Medical laboratories - Prevent Checklists

	Document name
		Medical laboratories
Area/location	Date
	Invalid Date
Approved by	Participants

Description	The list is based on the following regulations
The checklist includes questions about the organisational and social work environment, physical work environment, and environmental protection. Please note that there is also a checklist specifically for infection risks based on the swedish work environment authority's statute book 20184.	AFS 2023:1 §9 AFS 2023:2 2§7 AFS 2023:10 6§8 AFS 2023:12 6§17 AFS 2023:11 15§8

Organisational and social work environment

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Is there a clear distribution of work environment responsibility, governance, and resources (for the job)?
2. Has the need for knowledge and training for managers and supervisory staff been clarified and addressed?
3. Are the risks of ill health and accidents investigated, assessed, and taken into account when planning and deciding on, for example, new or changed operations, purchases, repairs, maintenance, or reconstruction?
4. Are new employees, temporary staff, and staff with new tasks given a good introduction that includes the work environment?
5. Are the risks of ill health and accidents investigated, assessed, and managed continuously, considering the physical, organisational, and social work environment?

Organisational and social work environment

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Is there a good balance between the demands of the work and the employees' access to support and help for the implementation of the work?
2. Can employees influence the organization and implementation of their own work?
3. Are performance appraisals conducted on a regular basis?
4. Are there specific procedures for providing rapid care, assistance, and support after employees have been exposed to threats or violence?
5. Are violations and conflicts handled as soon as they arise?
6. Are there routines for psychological and social crisis management in the organisation?

Physical work environment

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. The special needs of the activities in different premises are met with regard to...
a) How should the process of receiving and storing samples be handled?
b) Laboratory premises? -> Laboratory premises?
c) Is there a room available for meetings or training?
d) Staff facilities?
e) Restroom?
f) Are there changing rooms, toilets, and showers available?
g) Are you referring to cleaning facilities?
h) Storage spaces? - Lagringsutrymmen?
i) Other spaces? - Other areas?
2. Is the general lighting sufficient in the premises?
3. Is there on-site lighting for those employees (e.g. the elderly) who feel that the lighting in the work area is insufficient?
4. Are there any disturbing reflections or glare from lamps or windows?
5. Is the ventilation working satisfactorily in all spaces?
6. Is the temperature satisfactory in the workplace?
7. Is sun protection needed for all or some of the windows?

Ergonomics

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Are there sufficient work and storage areas?
2. Are working heights adapted to the employee's body size and the task at hand?
3. Has the computer workstation been designed for good ergonomics, e.g. height-adjustable desks?
4. Are visual aids (e.g. terminal and loupe glasses) regularly checked to ensure they are adapted to the work required by vision?

Chemical management

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Is there a list of all chemical risk sources?
2. Are safety data sheets available for all hazardous chemical products?
3. Are all work steps documented and risk assessed?
4. Are chemical products stored safely?
5. If a fume cupboard or drawstring is used?
a) Are there enough of them available in the necessary locations?
b) Is the airflow in these regularly checked?
6. Are chemical handling facilities inspected regularly?
7. Is there access to eye wash and emergency shower?
8. Have any eczema or other issues been investigated?
9. Has the protective equipment been tested for the individual?
10. Do the protective gloves have the right kind of protection against, for example, abrasion and penetration of chemical substances?

Hygiene and infection control

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. What prevention measures have been taken?
a) Is the spread of infection avoided by proper cleaning?
b) Do staff refrain from eating or drinking in areas with a risk of infection?
c) Is there access to hand washing and disinfectant?
2. Are the staff offered vaccination?
3. Is it well known what counts as hazardous waste and how it should be handled?
4. Does hand sanitizer with a re-oiling additive help reduce skin dehydration?
5. Are there procedures for action in the event of a puncture or cut injury?
6. Are there containers for cutting and sharp waste?
7. Are incidents where staff have been exposed to infectious agents in risk classes 3 and 4 documented? (Examples of infectious agents in these risk classes are HIV and TB bacteria.)

Safety

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Is there the right equipment for the first aid needed, e.g. the right type of dressing equipment and possibly a defibrillator?
2. Do employees have sufficient knowledge of first aid?
3. Are there fire protection equipment in strategic locations?
4. Is there alarm equipment adapted to the business?
5. Are there enough evacuation plans in place?
6. Is evacuation practiced?
7. Are the routines for backup, storage, and control of data files functioning properly?

Occupational disease or work-related injury

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Have incidents, occupational accidents and occupational diseases been investigated, followed up and measures taken?
2. Is there sufficient knowledge about the risks of musculoskeletal disorders and musculoskeletal disorders?
3. Is there knowledge about the risks of ill-health due to too high a workload?
4. Is there sufficient knowledge about the risks of eczema, allergies, and other hypersensitivity reactions?
5. Are there procedures for reporting incidents, occupational accidents and occupational diseases?
6. Are there procedures for immediate notification to the Swedish Work Environment Authority in the event of death, serious personal injuries, injuries that have affected several people at the same time or serious incidents?
7. Is www.anmalarbetsskada.se or any other system used for reporting work-related injuries or ill-health?
8. Are there policies and procedures for rehabilitation and work adaptation?

Environmental protection

Question	Yes	No	N/A	Risk assessment:			Action	Responsible	Latest completion date	Control
				Low	Medium	High
1. Is hazardous waste logged and handled according to self-monitoring programs?
2. Are there procedures for handling infectious waste?
3. Is as much of your waste as possible disposed of for recycling or reuse (glass, paper, cardboard, batteries, etc.)?

Other Here you can note risks that need to be addressed that are not included in the checklist

© Prevent – Arbetsmiljö i samverkan Svenskt Näringsliv, LO och PTK

More checklists can be found at www.prevent.se/checklistor