Dr Saxon, in repose
I work in a busy diagnostic laboratory. Every year we are
subject to an internal laboratory review and every three years we have a major laboratory
inspection. By shear chance our internal inspection precedes the major inspection
by a meagre two weeks. We run a tight ship and inspectors have to dig really
deep to find the most minor of transgressions in our procedures and protocols.
This year we are been judged by a new, more rigorous standard – it has an
impressive long name, which I can’t remember. We had the internal inspection
last week.
Like all well run laboratories we have a hazard register. This
register itemises all the chemicals, procedures, environmental conditions and
instrumentation which may constitute a hazard to staff. We are obliged to
assess risk and document all relevant control measures which are in place
to mitigate risk. Fair enough. Some of the chemicals we work with can be
unpleasant if they are inhaled or splashed on the skin. The laboratory is built
in a city which happens to straddle a seismic fault. The city is subject to
earthquakes and clearly this represents a major risk. Consequently, all items of
equipment are restrained and emergency torches, food and water are scattered
throughout the facility. All this makes sound common sense. But it seems that
the new regulations require more. It now seems that all items of equipment that
have moving parts are to be reassessed (new regulations, you see). I don’t work
in heavy industry. I work with analysers which process blood samples and go ‘beep’,
a lot. Any moving parts are sequestered behind perspex. But I suppose if you are
particularly determined you could unscrew, remove the lid, and push your finger
into a moving part. You might get a small bruise or even chip your nail polish.
And we mustn't forget the hot plate which is set to 75 degrees Celsius. If you
hold your hand on the plate for a couple of minutes you might end up with a slight
burn. To my mind this comes under standard laboratory safe practice
and heaven forbid ‘common sense.’ But apparently not. And in order to comply
with the new standards I've got to spend the next week assessing all laboratory
equipment and updating the hazard register to cover all possible eventualities
no matter how remote or downright stupid.
As long as everything is documented and noted in triplicate everything
is fine as far as the inspectors are concerned. Never mind that the senior lab
staff are rushing around for six weeks prior to the inspection making sure the
documentation is word perfect. Bugger the fact that during this hiatus we are
not doing what we are paid for and that is providing a service for sick patients.
Sorry, they are not patients these days, they are clients- I’m sure we had to
document this important change, somewhere.
Not that I’m cynical or bloody
minded. These days, I am resigned and philosophical, and too close to retirement
to be otherwise. Although there have been occasions when I've been sorely tempted
to burn down the lab……….. ARSE.
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