Accommodation and Safety

One key responsibility of the Director of the laboratory is to provide an adequate and safe working environment. Laboratory facilities should reflect due consideration of space, design, security, health and safety. If each of these factors is properly planned and set in place, the laboratory‟s mission is enhanced and the responsibility of the Director is met. It is recognised that laboratories will be required to comply with Government building and safety legislation. The accreditation criteria shall accommodate the provisions of such legislation.

20.1 Space

Each employee must have adequate work space to accomplish assigned tasks. Sufficient space must be provided for storage of supplies, equipment and tools. Analysts/ examiners must have space available for writing reports and other official communications. Where possible, there must be a clear delineation of areas used for the clerical aspects of laboratory work and the areas used for testing/ examinations. Adequate and appropriate space must be available for records, reference work and other necessary documents. Sufficient space must be available for each instrument to facilitate its operation.

Accessories should be stored near each instrument to facilitate its use and operation. (Labs. in which usable space falls below adequate levels may experience health and safety problems, compromised efficiency, adversely affected morale and productivity and an increased risk of mishandling and contaminating the evidence. In designing and planning for additional space or a new facility, future space requirements should also be projected.

20.2 Design

The physical design should permit the efficient flow of case exhibits from the time of its acceptance until its proper disposal. The relative locations of functional areas should facilitate the use of equipment and instruments. Adequate and proper lighting must be available for personnel to carry out assigned tasks. Adequate and proper plumbing and wiring must be available and accessible. The laboratory must have proper ventilation, adequate heating, cooling and humidity control as per the requirements. Bench and floor surfaces must be appropriate for the work being performed. The design should maximise laboratory functions and activities, safeguard the physical evidence, protect the confidential nature of the laboratory operations and provide a safe and healthy environment. Lack of space and / or fiscal resources are not acceptable reasons for unacceptable laboratory practices.

20.3 Security

Access to the operational area of the laboratory must be controllable and limited. Visitors must not have unrestricted access to the operational areas of the laboratory. A record must be retained of all visitors to the operational areas of the laboratory.

Where a laboratory exists within a host agency facility, documented procedures may be required to permit entry during off-hours for emergencies. Such arrangements are acceptable if they include, for example, the breaking of a storage seal to access a key, code etc. and notifying an authorised laboratory person. Each emergency access to the laboratory should be properly documented. All exterior entrance/ exit points to the laboratory facility must be controlled in order to prevent access by unauthorized personnel. All security doors must have keys or other access devices limited to authorised personnel. The entire exterior perimeter of a forensic science laboratory must inhibit unauthorized access to the laboratory e.g. suspended ceilings which permit undetected entry to the laboratory are unacceptable. 

Short term and long term evidence storage areas require limited/ controlled access. Internal areas requiring limited/controlled access must have a lock system. Each access device (keys etc.) must be accounted for in a register and their distribution limited. The laboratory must be monitored during vacant hours by an intrusion alarm or by security personnel. The laboratory must have a fire detection system wherever possible. In keeping with any relevant statutory requirements appropriate fire extinguishing devices must be available and policies and procedures of laboratory security must be clearly documented. Laboratory personnel should be trained in fire fighting.

20.4 Health and Safety

Health and safety are everyone‟s responsibility and require the commitment of each employee to be effective. Management‟s commitment is essential for long term success of a health and safety programme. Such a cooperative relationship will safeguard the employees of a Forensic Science Laboratory as well as address management‟s responsibility and liability. 

All elements of the laboratory‟s health and safety programme must be clearly documented in a manual, which is readily available to all staff. Examples of procedures, which must be included, where appropriate, are:

• Procedure for handling chemical spills

• Cleaning and disinfecting procedures for biological spills

• Cleaning and decontamination procedures for radioactive spills

• Procedures including follow up procedures such as counselling for dealing with needlestick injuries

• Evaluation procedures including a plan of the facility showing the location of safety equipments and fire extinguishers

• Policy on the use of protective clothing eg. gowns, coats, gloves, goggles etc.

