Assessment of Facilities and Safety in National Public Health Laboratory - Sudan - 2015

Abstract

This descriptive case study was conducted in National Public Health Laboratory during period from July to December 2015; the study was aimed to assess the quality management system in facilities and safety in the laboratory. Questioner was checked by senior technologists of 12 departments, data was analyzed using SPSS computer program, frequencies and percentages were calculated. The present study reveals this result: the design easy to clean was found in 10/12(83.3%), the bench top water proof and resist to acid, alkali and organic solvents 10/12(83.3%). The adequate illumination provided, 4/12(33.3%), the adequate storage space 7/12(58.3%), the sink available for hand washing 10/12(83.3%), the corridor is free and unobstructed 8/12(66.7%), the flammable store in flammable storage cabinet 1/12 (8.3), the use of mouth pipette was prohibited in 5/12(41.7%), the centrifuge with cup 10/12(83.3%), the glass container stored on the floor 2/12 (16.7%), the valid fighting fire equipments 9/12(91.7%), the availability of first aid kits in laboratories 7/12(58.3%), 2/12(16.7%) from the staff was trained for firefighting , the biological safety cabinet certified last year 2/12 (16.7%), the biosafety cabinet surface disinfected by appropriate disinfectant at the begin and end of each procedures 4/12(33.3%), the open flame used inside cabinet 1/12 (8.3%), the access limited and restricted to authorized personnel 9/12(75.0%), the availability personnel protective equipments (PPE) 10/12(83.3), the non wearing of (PPE) outside laboratory 5/12(41.7), the eating ,drinking ,smoking and using cosmetics inside laboratory 1/12 (8.3%), the registration of incident 3/12(25.0%), the laboratory personnel immunized against occupational infectious diseases v 4/12(33.3%), the safety manual 2/12 (16.7%), the bio hazard signs posted on laboratory door 5/12(41.7%), the safety signs in the laboratory 5/12(41.7%). All cylinder secure 10/12(83.3), the chemical property segregated in laboratory 7/12(58.3) , the hazardous chemical above eye level 3/12(25.0%), the chemical store on the floor 4/12(33.3%), the chemical container left open 1/12(8.3%), the proper label of solutions in 10/12(83.3%), availability of chemical waste container in 3/12(25.0%), the availability of chemical waste container 3/12(25.0%), the liquid chemicals equipment generated waste couplet with waste collected container 2/12 (16.7%), the chemical waste labeled appropriately 3/12(25.0%), the chemical waste hazard identified on hazards waste labeled 1/12 (8.3%) the chemical waste tightly capped 4/12(33.3%), method for minimization of chemical waste 1/12 (8.3%) , procedure for collection of solvents 1/12 (8.3%), chemical waste container less than 55gallons in working area 2/12 (16.7%), types of waste in the laboratory 6/12(50.0%), the waste bag coded by color 5/12(41.7%), the availability of sharps box container 4/12(33.3%).The study observed some safety variables were completely not available such as the availability of eye wash in laboratory, waste management guidelines, waste collection program , radioactive waste container, the availability of hazards chemical waste management guidebook and special procedure for disposable for acids and bases. The study concluded that some variables were well establish such as the design easy to cleaning and the bench top water proof resist to acid ,alkali and organic solvents. Some variables were not well establish such as adequate illumination, the flammable store in flammable storage cabinet and the availability of first aid kits. Some variables are not available such as vi eye wash machine, waste management guidelines, waste collection program, radioactive waste container and hazards chemical waste management.