Joel Lectures on Occupation, Health and Implications of Poor Laboratory Regulation and Management
Speaking at the just concluded Annual National Conference and Scientific Workshop, organized by the Association of Science Laboratory Technologists of Nigeria (ASLTON) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), the Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abia State and Africa Representative of National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP), USA, Professor Ogbonna F. Joel, in his paper, Occupation, Health and Implications of Poor Laboratory Regulation and Management made a wake-up call for laboratory professionals and managers to the paradox of the significance of the laboratory and pride of the workplace stating that laboratory personnel and managers are the holders of public trust, therefore, users of laboratory services must rely on the reputation of the laboratory, the abilities of its analysts and the standards of the profession.
Africa Regional Representative of National Registry of Environmental Professionals, Prof. Ogbonna F. Joel during his citation for his Keynote Address being read by Mrs. Oluwayemisi Aruna
He warned that the decisions and judgments that are made in the laboratory must fairly represent the interests of those to whom the laboratory has been entrusted for credibility, because organizations rely on laboratory results to make critical decisions in process improvement and human health management, yet the laboratory facilities and personnel appear to be the most neglected in most organizations
Professor Ogbonna F. Joel emphasized that each laboratory must be certified by the regulatory agencies as required by law before testing can begin, depending on the complexity and area of testing, as determined by the agency, in respect to the necessary personnel, qualifications required for the minimum responsibilities of the personnel who must appreciate the process of analysis and the importance of care at all stages, from sampling, through sample preparation and calibration to final measurement and that they must also understand the rationale for good management practices within a technical analytical environment and the need for quality assurance of data for making science-based decisions.
He opined that for an established laboratories in Nigeria to deliver quality and dependable services in line with Best Practices and Regulatory requirements, there is the utmost need for accreditation by both National and International agencies vested with such responsibilities, stating that in Nigeria, the State and Federal Ministries of Environment, the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), as well as Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) are responsible for accreditation of laboratories that intend to offer laboratory Services in the Country.
The paper presenter maintained that if proper accreditation is carried out by the relevant authorities, laboratory hazards will reduce considerably, as the causes of hazards in the laboratory would had be taken care of by the body saddled with the responsibility to accredit the laboratory, considering the alarming global statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Safe Work Programme, which shows that over 350,000 work-related fatal accidents happen each year; 2.75 million work-related fatalities occur each year; 2.4 million fatalities from occupational diseases; 270 million accidents and 160 million diseases, due to laboratory hazards, bringing the global GDP lose to 4% annually.
Still speaking at the occasion, Professor Ogbonna F. Joel said Health-Safety and Environment (HSE) is imperative for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems in the laboratory, which pertains to the health, safety and welfare of workers. He stressed the effects of the working environment on the general well-being of workers and the influence of the workers’ state of health on their ability to perform the task before them, it is an important means of achieving higher productivity. Employing all industrial establishments to put in place an occupational health policy that should embrace the above aims, he said, despite the existence of the unique characteristics of laboratory workplaces, in actual practice, incidents of acute adverse health effects resulting from exposure to toxic substances in laboratories do occur.
In furtherance of his address, Professor Ogbonna F. Joel said the principles and objectives of occupational health are in the aims of Occupational Health as defined in the first session of the joint committee of the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization in 1950 as, the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention among workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions and the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health and that the primary objective of an occupational health service is to plan, direct and co-ordinate all activities connected with the promotion and protection of health, safety and welfare of laboratory workers irrespective of their status or grade.
He enjoined all the various organizations that use laboratories for their operations to ensure effective communication in achieving occupational health and safety, because for such an organization to put an effective and robust safety programme in place, it will need health and safety education.
