1.1 Waste Disposal in Laboratory
Laboratory wastes may be hazardous in nature. It should be disposed off in appro-
priate plastic bin bags:
1.Black waste bin bag–Contaminated medicine, general waste, leftover food and
peels of fruits, outdated medicine, any noninfectious material, etc. should be
discarded in these waste bins.
2.Red waste bin bag–Plastic waste such as catheters, urinary catheter, suction
catheter, Ryle’s tube, injection syringes, tubing, IV bottles, used or discarded
blood containers, microbiology culture, etc.
Fig. 1.1Hazard warning symbols
Table 1.1Laboratoryfirst aids
S. no Accident/injury First aid- Alkali splash on the
skin
Wash with tap water for 15 min followed by 5% acetic acid
solution- Acid splash on the
skin
Wash with tap water for 15 min followed by 5% sodium
carbonate solution- Phenol burn Wash with plenty of tap water. Then use polyethylene glycol with
water - Splashes in the
eyes
Wash with plenty of tap water and sterile saline. Then seek
professional doctor’s help- Injury due to
broken glass
Wash wound immediately with disinfectant- Burn Wash with plenty of tap water and cover with sterile dressing
2 1 Common Clinical Laboratory Hazards and Waste Disposal