Leica Biosystems ASP6025 - Manual (Page 15)

13 Leica ASP6025
2. Safety
Warnings – Handling reagents
Warnings – Operating the instrument
(continued)
• In exceptional situations (e.g. accidental reagent spills), it may be necessary to wear a respirator. This de-
pends on the specific local ambient temperature, room volume, additional load, ventilation rate etc. In case
of doubt, the laboratory owner/operator must carry out a local measurement to prove that applicable maxi-
mum workplace concentrations are not exceeded. Measurements performed of maximum workplace concen-
trations that occur at an air change rate of 3.4 times per hour and a room temperature of 40°C, room volume
of 18 m 3 and reagent temperature of 45°C have shown that limit values are exceeded for short periods during
the step when specimens are loaded in formalin. At lower ambient temperatures and/or larger room volumes
in the laboratory or higher ventilation rates, the workplace concentration will be less. The exact concentra-
tion values can only be measured locally. The limits were complied with in all operating states.
• Take care when handling solvents and reagents!
• To prevent damage to the instrument, only the reagents listed in
Chapter 3.3 may be used!
• Some of the reagents used in tissue infiltration are toxic, highly flammable and combustible and hazardous
to health. Therefore, always wear rubber gloves and safety goggles when handling the chemicals used in this
instrument. The gloves must be resistant to all reagents listed in the reagent list.
• Use caution when handling paraffin wax or removing baskets – molten paraffin is hot and may cause burns.
Also, avoid personal contact with paraffin containers and retort walls – they can be very hot as well.
Observe the warning symbols for hot surfaces!
• When disposing of spent reagents, observe the applicable local regulations and the waste disposal regula-
tions of the company/institution in which the instrument is being operated.
• Never replace reagents or fill empty system bottles or RTU-bottles while a process is running.
• This can result in severe damage to the instrument.