraduate Laboratories Management Committee.

Prof Lim (front row, centre) and the participants at the workshop