Winter is coming, and it’s time for laboratories to brush off their winter safety checklists. The forecast for the 2023–2024 winter season will be dominated by a powerful El Niño, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This is expected to cause a warmer-than-...
In the world of hospital laboratories, where precision and accuracy are non-negotiable, the culture of safety forms the bedrock of daily operations. It is within this critical context that Daniel J. Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ), who has over 30 years of experience as a...
Anatomic pathology laboratories present safety concerns that can differ from those in the clinical lab. Formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals are used to preserve tissue specimens; workers can be exposed to large amounts of blood and body fluid during autopsies; and the sharp blades in...
Exposed skin and lab work simply don’t mix, which is why open-toed shoes are verboten in the laboratory, says Dan Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, a laboratory safety officer for multihospital system Sentara Healthcare in Virginia. However, that isn’t the only consideration when picking...
