- Never mouth-pipette, use safe measuring and dispensing devices like Capillary and micropipette fillers, Pipettors, Specimen measuring syringes, Reagent dispensers etc.
- Do not eat, drink, smoke, store food, or apply cosmetics in the working area of the laboratory.
- Use an aseptic technique when handling specimens and culture.
- Always wash the hands after handling infectious material, when leaving the laboratory and before attending to patients. Cover any open wound with a waterproof dressing.
- Wear appropriate protective clothing when working in the laboratory. Ensure it is decontaminated and laundered correctly.
- Wear protective gloves, and a face mask, for involving direct contact with infectious materials.
- Minimize the creation of aerosols.
- Centrifuge safely to avoid creating aerosols.
- Do not use chipped or cracked glassware and always deal with a breakage immediately and safely.
- Avoid spillages by using racks to hold containers.
- Work neatly and keep the bench surface free of any unnecessary materials.
- Decontaminate work surfaces at the end of each day’s work and following any spillage of infectious fluid.
- Report immediately to the laboratory officer in charge, any spillage or other accident involving exposure to infectious material.
- Use and control an autoclave correctly.
- Dispose of laboratory waste safely.
- Do not allow unauthorized persons to enter the working area of the laboratory.
- Ensure technical and auxiliary staff working in the laboratory receive appropriate immunizations.
- Those at increased risk of acquiring infections, e.g. immuno-compromised persons, should not work in a laboratory handling infectious material.
