· All new team members must take safety training before conduct any experiments.
· Each team member should know the location and the usage of fire-extinguisher, eye washer, emergency exit and first aid kit.
·Aisle to exit, emergency equipment, and utility controls shall never be blocked or obstructed.
· Only authorized personnel are allowed to enter the laboratory working areas.
· Foods, drinks, and cosmetics are not allowed in laboratory working area.
· It is not allowed to wear lab coats or gloves out of the lab.
· It is not allowed to touch instruments, door handles and elevator buttons with gloves on.
· Lab coat must not store with ordinary clothes.
· Open-toed footwear must not be worn in laboratory.
· Notebook should not be taken out of the lab.
· Avoid heating with fire. Operators must not leave when the fire is burning.
· Pets are not allowed in laboratory.

· Lab personnel must follow the operation manuals and wear lab coat, safety goggle and gloves.
· It is not allowed to touch the handles of doors or buttons of elevators with glove on.
· Overnight experiments should be avoided as much as possible.
· Disposal of toxic, harmful, and corrosive wastes into sinks is prohibited. These materials should be treated according to institutional guideline.
· Controlled reagents should be purchased and stored according to safety guideline. All individuals are required to follow the operational manuals for toxic compounds.
· The containers for toxic substance must be properly treated before discarded.

· All members must follow the university guideline to operate and dispose chemicals.
· Chemicals should be stored according to the classification by properties.
· The chemicals should be put into secondary plastic container when they are transported.
· Waste disposal should be clearly labeled on the containers.
· It is not allowed to dispose sharps, glass, syringes, and needles into regular trash cans.
· Prepared reagents should be properly labeled.

There are potential high fire risks in the labs when organic solvents or alcohol lamps are used. They may cause flash fires and explosion, or high toxicity of combustion products. Team members should follow the following guidelines.
· In case of a fire, team member should properly use fire distinguishers and evacuate the building.
· The usage of any type of open flame in a biosafety cabinet should be reported. Remove all papers, solvents combustible materials and excess chemicals from the area. Do not leave open flames unattended and never leave while the burner is on.
· Long hair should be tied in the work cap. Jewelry in hands and necks or loose clothing are not allowed in the lab.
· Inspect for cracks or any defect and ensure the safety of the alcohol lamps.
· Allow the alcohol lamp to cool before handling.

Team members should conduct proper lab waste management in accordance with all local, provincial, and national regulations. It is the responsibility of all team members to ensure the safe and correct disposal of all wastes. Improper and irresponsible disposal of chemical and biological wastes down drains, or to regular trash cans, or directly into the atmosphere, is forbidden by law. Team members should follow the disposal guidelines.

· Disposal procedures
The institutional guidelines provide a useful summary of the correct disposal procedure for most chemicals and biological wastes. The wastes should be correctly classified, labeled and stored in assigned containers under suitable conditions that are collected by the university at regular intervals.

· Laboratory waste containers and controlled waste
All wastes suitable for the local authorized refuses collection, except recyclable paper and glass, is called controlled waste', including dirty paper, plastic, rubber and wood, should be placed in the assigned special waste containers that are collected by the cleaners. These wastes are not allowed to be put in the regular waste bins. All broken laboratory glassware, any sharp objects of metal or glass, all fine powders (preferably inside a bottle or jar) and dirty sample tubes or other items lightly contaminated with chemicals should be put in the special controlled waste container.

· Biohazard/sharps disposal - syringes and needles
"Sharps" must be collected in special containers to be sent for incineration. Syringes or needles must not be put in a laboratory waste bins or controlled waste containers.

Decontamination is a process or treatment that clean devices and environmental/bench areas surface safe to handle. There are three major decontamination methods including sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis. All infectious materials and all contaminated equipment should be decontaminated before being washed, stored, or discarded. 

·Sterilization uses physical such as autoclaving or chemical methods to destroy all microbial life.
·Disinfection uses liquid chemical solutions to eliminate virtually all pathogenic microorganisms, except for bacterial spores, on work surfaces and equipment. The amount of organic matter, chemical exposure time, temperature, and concentration as well as the types of microorganisms determine the effectiveness.
·Antisepsis refers the use of liquid antimicrobial chemicals to infected skin or living tissue to destroy microorganisms.
· General cleaning uses water, detergent, or in combination with mechanical scrubbing with a brush.

Major methods of decontamination used in our lab are summarized as follows:
· Heat sterilization
Autoclaving or steam sterilization is the most convenient method for rapid destruction of all forms of microorganism. It uses saturated steam under pressure of approximately 15 pounds per square inch to achieve a chamber temperature of at least 250°F (121°C) for 30–60 minutes.
Dry heat is less efficient than wet heat. It needs longer times and higher temperatures to achieve sterilization. It can be used for the destruction of viable organisms on impermeable non-organic surfaces such as glass. Sterilization of glassware by dry heat is usually accomplished at 160°–170°C for 2 to 4 hours.
· Liquid disinfection
Liquid disinfectants are classified as halogens, acids, alkalis, heavy metal salts, quaternary ammonium compounds, phenolic compounds, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and amines. The effectiveness is determined by the types of microorganisms, concentration, and reaction time, and other conditions of use. Please note, the more chemically reactive, the more likely the disinfection reagent is to be toxic and corrosive.

· Face and eye protection
PPE including safety goggles or face shields should be used in the work that may cause eye damage, sprays of toxic liquids, and burns.

· Respiratory protection
PPE such as N95 respirators, and surgical masks should be used to avoid inhalation of harmful materials.

· Skin and body protection
Safety gloves and lab coats must be dressed to work in the lab. However, it is not allowed to go out of the lab with lab coats and gloves.

Prior to transport research materials, ensure there are proper controls, including:
· Proper labelling materials.
· Transported in a sealed, leak-proof primary container within a sealed, leak-proof secondary container.
· Absorbent material should be placed in the internal container.
· Personnel should have adequate knowledge and training to handle and package the transported materials.

The persons who are in charge of lab safety must examine the lab safety conditions regularly, in particular in holidays. Team members are not allowed to work in lab lonely. At least two members are recommended to work in the lab in order to avoid unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.

Before entering the lab, team members must be trained for lab safety including national and institutional laws and guidelines, the usage of PPE, chemical and biological agents, safe operation of equipment, waste disposal, fire safety, decontamination methods, chemical transporting, and emergency guidance.

All team members should know the locations and contacts of fire stations, personnel phone numbers and room numbers.