How we ensured safety for ourselves, our surroundings, and our environment.
How we ensured safety for ourselves, our surroundings, and our environment.
Our project is unique in that we are working with a virus and its impact on bees. As a result, we made sure to put extra time and effort into how we could make the lab as safe as possible, both for us and the bees. To reduce any possibility of DWV spreading outside of the lab, we made sure to use a non-infectious viral protein in our construct. Additionally, we only worked with GRAS (generally recognized as safe) non-pathogenic strains of E. coli and B. subtilis to ensure that our wet lab team was safe. For further information regarding the measures we took to safely work in the lab you can see our iGEM safety form.
In addition, Trevor (wet lab lead of last years iGEM project), was elected as lab manager. As lab manager he would ensure that lab members were upholding the lab to the standards of our university. He kept us on top of thorough labelling, waste management and clean-up of the lab.
NOTE: Work with genetically engineered bacteria and higher level eusocial insects such as Apis mellifera require biological safety approval from UBC. After a cycle of feedback and revisions, our safety precautions were deemed as safe, and approved by appropriate members of the RISe committee at UBC.
All lab members were required to undergo biological and chemical safety training through the university. This multiweek program taught lab members how to correctly identify and dispose of biological and chemical hazards, it familiarized lab members with lab equipment and taught good lab practices such as hand washing and appropriate PPE. Upon successful completion of the training, members were given lab safety certificates in biological and chemical safety. Members were also advised to undergo additional hazardous waste training.
In addition wet lab members were: Given a walkthrough of the lab and its safety features Trained in specific equipment use such as autoclaving or use of a laminar flow hood Extensively trained by members of last years iGEM team
All honey bee related work was guided by feedback from experts such as Dr. Leonard Foster, Dr. Gro Amdam, Dr. Gyan Harwood, and Dr. Mark Rheault. They advised us for the conditions for which we should keep bees in the lab and their handling. We also received feedback from local beekeepers about honey bee care and health. All of the information recieved formed our approach to keeping bees in a lab environment.
We had notified campus security about our use of honey bees in the lab in the case of a severe reaction to a bee sting. They made note of our lab and gave us clear instructions on which resources on campus carry epipens in the case of anaphylactic shock.
All honey bee waste was disposed of through Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) at UBC Okanagan. https://mtrl.ubc.ca/safety/health-safety-environment-hse/
All wet lab members constructed and agreed upon “Safety Rules” that we must abide by. Our safety rules were reviewed by our PI, advisors and our laboratory program manager.
Only wet lab members are allowed in the lab without prior notice (free access to the lab). iGEM members must only conduct work on the two leftmost benches in the lab. The presence of unauthorized personnel in the laboratory is strictly prohibited. Permission for external personnel to enter the lab must be granted by the wet lab leads before entering. A safety orientation must be given to anyone who does not normally come into the lab. Use the mandatory check in/check out sheet. The microscopes at the end of the iGEM benches are not permitted for use. No member is allowed to touch the microscopes. Highly recommended: keep the majority of your work within peak work hours: 8AM-5PM. Always work with at least one other person in the lab. If you must work alone, follow the working alone protocol: https://science.cms.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/128/2020/04/Work-Alone-Protocol-FoS.pdf
Treat everyone with respect. No food or drinks inside the lab. Lab coats and eye protection must be worn at all times in the lab. All PPE relevant to your experiment must be worn. Lab coats stay in the lab unless moving to another lab environment. Disinfect the work surfaces before you begin. Disinfect work surfaces at the end of each session. Always use mechanical pipetting devices for pipetting. Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited. Wash your hands upon entering and exiting (more than you think you should). Keep technology within a designated technology area. Let people know when technology is out of technology area. Since we are within another researches’ lab, be sure to have Dr. Deyholos’ permission before turning gas on or off. Don’t leave fire unattended. Restaurant communication (when you are behind someone, around a corner etc., say so). Clean up after yourself. Work in a logical order (ie. left to right or right to left). Do not prop the door open Write everything down in your lab notebook. Label everything. Name of researcher (Initials) Date “iGEM” Name of media (if applicable) What is used (strain, chemical, etc.) Always record what has been autoclaved in the appropriate location.
All lab members were required to undergo biological and chemical safety training through the university. This multiweek program taught lab members how to correctly identify and dispose of biological and chemical hazards, it familiarized lab members with lab equipment and taught good lab practices such as hand washing and appropriate PPE. Upon successful completion of the training, members were given lab safety certificates in biological and chemical safety. Members were also advised to undergo additional hazardous waste training.
In addition wet lab members were: Given a walkthrough of the lab and its safety features Trained in specific equipment use such as autoclaving or use of a laminar flow hood Extensively trained by members of last years iGEM team
Wet lab leads must be immediately notified in the case of any accident. Always contact campus security after an accident (do this first). Local emergency telephone numbers located in every lab should be called if needed, found at the end of this regulation and attached to a visible place in the laboratory. In case of fire: try to extinguish it with the appropriate extinguisher. If the fire is of such magnitude that it is no longer possible to control it with the fire extinguisher and/or you do not feel safe fighting the fire, follow safety procedures and call the laboratory managers. If reagent contact occurs in the eyes, use the emergency eyewash immediately. Rinse for 15 minutes and then seek medical help. If corrosive liquids splash on skin or clothing, immediately rinse the affected areas thoroughly. If a large area is affected, use the emergency shower. If necessary, take off your contaminated clothes and then seek medical help. Do not work in the laboratory with any exposed wound. All accidents should be reported as soon as possible to the heads of the laboratory. It is vital to know the location and the operating instructions of the following: Eyewash, Emergency showers, Fire extinguishers, First aid kit, Emergency stairs, Emergency numbers and Emergency exits. Update the first aid kit when used. Replenish the spill kits when used.
Upon signing this document I, ___________________, agree to abide to the lab rules as stated above and may be subject to reprimands and consequences to be determined on a case-by-case basis as to be decided by the Wet-lab leads and, potentially, faculty. Note that significant infraction or repeated inappropriate behavior or breaking of the outlined norms above can, but is not limited to, expulsion from the laboratory setting.
Note: Accidents ocurr, but are subject to investigation by the Wet-lab leads to ensure a no-fault case. In the instance of an unknown or unintentional breaking of the above norms will result in a formal spoken warning with a transcribed version to be provided electronically. However, intentional breaking of the outlined rules will warrant further disciplinary action to the extent as determined
by Wet-lab leads and, potential, faculty.