In line with its strategy aimed at enhancing scientific awareness and consolidating sound health practices, under the sponsorship of the President of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Prof. Dr. Hassan Lateef Al-Zubaidi, and under the direct supervision of the Dean of Karbala Polytechnic College, Prof. Dr. Fadel Mohammed Dhaher, the activities of the First Cultural and Scientific Festival for Medical Laboratories continued. The festival was launched by the Medical Laboratory Technology Department under the slogan “Today’s Laboratories… Tomorrow’s Health,” coinciding with World Medical Laboratory Day.
The festival activities featured a specialized scientific lecture titled “Occupational Safety in Medical Laboratories,” delivered by Dr. Amir Nouri Jaloukhan, a Family Medicine Specialist at the Karbala Health Directorate. The lecture addressed crucial themes focusing on establishing a culture of proactive prevention rather than merely fearing accidents, alongside fostering professional responsibility within the laboratory work environment.
The lecture covered the global hierarchy of hazard control—ranging from elimination and substitution to engineering and administrative controls, up to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). It emphasized that investing in a safe working environment serves as the cornerstone for protecting staff, patients, and the environment alike.
Furthermore, the lecturer reviewed the key challenges facing medical laboratories, particularly in the local work environment, pointing out the impact of operational pressure and environmental conditions on performance safety, in addition to the importance of adhering to national and international standards to guarantee the accuracy of laboratory results.
Dr. Jaloukhan stressed during his lecture that adherence to safety procedures is not an option but an ethical and professional duty, as it is directly linked to diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. He called for adopting continuous training and documenting near-miss incidents as essential tools for prevention and improving the laboratory work environment.
The organization of this festival falls within the directions of Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in supporting qualitative scientific activities and consolidating a culture of quality and occupational safety, thereby contributing to preparing qualified medical and technical cadres capable of efficiently serving the community.
