We are working in a BSL level 1 lab. The Cambridge Biosafety Committee has reviewed the projects we are undertaking in the lab. We provided the following lab safety training to students:
Safety
Good lab conduct
- Follow all instructions so not to injure you or your colleagues
- Do not horse around in the lab
- Do not bring food, beverages, or tobacco products into the lab
- Do not apply makeup in the lab
- Do not eat or drink in the lab
- Do not mouth pipet or drink any lab materials
- Label your tubes properly (your name, date, sample name)
- Do not work alone - only work when an expert is around
Personal protection
- Wear gloves in the proper manner
- Wear goggles in the proper manner
- Refrain from wearing loose clothing and jewelry
- Tie long hair neatly at the back of the neck
- Wear shoes that enclose your entire feet
- Legs must be covered, no shorts or skirts
Before beginning any lab activity
- Know all the dangers associated with all materials (Check Materials Safety Data Sheet - MSDS)
- Know the proper way of using and disposing of all the materials
- Know all the protective measures
- Do not use any lab equipment unless you are trained to use it
- Do not perform a lab procedure until you are trained do so
BSL-1 safety
Biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) is suitable for work with well-characterized agents which do not cause disease in healthy humans (non-pathogenic). In general, these agents should pose minimal potential hazard to laboratory personnel and the environment. This level of biosafety is appropriate for work with several kinds of microorganisms including non-pathogenic Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other organisms not suspected to contribute to human disease (e.g. mouse cell lines).
Before leaving the lab
- Leave it cleaner than you found it
- Clean your workbench with disinfectant at the beginning and end of the lab exercise
- 70% ethanol for most cases; 10% bleach when working with bacteria and yeast (be sure you are wearing gloves!)
- Household levels of cleaning agents can be poured down the drain; run water from the faucet for a few minutes afterward
- Dispose of solid waste in designated container
- Leave all equipment, samples, and reagents in the lab
- Wash your hands with soap and water
- Turn off lights and lock the door
Emergency Procedures
- Know where all exits are located
- If an irritating reagent splashes onto you, run affected area under water for 10 minutes and wash with soap
- If a glass container is broken, notify the instructor immediately
- Report all accidents and injuries immediately to an instructor
- © EMW Streetbio and iGEM 2016
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