By Dan Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) and Jason P. Nagy, PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM,QLS
This article emphasizes that laboratory safety is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing, evolving practice requiring continuous learning. As technologies, workflows, and risks change, laboratorians must actively engage in education to maintain competence and ensure a safe working environment. The article outlines multiple avenues for earning continuing education (CE) credits, including webinars, institutional training, and accredited online programs, as well as free resources from organizations like the CDC. It also highlights the value of professional periodicals in keeping staff informed about emerging hazards, regulatory updates, and best practices. Beyond knowledge acquisition, the article explores the “science of safety,” explaining how guidelines are rooted in disciplines such as chemistry, microbiology, and human factors. Finally, it reviews certification opportunities that validate expertise and leadership in safety. Overall, the article reinforces that continuous education is essential to building a proactive, resilient laboratory safety culture.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:
- List different avenues to obtain safety credits for continuing education (CE).
- List and describe the various periodicals that are available that can aid laboratorians as an additional source of laboratory safety knowledge.
- Discuss how safety guidelines are developed using science of safety reasoning.
- Describe additional certification opportunities that are available to laboratory scientists.
About the Presenters
Dan Scungio, MLS(ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) has more than 25 years of experience as a certified medical tech. He was a lab manager for 10 years
before becoming the laboratory safety officer for Sentara Healthcare, a system of 12 hospitals and more than 20 labs and draw sites in Virginia and North
Caroline. As “Dan the Lab Safety Man,” he provides consulting, education, and training in the U.S. and Canada.
Jason P. Nagy, PhD, MLS (ASCP)CM,QLS is the Laboratory Safety Support Coordinator at Sentara Health, a multi-hospital system in Virgina and North
Carolina. Jason brings almost 20 years of laboratory experience to the lab as a medical laboratory scientist (MLS) and more recently in laboratory safety and education roles.
Course Includes
- 1 Lesson
- 1 Test
- Course Certificate
MLO and Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (CEUs) for this issue’s CE article. CEUs or contact hours are granted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Northern Illinois University, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. Continuing education credits awarded for successful completion of this test are acceptable for the ASCP Board of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. Readers who pass the test successfully (scoring 70% or higher) will receive a certificate for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. The fee for this continuing education test is $20. This test was prepared by Amanda Voelker, MPH, MT(ASCP), MLS, Clinical Education Coordinator, School of Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Passing scores of 70 percent or higher are eligible for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E. credit. This test is no longer valid for CEUs after April 2027.
NIU is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.