In his paper, Professor Ogbonna F. Joel said modern concepts of health and safety education include not only instructions on purely health and safety matters, but also those activities which are likely to favourably influence individual health and safety habits and that the first step to enhance effective communication in occupational health and safety is the management commitment to the promotion and protection of the general well-being of workers by taking care of common HSE Hazards in the laboratory, which are materials, capable of posing an unreasonable risk to human health and safety as well as adversely affect the environment such as anything that exhibits one of four of the following characteristics: ignitable, substances that easily catches fire; corrosive, substances that corrodes metal or harms skin; reactive, substances that generates unstable materials that explode or create toxic fumes and toxic, substances that harm the body and can be fatal. Quoting Paracelsus, he said all substances are poisons: there is none which is not a poison; the right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.
Professor Ogbonna F. Joel also warned about Radioactive Hazards emanating from Alpha, Beta, Gamma RAYS, which could cause damage, several hours later, to persons in the laboratory, simply by drying their hands with a lab towel. He also said that exposure to HF will eventually fluorinate skin tissue, and mixing cement can result in dermatitis, something we handle every day.
While he touched on an allergic reaction to Nickel, which he said occurs over repeated exposures until the body of anyone working in the laboratory develops a sensitivity to it, after which, only minute exposures can cause a reaction, he added that several items in the laboratory are nickel-coated; however, he said Nickel coatings can be stripped off of laboratory items in certain chemical environments and assured that there are documented cases of this happening in the laboratory.
Advising on Chemical Hygiene Protocol, Professor Ogbonna F. Joel explained that chemical hygiene protocol identifies work practices, procedures, and policies to ensure that individuals working with chemicals are protected from potentially hazardous chemicals stating that the positive impact of chemicals in the environment is enormous but the destructive effect of chemicals can affect the environment in a greater dimension if the use is not monitored and handled with care because incidents of acute adverse health effects resulting from exposure to toxic substances in laboratories do occur in actual Practice, despite the existence of the unique characteristics of laboratory work places.
He therefore insisted on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed to protect the worker from health and safety hazards that cannot be removed or engineered out of the work environment because despite all the precautions one can take, things can still go wrong, those working in the laboratory must therefore, wear their safety glasses to prevents chemical exposure to eyes, laboratory coat as skin exposure barrier, nitrile gloves as skin exposure barrier for hands, dust mask, which prevents chemical exposure through inhalation, face shield for face protection when working with acids and grinders, ear plugs for hearing protection from high decibel equipment, steel toe boots for foot protection and improved footing.
He called for Laboratory First Aid and Medical Program to enhance emergency medical responses because the employer needs his employees to be of good health to be able to perform to the standard required for the achievement of set goals, also the community needs healthy members who will contribute effectively to community affairs, financially, physically and mentally, the nation needs citizens who would pay taxes as well as contribute physically and mentally and families need their breadwinner and companion to be in sound health to be able to win their bread
Talking about the consequences of non-compliance with PPE protocol by any organization in his paper, the erudite professor said that a breach of health and safety legislation is usually a criminal offence; as a result, a organization may face heavy fines and in addition, civil liability may also arise, resulting in compensation payable for injuries sustained as a result of negligence. He further said that direct costs of accidents and ill-health resulting from negligence are repairs or replacement of damaged equipment and buildings, product loss or damage, loss of production, public and/or product liability, fines, legal fees, and medical treatment. The challenges of negligence, he said, can be overcome by training and retraining of workers, and increases in insurance premiums. He also advised on the application of the PDCA cycle: Plan – what you’re going to do, Do – it, Check – that what you’re doing is working and Act – if what you’re doing could be improved.
In his final words, the Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abia State and Africa Representative of National Registry of Environmental Professionals (NREP), USA, Professor Ogbonna F. Joel, said everyone has a part to play in protecting the Science Laboratory Technology profession by thinking about what one is doing because one can actually make a difference, if a technologist gets it right, the reward from this noble profession would be prosperity, healthy living, peace of mind and long life and If the SLT professionals fail to do it right, there will be a commensurate retribution from a helpless most neglected profession, bleak future filled with sickness, disease and death at premature age.
He cautioned, the choice is yours, mine and ALL of us to make! WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE IN THE FUTURE? New Way or Old Way?
