Safety

Welcome to our Safety page! On this page, we will share our laboratory safety training efforts to ensure experiment safety. We'll also provide laboratory safety guidelines, with a special focus on spore prevention and control measures. We hope to inspire and assist iGEM community in creating a safer laboratory environment.

As laboratory personnel, ensuring our safety and that of our fellow students is of utmost importance. Therefore, we participated in laboratory safety training organized by the school, which proved to be immensely beneficial. The training covered various aspects, including general safety guidelines, laboratory fire safety, laboratory water and electricity safety, laboratory hazardous chemical safety, laboratory biological safety, safety with specialized laboratory equipment, laboratory waste disposal, personal protective requirements in the laboratory, and emergency response procedures.

During the training process, we learned about common hazardous substances, equipment, and procedures in the laboratory, as well as how to handle emergencies. Most importantly, we realized the significance of cultivating the right safety awareness in preventing accidents. In our day-to-day work, we constantly remind ourselves to be vigilant about safety issues and take preventive measures, such as wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and using chemicals correctly. This enables us to respond quickly in case of accidents.

In addition to fostering the right safety awareness, standardized operating procedures are also effective in accident prevention. By following these procedures, we can avoid accidents caused by operational errors, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experimental results. Team collaboration is also crucial in laboratory work. During the training, we learned how to communicate effectively with our teammates and established a mechanism for teamwork. Through coordination, communication, and assistance, we can work more efficiently and identify and address others' shortcomings to prevent safety issues arising from improper actions.

In addition to fostering the right safety awareness, standardized operating procedures are also effective in accident prevention. By following these procedures, we can avoid accidents caused by operational errors, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experimental results. Team collaboration is also crucial in laboratory work. During the training, we learned how to communicate effectively with our teammates and established a mechanism for teamwork. Through coordination, communication, and assistance, we can work more efficiently and identify and address others' shortcomings to prevent safety issues arising from improper actions.

(1) Familiarize yourself with the locations and proper usage of all safety exits, emergency showers, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers in the laboratory and building.

(2) Prohibit eating, drinking, smoking, or handling contact lenses in the laboratory.

(3) Secure long hair by tying it back, and fasten long jewelry or dangling accessories to prevent entanglement or entry into equipment.

(4) Wear personal protective equipment, such as lab coats, gloves, safety goggles, and face shields. Wear long pants and well-sealed shoes to ensure most of your skin is covered.

(5) Be knowledgeable about the potential hazards of materials, facilities, and equipment in use. Read operational procedures for equipment, safety data sheets (SDS or MSDS) for chemicals, and pay attention to various warning signs in the laboratory and on equipment.

(6) Properly use safety equipment, including fume hoods and laser/high-pressure protection shields on instruments.

(7) Strictly adhere to instrument operating procedures and laboratory rules. Do not move equipment, adjust parameters, or disassemble components without authorization. Do not leave devices running unattended.

(8) Remove gloves and thoroughly wash hands before leaving the laboratory. Do not touch doorknobs, switches, keyboards, or other shared equipment with gloves on.

(9) Maintain laboratory cleanliness. Dispose of lab trash and spills properly, and place sharp objects like glass or needles in designated containers. Do not leave unmarked chemicals or samples in the laboratory.

(10) Immediately report any abnormalities or accidents to the laboratory instructor.

(1)Management Level: The fundamental guidance for safe laboratory operations lies in establishing a comprehensive safety management system. This system includes introducing safety concepts and detailing rules for the use of various hazardous materials. For example:

• Laboratories equipped with safety training, standard operating procedures for instruments and experiments.
• Uniform safety labeling and emergency contact information for all laboratories, equipment, and reagent bottles.
• Record-keeping and strict management of hazardous materials such as chemicals and gas cylinders.
• Proper storage of experimental equipment and reagents, clear labeling of containers, and waste containers.

(2)Engineering Equipment: Safety equipment within the laboratory can physically separate experimenters from hazardous materials or protect samples from environmental contamination, such as:

• General laboratory safety devices: ventilation and fire suppression systems, instrument grounding equipment.
• Specific hazard protection devices: chemical fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, laser safety interlocks, gas cylinder securing devices.
• Protective accessories for instruments and equipment concerning harmful chemicals or biological factors.

(3) Personal Protection: When the previous two layers of protection are insufficient, personal protective measures act as the last line of defense:

• Safety goggles, face shields, gloves, lab coats, chemical-resistant clothing.
• A strong safety awareness and good work habits.

(1) Before conducting experiments, familiarize yourself with relevant safety knowledge related to the experiment.

(2) Use safety equipment for any experiments involving hazardous materials. Before starting experiments, check if safety equipment is functioning properly. If any issues arise, repair them before proceeding with the experiment.

(3) When handling any samples or cultures, wear gloves. Remove contaminated gloves immediately, wash hands, and replace them with new gloves.

(4) Avoid touching your skin, especially eyes, nose, mouth, or other exposed mucous membranes, with gloved hands. Do not walk around the laboratory or take gloves outside the laboratory while wearing them.

(5) Do not ingest or lick any laboratory items such as liquids or labels.

(6) Handle all samples, cultures, and waste in a safe and proper manner. Samples, cultures, and waste must be effectively decontaminated, e.g., by autoclaving, before disposal.

