Re: Specialist in Laboratory Safety (ASCP)

From:Lee & Peggy Wenk
The Specialist in Laboratory Safety (SLS) is a certification exam offered through ASCP, as of about 3 years ago.
 
Printed below are the eligibilty routes, off the ASCP web site:
 
http://www.ascp.org/bor/certification/procedures/sls.asp
 
From this web page, you should be able to get to the content outline (very general but more complete than the 6-7 topic areas listed below) and the list of recommended books (I couldn't pull it up this morning, for some reason.)
 
I studied from the ASCP Lab Safety book (written by Lynn Montgomery), the lab safety book by Dapson and Dapson (available through Anatech, Ltd.), our hospital's and our lab's safety manuals, our hospital's epidemiology manual, websites of CDC and OSHA, re-read MSDS and spill kit info, and went over again all the hand-outs from every NSH workshop on safety I had ever taken.
 
I was weak on specimen shipping regs (which I have subsequently taken a NSH workshop on) and on hoods (air flow requirements for different types of biological hoods).
 
I did pass, but it wasn't an easy exam (they never are). I've been Anatomic Pathology Safety Officer for 6+ years, taking safety workshops for longer than that, reading safety regs since . . . . forever (yawn).
 
To help people who are interested in acquiring knowledge on safety, there are some NSH Teleconferences on safety coming up in 2003:
 
http://www.nsh.org/education/teleconf2002.html
 
March 19, 2003
Role of the Histology Lab in a Bio-terrorism Event - Tim Morken, CDC
 
May 21, 2003
Mercury in the Histology Lab: Safety, Reduction, and Disposal - Eric Talley, New York
 
June 18, 2003
Specimen Shipping Regulations - Linda Durbin, Oklahoma
 
I would recommend taking the SLS exam if you are involved in safety. No, it didn't get me any additional money (neither did taking on the role of Safety Officer (SO)). But I do feel it lends some "credibility" to my being SO - as in "who says you are qualified to be SO?".
 
Hope this helps.
 
Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)SLS
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI
 
= = = = = = = = =
 
To be eligible for this examination category, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of one of the following routes:

Route 1: ASCP Board of Registry technologist or specialist certification AND at least twelve (12) months acceptable experience in laboratory safety within the last five years.

Route 2: MLT(ASCP) or HT(ASCP) certification AND eighteen (18) months acceptable experience in laboratory safety within the last five years.

Route 3: Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university AND two years of acceptable experience in laboratory safety within the last five years.

Clinical Laboratory Experience
To fulfill the experience requirement for the Specialist in Laboratory Safety examination, you must have experience, within the last five years, in 4 of the 8 following areas:

= = = = = =
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Jackie.O'Connor@abbott.com
To: Angela McNabola
Cc: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu ; NLOUISEA@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: Specialist in Laboratory Safety (ASCP)


Is this an ASCP exam?


Angela McNabola <angela.mcnabola.b@bayer.com>

11/21/2002 07:29 AM

       
        To:        NLOUISEA@aol.com
        cc:        histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
        Subject:        Re: Specialist in Laboratory Safety (ASCP)




Hi Nancy,

I took this exam (and passed!) in September 2000.  Basically, I used the
recommended reading list that the ASCP sent with the application.  I looked on
OSHA's website, but also got alot of help from the folks that work in our Health
and Safety Department here at Bayer.  Each had there own specialty (fire,
chemical hygeine, ergonomics, etc.) and they were very helpful.

The challenge for me was that I work in research (with animal tissues), so I
really had to become familiar with hospital practices, CLIA regs, etc.  It was a
great learning experience.

I actually thought about doing a workshop at the NSH on helpful hints on passing
the test, but wasn't sure how many people would actually attend.  There is a lot
of information, and although it is very important, let's face it, not to
exciting!!

If you would like more details, I would be happy to send you information on the
specific resources I studied from.

good luck,

Angela McNabola, MS
Bayer Corporation
West Haven, CT


                                                                                                                                     
                     NLOUISEA@aol.com                                                                                                
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                     11/20/2002 06:35         cc:                                                                                    
                     PM                       Subject:  Specialist in Laboratory Safety (ASCP)                                        
                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                     




I recently learned of this new exam being offered in laboratory safety.  I'm
wondering if anyone has taken it?  Are there study guides or mock exams
available?  Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Nancy Adams







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