• Policy on eating, drinking, applying cosmetics etc. in the laboratory

• Waste disposal procedures

• Routine cleaning and disinfection procedures for work benches, floors, centrifuges, refrigerators etc.

• Immunization policy

• Accident reporting protocols

• Special procedures for handling hazardous substances.

Material safety data sheets must be available in conjunction with the safety manual. Work related Accident Insurance coverage for all employees shall be provided by the Management. 

An officer must be designated as the Health and Safety Manager. Ideally, the Health and Safety Manager should have received training in occupational health and safety concepts and in the relevant legislative requirements. The health and safety programme must be monitored regularly and audited at least annually to ensure that its requirements are being met. 

Records of safety audits must be maintained. The laboratory must encourage the use of available safety devices required by its health and safety manual. Signs must be present to identify safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, safety showers, eye wash facilities, spill kits etc.

Proper equipment and material must be available to handle toxic and carcinogenic biological and/or other dangerous material spills. Spill kits must be available for acids and solvents. Appropriate disinfectants must be available (It is recommended that 0.05 per cent sodium hypochlorite be used for routine disinfection and 0.5 per cent sodium hypochlorite be used for spills of blood and body fluids). 

Where appropriate, the laboratory should have safety showers and eye wash equipment of suitable locations and in good working condition. The operation of safety showers must be checked regularly. If commercial eye wash preparations are used, it must be ensured that the solutions are within their expiry dates or if distilled water is used the water must be changed at least once a week. 

Sufficient exhaust hoods must be available to maintain a safe work environment. Biolog safety cabinets must be available for handling exhibits, samples etc. where protection of analysts/examiners from biological hazards is necessary. Fume cabinets must comply with

relevant National/International Standards. 

Sufficient first aid kits must be available and strategically located. An adequate number of personnel must be trained in first aid procedures. Appropriate storage must be trained in first aid procedures. Appropriate storage must be provided for volatile, flammable, explosive and other hazardous materials. A flammable liquids storage cabinet is required for all but small volumes. Acids and solvents should not be stored together. It may be necessary to store some material in locked cabinets/cupboards and magazines. Storage on high shelves is discouraged. Suitable carriers must be available to carry large bottles. The emergency exits from the laboratory must provide safe passage in an emergency. Evacuation routes must always be kept clear. General cleanliness and good house keeping must be apparent. Food stuffs must not be kept in laboratory refrigerators/freezers/ovens. Centrifuges used for the biological material must have sealed buckets or a sealed rotor. 

There must be a documented waste management programme, which includes procedures for the disposal of:

• Chemical wastes

• Biological wastes

• Sharp and broken glass

• Uncontaminated waste, for example, paper waste

• Radioactive wasteLaboratories are also reminded of the requirements of the Indian Quarantine Laws in relation
  to imported biological materials. The following must be in place:

• A record or inventory of imported biological materials, their source and when they were received by the laboratory

• A documented policy on the disposal of imported biologicals from the lab.

• Staff training covering :

- Disposal procedures
- Indian Quarantine Laws Requirements.

A register must be maintained of laboratory accidents, injuries and other incidents and the follow up action taken. Suitable protective clothing/equipments must be available at all the times. The nature of these items will be dependent on the work being undertaken and might include:

• Laboratory coats/ gowns

• Disposable gloves

• Rubber gloves

• Heat/ cold resistant gloves

• Protective eye wear

• Face masks

• Plastic/ rubber aprons

Foot wear When radioactive and X-ray work are performed, detectors must be used regularly to monitor radiation levels and the wearing of film badges by staff may be necessary. Staff must be advised of immunization and other appropriate precautionary measures. It is recommended that relevant records be kept. Appropriate hand washing and hand drying facilities must be available. Hand basins should not be fitted with domestic taps but with a suitable alternative, for example, elbow or foot activated devices. The use of communal towels is discouraged. Single use towels or automatic hand drying devices are preferred. A suitable cleaning agent must be available. Gas cylinders must be secured. Samples/ specimens/ exhibits referred to other laboratories must be transported in accordance with the Indian Post or other relevant requirements.