Routes of Entry
Behaviour-Based Safety
Diphoterine
Occupational Exposure Banding
Piramal Aurora Laboratory Best Practices
100
Daily Double 🙌: This is the most common pathway by which airborne contaminants can enter into the body.
What is inhalation?
The most common route of entry is inhalation through the respiratory system. When contaminants are airborne, they are breathed in and can deposit in different parts of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs), where they may be absorbed into the bloodstream or cause direct irritation or damage.
100
These were the four safety themes during our Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) campaign in July.
What is See it, Own it, Share it, and Sustain it
100
This solution is specifically designed for emergency first aid decontamination of chemical splashes in the eyes or on the skin.
"What is DIPHOTERINE®"
100
At Piramal, materials are classified into these bands based on occupational exposure limits (OELs):
Band 1: >100 µg/m³
Band 2: 10–100 µg/m³
Band 3: 1–10 µg/m³
Band 4: <1 µg/m³
Band 5: <0.1 µg/m³
"What are the Piramal Control Bands"
A system that categorizes compounds by hazard level and required controls.
100
True or False: Double gloving is allowed when walking through hallways?
"What is False"
Double gloving is not permitted in hallways. Gloves should only be worn in designated lab or work areas to prevent contamination from spreading to clean spaces.
200
Through absorption, these are the two primary areas in which hazardous substances can enter the body.
What is the skin and the eyes?
The skin is the largest organ and can absorb liquids, vapors, and fine particles that come into contact with it. The eyes are also highly absorbent and provide a direct route for chemicals to enter the body, especially through splashes or airborne vapors.
200
Daily Double 🙌: This BBS weekly theme was about taking personal responsibility, correcting hazards, speaking up, and submitting a MySafe observation to protect yourself and others.
What is "Own It"
200
Using DIPHOTERINE® within this time frame after a chemical splash is most effective in reducing injury severity.
"What is within the first 10 seconds (and no later than the first minute)"
200
Band 4 compounds require isolators and glove boxes. What do these examples represent within the control banding system?
"What are engineering controls"
200
True or False: Hands must be washed with soap and water immediately after working with chemicals, even if gloves were worn.
"What is True"
Even when gloves are used, trace contamination can still occur during glove removal or from small imperfections, so proper handwashing is always required.
300
This route of chemical exposure occurs when hazardous substances enter the body through the mouth, usually by eating, drinking, or hand-to-mouth contact.
What is ingestion?
Ingestion is a route of chemical exposure that happens when hazardous substances enter the body through the mouth. This can occur by eating, drinking, smoking, or through hand-to-mouth contact if contaminated hands, food, or objects are touched.
300
During this week of our BBS campaign, employees were asked to take a few minutes to share a story, lesson, experience, or insight with a coworker.
What is "Share It"
300
Daily Double 🙌: Unlike water, this property of DIPHOTERINE® helps it neutralize both acidic and alkaline chemicals more effectively.
"What is its amphoteric (neutralizing) action"
300
This Boundless development trial compound, BOS2, has an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 5 µg/m³. What band is it?
"What is Band 4"
300
In this picture, at least two safety issues can be identified.
"What are an unlabeled bottle and an open container"
The missing label means no one can confirm/identify what the substance in the bottle is or how to handle it safely, and the open container creates risks of spills, potential exposures, and possible substance contamination risk.
400
This uncommon route of entry is the most direct way hazardous substances can get into the body.
What is Injection?
Injection is the most direct way chemicals or biological hazards can enter the body, though it’s the least common. In laboratories, this often happens through accidents with broken glassware, improperly disposed needles, or handling sharp objects contaminated with hazardous materials.
400
This BBS week was focused on hazard recognition and encouraged everyone to spot risks in the workplace.
What is "See It"
400
Before applying DIPHOTERINE®, lab personnel should ensure this safety step is taken to prevent further exposure.
What is removing contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing?
400
This concert commercial product, used in the treatment of alopecia, has an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 52 µg/m³. What band is it?
"What is Band 3"
400
Daily Double 🙌: This everyday activity is strictly prohibited in laboratories because it can lead to ingestion of hazardous substances through contaminated surfaces, containers, or hands.
"What is eating or drinking in the lab"
Food and beverages are never allowed in laboratory areas because they can become contaminated with chemicals or biological agents, creating serious health risks.
500
Knowing these is essential when assessing chemical hazards, because it tells you how a substance can affect the body and which protective controls are needed.
What are the routes of entry?
Understanding all routes of entry: inhalation, absorption, ingestion, and injection, is critical for choosing the right controls, whether that’s PPE, ventilation, or hygiene practices.
500
This BBS week emphasized embedding positive safety behaviours into daily work, not because we’re told to, but because it reflects who we are as individuals and as a team.
What is "Sustain It"
500
Follow these steps to use DIPHOTERINE® on a skin exposure:
Remove contaminated PPE/clothing.
Begin rinsing immediately (aim for the first 10 seconds).
Hold the nozzle about a hand’s width from the skin and spray from clean area toward contaminated, top to bottom, using steady sweeping motions.
Keep spraying until the entire affected area is covered and the container is empty.
Cover/warm the person as needed and seek medical evaluation.
"What is the proper DIPHOTERINE® skin decontamination technique"
500
Daily Double 🙌: What band is EXC in and based on that, what are some examples of engineering controls in place for it?
"What is Band 4"
In the quality lab, EXC is handled under Band 4 containment. Engineering controls can include the ventilated balance enclosure (VBE) for weighing, flexible containment systems for sample handling, rapid transfer ports for safe material transfers, and isolators with glove boxes for high-hazard tasks.
500
What is wrong with this picture?
An overcrowded fume hood.
An overcrowded fume hood blocks proper airflow, preventing hazardous vapors from being vented effectively. Clutter also creates ignition sources, increases the chance of spills, and allows incompatible chemicals to be stored too close together, all of which raise the risk of accidents.