During the controlled chaos of scene investigation and recovery, identification, analysis and research experiments, worker health and safety can get overlooked or pushed to a back burner. Understanding the required Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) programs and recognizing hazards will help you to identify and correct many of the common safety and health hazards associated with doing forensic analysis and research.

This column is an introduction to the “Safety Guys” and OSHA safety and health concerns related to typical forensic laboratories and associated activities such as scene investigation and recovery. An overview of common health and safety hazards is presented. Future columns will provide more in-depth coverage of topics such as hazard communication and the OSHA Lab standard; bloodborne pathogens; proper selection and use of personal protective equipment; different types, setup and operation of biological safety cabinets, chemical fume hoods and local exhaust ventilation; thermal stress during scene recovery and ergonomic issues to name a few. The authors encourage your feedback and questions.

Employers have an obligation to provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards.” There are many specific OSHA standards that may apply to forensic laboratories. Some examples are hazard communication, hazardous chemicals in laboratories, respiratory protection, electrical safety, and fire safety. Besides the legal requirements, a safe workplace makes sense as employees are our most valuable resource.

Different Types of Hazards
An important first step in protecting worker health and safety is to recognize workplace hazards. Most hazards encountered fall into three main categories: chemical, biological, or physical. Cleaning agents and disinfectants, drugs, solvents, paints, and compressed gases are examples of chemical hazards. Potential exposures to chemical hazards can occur both during use and with poor storage.

Biological hazards include potential exposures to blood and body fluids, allergens, infectious zoonotics (animal diseases transmissible to humans), and other agents such as viral vectors. Blood and body fluids, ubiquitous in forensic laboratories, are one of the most important health hazards.

Finally there are the physical hazards associated with forensic laboratories. The most obvious are slips and falls from working in wet locations and the ergonomic hazards of lifting, pushing, pulling, and repetitive tasks. Other physical hazards often unnoticed are entering confined spaces or trenches, electrical, mechanical, acoustic, or thermal in nature. Ignoring these can have potentially serious consequences.

Chemical Hazards
Use of chemicals in forensic laboratories is inevitable and the potential for harm or injury could be significant if they are misused or mishandled. OSHA developed two standards to help mitigate these potential problems: Hazard Communication (29CFR1910.1200) aka “Haz Comm” and Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories (29CFR1910.1450) aka the “Lab Standard.” Haz Comm, formerly known as the “Right-to-Know,” deals with employers' requirements to inform and train employees on chemicals present in their workplace. It is one of the most frequently cited OSHA violations, which attests to both the importance given to its implementation and, paradoxically, a failure of employers to fully comply with its requirements.

A written program is the first step and describes how the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) will be implemented in the facility. The other basic tenants of the Hazard Communication Program (HCP) include maintaining a chemical inventory and associated material safety data sheets (MSDS), ensuring proper labeling of all chemical containers and fully training employees prior to work assignments and whenever the hazard changes. MSDS must be immediately available and employees must know where and how to find them. They are vitally important in emergencies and should be carried to the emergency room with the patient in the event of an exposure. Inadequate or incorrect labeling is a source of many accidents and exposures and a common OSHA citation. Clearly label all chemical containers with the contents and appropriate hazard warnings.

Sterilents, Preservatives, and Cleaning Agents
Sterilents and preservatives are frequently used in forensic laboratories. Formaldehyde is one of the most common and usually found mixed with alcohols or phenols. OSHA has a specific standard for formaldehyde (29CFR1910.1048) that stipulates requirements for initial and periodic monitoring, protective equipment and clothing, training, and designating regulated areas among others. A qualified industrial hygienist should conduct hazard evaluations and exposure assessments if these chemicals are used. Monitoring can be done with a portable infrared spectrophotometer or sorbent tubes and pumps.