Safety & Infection Control Flashcards

Which class of fire extinguisher is appropriate for electrical equipment fires in the laboratory?

Answer: Class C

Class C extinguishers are rated for electrical fires and use non-conductive agents that will not cause electrocution.

Under standard precautions, which body fluid does NOT require the same level of protection as blood?

Answer: Sweat

Sweat is not considered infectious under standard precautions and does not require the same PPE as blood or other body fluids.

A laboratory worker is exposed to a potentially infectious aerosol. What is the FIRST action to take?

Answer: Remove contaminated clothing and wash affected areas

Immediate decontamination by removing contaminated clothing and washing affected skin or mucous membranes is the first priority after exposure.

Which biosafety level (BSL) is required for work with agents that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease and for which no vaccine or therapy is available?

Answer: BSL-4

BSL-4 is the most stringent level and is required for dangerous exotic agents such as Ebola and Marburg viruses that pose a high risk of aerosol-transmitted infections.

Which disinfectant concentration of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is typically recommended for decontaminating laboratory bench surfaces after a blood spill?

Answer: 0.5% (1:10)

A 0.5% (1:10 dilution of household bleach) sodium hypochlorite solution is the standard recommendation for decontaminating surfaces after blood spills.

What does the acronym PASS represent in fire extinguisher use?

Answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.

Which of the following is the most effective method to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections in the laboratory?

Answer: Frequent and proper hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is consistently recognized as the single most important measure to prevent the transmission of healthcare-associated infections.