Team:Exeter/Safety
As our project focuses on biosafety, investigating whether kill switches can be reliably used as biosafety devices, general safety was something we regarded as very important. Our project poses minimal threat to individuals or to the environment upon accidental release, due to us only using Risk Group 1 microorganisms. However, we will still be taking all precautions to ensure no release of biomaterials into the environment occur.
Prior to beginning the laboratory work for our project, we all received a laboratory induction with Dagmara Kolak, the Mezzanine laboratory manager. As in standard with Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratories, we signed the relevant lab safety paperwork and were guided through standard safety procedures. We were shown around the laboratory and introduced to the academics working in the laboratory, shown the locations of equipment and how to safely use it, and informed of the standard safety procedures for the Mezzanine laboratory.
All the appropriate COSHH forms were read and signed according to best laboratory practises and university policies.
The Mezzanine laboratory is, as mentioned earlier, a Category 2 laboratory. By definition, a BSL-2 laboratory “is suitable for work involving agents that pose moderate hazards to personnel and the environment” (Gla.ac.uk). A BSL-2 laboratory builds upon the pre-existing safety procedures for a BSL-1 laboratory, but has some key differences:
In the Mezzanine laboratory, we worked alongside Biosciences researchers from different backgrounds, and were given our own bench, storage areas in the freezers and cold room. We were also given full access to the equipment in the laboratory. As the Mezzanine laboratory is a BSL-2 laboratory, we had to follow strict safety procedures to prevent release of biomaterials and/or microorganisms into the environment.
During our project, we used E. coli strains BL21 DE3 and DH5α - They are classified as Risk Group 1 microorganisms (eur-lex.europa.eu, 2000). Risk Group 1 microorganisms do not cause disease in healthy adult humans, and can be used in a BSL-1 laboratory (2016.igem.uk, 2016).
To ensure we worked safely, and to prevent the possible release of biomaterials into the environment, we followed the procedures below: