Final answer:
It is appropriate for a technologist to clean bench tops after spills and on a weekly basis, while the other options would be against laboratory safety protocols, risking contamination and compromising aseptic techniques.
Step-by-step explanation:
If areas of the laboratory are designated as "clean" or "contaminated," it is appropriate for a technologist to: a. clean technical area bench tops after spills and on a weekly basis. This action falls in line with maintaining aseptic techniques and preventing contamination. Proper sanitization of work areas is essential to ensure the integrity of laboratory work and to prevent the spread of microorganisms.
b. Wearing a lab coat in the break or lunch room would be inappropriate, as it could transfer contaminants to areas designated for eating and resting, which is in direct opposition to lab safety protocols that seek to separate clean and contaminated zones.
c. Applying lip balm in a contaminated area is not advised, as this could introduce microorganisms to the body and contaminate the lip balm, thus breaching aseptic technique and increasing the risk of contamination and infection.
d. Touching a "contaminated" area phone with ungloved hands is not recommended. Although hands can be washed afterwards, there is still a risk of transferring microorganisms during the process. Appropriate PPE such as gloves should be worn when handling potentially contaminated objects to maintain aseptic conditions.