(7) Any operations that may generate aerosols must be performed within a biosafety cabinet. Minimize the generation of harmful aerosols or mists and prevent them from being directly released into the atmosphere.

(8) Use pipettes strictly according to operational procedures.

(9) Minimize the use of sharp instruments in experiments. Whenever possible, use alternatives. Sharp instruments such as needles, glass, and disposable surgical blades must be placed in a sharps container immediately after use. The container should be replaced before reaching two-thirds full.

(10) Report any laboratory accidents or incidents, regardless of size, to the laboratory supervisor promptly. After resolution, document the process in detail and archive it.

Objective:

To prevent fungal spore formation and maintain strict containment when handling fungal cultures in the laboratory.

Materials:

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety goggles.
2. Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC):Level II BSC, properly certified and maintained.
3. Disinfectants:
   1. 70% ethanol surface disinfection.
   2. Use appropriate sterilizing disinfectants like 84 disinfectant and sporicidal agents for workplace and equipment purification.
4. Autoclave:Used for sterilizing equipment, media, and glassware.

Procedures:

1. Fungal Culture Handling
   1. Implement strict containment measures for fungal cultures, including well-sealed containers.
   2. Minimize the frequency of opening culture containers to prevent airborne contamination.
   3. Use aseptic techniques when handling fungal cultures to reduce contamination risk.
   4. Employ aseptic techniques within the Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC).
   5. Work swiftly to minimize the exposure of fungal cultures to the environment.
2. Laboratory Procedures
   1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): All personnel must wear lab coats, disposable gloves, and safety goggles.
   2. Workspace Preparation: Conduct all fungal work within a properly certified and functioning Level II BSC. Before each use, clean the BSC surface with 70% ethanol to eliminate surface contaminants.
   3. Equipment Sterilization:
      1. Autoclave all equipment, media, and glassware before use.
      2. Flame sterilize any reusable tools (such as inoculation ring) before and after use, and immediately disinfect the workspace, including scrubbing, disinfecting workbenches, floors, and exposing to UV light for over 1 hour.
   4. Daily Disinfection
      1. Prepare a 1% 84 disinfectant solution by adding 10ml of 84 disinfectant to 1L of water, thoroughly mix. Use it for wiping surfaces, mops, and cloth disinfection.
      2. Perform wet mopping for routine disinfection weekly, dry mopping and sweeping are prohibited
      3. Separate mops should be used for contaminated and clean areas. Before use, immerse the mop in the prepared 1% 84 disinfectant solution for 20 minutes, wring it dry, and carefully mop the floor.
      4. After use, soak the mop in the above disinfectant for 30 minutes, rinse with clear water, and hang it to dry.
      5. Soak cloths in the above disinfectant for 20 minutes, wring dry, and use them for wiping down tables, chairs, doorknobs, etc., followed by rinsing with water to remove any residual disinfectant
      6. Daily disinfection tasks are the responsibility of the staff.
      7. Dispose of daily-generated lab waste and discarded personal protective equipment. Solid lab waste and PPE that may have been contaminated with pathogens must be autoclaved before leaving the BSL-2 lab. All waste should be placed in designated yellow bags for proper disposal.
      8. Liquid waste should be treated with 15% 84 disinfectant for at least 30 minutes or overnight before pouring it down the drain.
   5. Thorough Disinfection
      1. Conduct thorough disinfection annually, overseen by staff. Mainly use hydrogen peroxide spray disinfection to kill pathogens after a specific time
      2. Spray disinfection using a 0.2% hydrogen peroxide solution (8ml/m3).
      3. Before spraying, seal all doors and windows, turn off air conditioning and exhaust fans, inspect the lab's airtightness, and seal any gaps with tape to prevent leaks.
      4. Staff should wear personal protective equipment, including respirators and safety goggles. Place the spraying equipment in a corner of the room, directing the nozzle toward the center, at least 1 meter away from other machinery, furniture, and walls. After starting the equipment, staff should immediately evacuate, sealing the disinfection area for 60 minutes.
      5. After disinfection is complete, remove the seals and initiate ventilation.
   6. Waste Handling
      1. ispose of all contaminated materials (culture dishes, contaminated disposables, etc.) from biohazard bags inside the Biological Safety Cabinet.
      2. Autoclave waste bags according to institutional guidelines before disposal.
3. Monitoring

   Regularly monitor lab conditions, including temperature, humidity, and airflow, especially within Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs).

   1. Periodically check for signs of contamination in cultures, such as fungal growth or spore formation. Isolate, decontaminate, or dispose of contaminated cultures
   2. Air Quality
      1. Ensure proper laboratory ventilation to reduce the risk of airborne contamination
      2. Monitor and maintain BSC airflow and integrity.
4. Emergency Response
   1. Develop a response plan for accidental fungal contamination or spills.
   2. Ensure the availability of appropriate disinfectants and spill kits.
   3. Use of Sporicidal Agents:
      1. Develop a long-term strategy for fungal spore control, including regular use of appropriate sporicidal agents.
      2. Incorporate the use of sporicidal agents into a validated cleaning and disinfection plan, considering worst-case contamination scenarios, such as facility closure.