Safety Alert
Risk of exposure of laboratory staff to biological agents due to missing clinical information
Risk of exposure of laboratory staff to biological agents due to missing clinical information
- HSE
- Safety Alert
- ED03-2024
- Hazardous SubstancesOccupational Health
- Hazardous substancesOccupational health
- Competence and trainingHuman-centred designOperating and work proceduresSafety communication
- Laboratory
Summary
This safety notice addresses infection risks in clinical and veterinary diagnostic laboratories when specimen requests lack relevant clinical information. It describes exposures involving Hazard Group 3 agents and calls for better request forms, staff training, sample-processing procedures, linked patient specimens and IT systems that make updated clinical details accessible to laboratory staff.
Classifications: Hazardous substances; hazardous chemicals; chemical exposure.
Classifications: Occupational health; worker health.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Human-centred design.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Laboratory.
ED03-2024. Themes: hazardous substances, occupational health.