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This document addresses UNC School of Medicine Nephropathology Laboratory general guidelines for waste management and covers laboratory safety rules and procedures for personnel, disposal boxes and sharps containers, and preparation of medical waste for contract incinerator service. This document is intended as a supplement to the McLendon Clinical Laboratories Safety Manual.

Every laboratory on UNC’s campus has electrically powered equipment that is used routinely in day-to-day operations. This equipment can pose a serious hazard if not properly maintained or improperly used. In addition, an electrical hazard could damage expensive equipment or wipe out years of research. All laboratory instruments and appliances should be adequately grounded and checked for current leakage.

The UNC Nephropathology Laboratory Safety Plan outlines the steps taken to ensure that laboratory employees and visitors are provided with an environment free from unnecessary hazards. In addition it describes specific staff activities designed to reduce the risk of injury and includes references to specific policies and procedures required by McLendon Clinical Laboratories and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Environment, Health and Safety Office (EHS).

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Nephropathology Laboratory is committed to ensuring that laboratory employees are provided a safe working environment free from unnecessary hazards. All laboratory employees have a right to know about health hazards present in their work-place in order to make safe, knowledge-able decisions about any personal risks associated with their daily work activities.

This policy addresses the procedures required by the University and UNC Hospitals to reduce the risk for provider-to-patient transmission of Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, (HIV) for health care personnel who provide direct patient care. This policy also reinforces the University and UNC Health Care requirements of strict adherence to Standard Precautions for all health care personnel in clinical care areas.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is committed to promoting a safe and healthy campus environment that is free from violence. This procedure sets forth steps for reporting, responding, and resolving reports of Workplace Violence.

Working in a health care environment poses a risk for acquiring certain infectious diseases greater than that for the general public. To reduce the potential risk, employers are required to establish a medical surveillance program which documents immunity for some diseases, monitoring for others such as Tuberculosis, along with safety training on methods to prevent exposure and disease.

The Asbestos Control Program is a set of practices and procedures applied to building cleaning, maintenance, construction, renovation and general operation in order to maintain buildings at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

To ensure that UNC Nephropathology responds appropriately during emergencies, crises, disasters, or disaster drills, this policy has been developed to clarify disaster response and centralize reporting of available personnel.

Proper packaging of diagnostic specimens is required for safe delivery to their desired destinations. In order for specimens to be received in the same condition they were sent, special packaging to prevent breakage, leakage, or loss is required. Specimens requiring rapid delivery will be sent by FedEx.

Safety training required by the UNC Nephropathology Laboratory is offered through online study programs available to University and Hospital employees involved with clinical and/or non-clinical (research) activities. These programs offer information about safe working practices and provide an orientation to University and Hospital policies, and state and federal regulations. Safety training will be offered to employees based upon job duties.

Employee incident reporting is a critical element of UNC Health Care’s Hospital Epidemiology, Occupational Health, and Environmental Health and Safety/Workers’ Compensation Program. The purpose of completing incident reports is to document the nature and cause of the incidents. Monitoring incidents allows steps to be taken to develop methods for reducing and eliminating occupational accidents, illnesses, and exposures.

This document is for use by the UNC School of Medicine Nephropathology Laboratory and describes allowable levels of Formaldehyde and Xylene vapor concentration, action limits for exposure to Formaldehyde and Xylene, records of Formaldehyde and Xylene monitoring, and how to properly handle Formaldehyde and Xylene.

Ergonomics is the science of assessing and developing a worksite designed to maximize productivity and minimize the risk of injuries. UNC Health Care’s program on ergonomics strives to improve employee well being through knowledge of safe work practices.

This policy applies to Industrial, Maintenance, and Construction, and Support Services operations. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines for research laboratories are contained in Chapter 5 of the Laboratory Safety Manual. Personal Protective Equipment for Clinic operations are governed by the Exposure Control Plan.