CAP Pro Course - Safety - Laboratory Waste and Spill Management (2026 & 2027)

Author: Robert Nickla, RBP, M(ASCP)
Reviewers: Laurie Bjerklie, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM and Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ)

Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Distinguish between the different types of laboratory waste.
  • Identify the responsibilities of regulatory agencies and laboratory personnel to ensure practices are in place to minimize exposure to the hazards associated with laboratory waste.
  • Identify the proper precautions necessary for handling, storing, disposing, and transporting of the various types of waste according to regulatory guidelines.
  • Recognize the type, extent, and proper clean up procedures of spills.

Course Outline

  • Distinguish between the different types of laboratory waste.
      • Types of Laboratory Waste
      • Chemical Waste
      • Infectious/Biohazardous Waste
      • Radioactive Waste
      • Multi-hazardous Waste
      • Nonhazardous Waste
      • Sharps
      • Nonhazardous waste is defined as waste that is not regulated because it is not defined as hazardous, toxic, infectious, or radioactive. Based on this ...
      • The laboratory has purchased an instrument that will automatically make and stain slides for peripheral blood smears. The instrument will be installed...
      • Proper sharps disposal is of special concern because these objects present a physical hazard to both laboratory workers and non-laboratory workers who...
      • While working in the microbiology department in her laboratory, Tara uses a box cutter to open a box containing unused culture plates and accidentally...
  • Identify the responsibilities of regulatory agencies and laboratory personnel to ensure practices are in place to minimize exposure to the hazards associated with laboratory waste.
      • Federal Laws and Regulations
      • State and Local Regulations
      • Responsibility for Compliance with Regulatory Guidelines
      • Minimizing Possible Exposure or Injury and Managing Risks
      • Reporting Exposures, Occupational Injuries, and Risks
      • The primary purpose of a waste management program is to ensure the laboratory is disposing of waste in a manner that prevents unnecessary exposure and...
      • On several occasions, Mary has observed coworkers disposing contaminated waste into the wrong waste receptacle (eg, placing chemical waste into red bi...
      • The responsibility for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements does not stop at the management level. Each associate has an obligation to act...
      • Shelly is working on an extremely busy night, and the laboratory is short-staffed. The laboratory stores the completed Gram-stained smears in a plasti...
  • Identify the proper precautions necessary for handling, storing, disposing, and transporting of the various types of waste according to regulatory guidelines.
      • Identifying Waste Streams
      • Waste Streams: Separation, Segregation, Disposal, and Labeling
      • Waste Handling: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
      • Waste Handling: Engineering Controls
      • Waste Storage
      • Waste Transport and Treatment
      • Laboratory personnel often generate a large amount of infectious waste as they perform their daily tasks. The proper type of personal protective equip...
      • It is important to remain aware of waste storage requirements. Which statement is correct about storing laboratory waste on site?
      • Karen is a new technician who is just starting her laboratory career. She wants to make sure she follows all precautions for safe waste handling. Kare...
      • Which statement about the proper storage of chemical waste is false?
  • Recognize the type, extent, and proper clean up procedures of spills.
      • Determining the Type and Extent of Spills
      • Spill Management Procedures
      • Major chemical spills are:Difficult to containLikely to harm personnel and/orPose an immediate fire riskYour laboratory has a team of specially traine...
      • Your laboratory's flammables cabinet is located in a room off of the core area. As you enter the room to retrieve some methanol, you notice a large pu...
      • In the event of an infectious waste spill in your laboratory, a quick response is required to minimize exposure time. Which statement is accurate rega...
      • Laurie is working the evening shift and receives a surgery specimen after the pathology department has closed. The nurse delivering the specimen state...
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for MLS and MLT personnel, medical laboratory science students and interns, pathology residents, and practicing pathologists.
Author Information: Rob Nickla, RBP, M(ASCP), began his public health career in 2004 at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory where he was a Public Health Microbiologist in the sections of Mycobacteriology, Bacteriology, and Virology. He has since worked as the State Training Coordinator and Bioterrorism Training Coordinator in the Bioemergency Response Section and as an Associate Biosafety Officer in the Environmental Health and Safety Department at Arizona State University (ASU). Currently, Rob is the BT and CT LRN (Laboratory Response Network) Coordinator and State Training Coordinator with the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL).
The author has no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information:
Laurie Bjerklie, MA, MLS(ASCP)CM, is a Lead Education Developer. She earned a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Xavier University. She has over 15 years of experience in higher education and has held program director and faculty positions in both MLT and MLS programs.
Daniel J. Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has over 25 years of experience as a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist. He has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in Amherst and Buffalo, New York. Dan worked as a laboratory generalist in hospitals ranging in size from 75 to 800 beds before becoming a laboratory manager. After 10 years of lab management, he became the Laboratory Safety Officer for a system of more than 10 hospitals and over 20 laboratories and draw sites in the Tidewater area of Virginia.

This course is part of the CAP Competency Assessment Hub.

See other included Pro courses

See other included instrument checklists