Lab Safety and Ethics: Difference between revisions

From Noisebridge
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
* No experimenting with or on any surface or plate/cup/container that can hold food.
* No experimenting with or on any surface or plate/cup/container that can hold food.


* Experiments will have their own fridge. Do not place your experiments in the food fridge.
* Experiments and reagents should be stored in their own fridge. Do not place your experiments, media, or chemicals in the food fridge.


* Don’t place your experiments near any food or drink.
* Don’t place your experiments near any food or drink.


* Use the pressure cooker to sterilize all glassware, media and tools. Water should get to 121C or above for sterilization.  
* Sterilize all glassware and tools that have come in contact with bacteria or yeast once you are done with them. Sterilize all waste that has come into contact with bacteria or yeast prior to disposing of it.


* No flushing cells/cultures down the toilet or generally disposing of anything that has touched the cells without thorough disinfecting it with bleach or Lysol first or sterilizing it in the pressure cooker.  Certain cultures, like E. Coli have an awful smell to them, and can be quite difficult to get rid of.
* No flushing cells/cultures down the toilet or generally disposing of anything that has touched the cells without thorough disinfecting it with bleach or Lysol first or sterilizing it in the pressure cooker.  Certain cultures, like E. Coli have an awful smell to them, and can be quite difficult to get rid of.


* Disinfect/wipe down of any surface you've been working on with bleach or Lysol.
* Disinfect/wipe down of any surface you've been working on with Lysol or ethanol.


* Cover dishes if you aren't directly working with your culture (to keep from contaminating your culture, your peers and Noisebridge).
* Cover dishes if you aren't directly working with your culture (to keep from contaminating your culture, your peers and Noisebridge).


* Know how to safely use and dispose of materials (reagents for example) before they enter Noisebridge.
* Know how to safely use and dispose of materials (reagents for example) before they enter Noisebridge. Do not bring reagents in which require hazardous waste disposal - Noisebridge currently does not have the permits or processes necessary for this.


* Many materials used in wet biology are flammable or otherwise harmful and will be kept in a locked cabinet labeled with the appropriate warning labels (ie: flammable, skull and crossbones, etc.)
* Many materials used in wet biology are flammable or otherwise harmful and will be kept in a locked cabinet labeled with the appropriate warning labels (ie: flammable, skull and crossbones, etc.).  Flammables, acids, and bases should be stored in a segregated manner.


* Safety Material Data Sheets will be kept near the cabinet for all materials stored there.
* Safety Material Data Sheets will be kept near the cabinet for all materials stored there.
Line 26: Line 26:


* ''Know your materials, know your materials, know your materials''
* ''Know your materials, know your materials, know your materials''
== Sterilization Guidelines ==
=== Pressure Cooker ===
The pressure cooker may be used to sterilize liquid and solid waste, as well as to sterilize media, glassware, tools etc.  The procedures for use are as follows:
* The pressure cooker should obtain a temperature of 121C and maintain this temperature for 20 minutes.  When sterilizing larger quantities of media (i.e. 1 L) a longer time of 30 minutes is required.
* Pressure-sensitive autoclave tape should be used on media, glassware, and waste to ensure proper sterilization.
=== Liquid Bleach ===
Liquid solutions may be sterilized adding 10% bleach to the solution and letting sit for 20 minutes.

Revision as of 17:06, 9 March 2009

General Safety Guidelines

  • No experimenting with or on any surface or plate/cup/container that can hold food.
  • Experiments and reagents should be stored in their own fridge. Do not place your experiments, media, or chemicals in the food fridge.
  • Don’t place your experiments near any food or drink.
  • Sterilize all glassware and tools that have come in contact with bacteria or yeast once you are done with them. Sterilize all waste that has come into contact with bacteria or yeast prior to disposing of it.
  • No flushing cells/cultures down the toilet or generally disposing of anything that has touched the cells without thorough disinfecting it with bleach or Lysol first or sterilizing it in the pressure cooker. Certain cultures, like E. Coli have an awful smell to them, and can be quite difficult to get rid of.
  • Disinfect/wipe down of any surface you've been working on with Lysol or ethanol.
  • Cover dishes if you aren't directly working with your culture (to keep from contaminating your culture, your peers and Noisebridge).
  • Know how to safely use and dispose of materials (reagents for example) before they enter Noisebridge. Do not bring reagents in which require hazardous waste disposal - Noisebridge currently does not have the permits or processes necessary for this.
  • Many materials used in wet biology are flammable or otherwise harmful and will be kept in a locked cabinet labeled with the appropriate warning labels (ie: flammable, skull and crossbones, etc.). Flammables, acids, and bases should be stored in a segregated manner.
  • Safety Material Data Sheets will be kept near the cabinet for all materials stored there.
  • Noisebridge is a humane space -- no animal experimentation!
  • Extra caution must be used in dealing with chemicals and cell cultures for not just healthy adults, but also children, elderly, immunosuppressed people, people with high allergen reactions, pets, and anything the pets may ingest including roaches/mice/pests that may reside at Noisebridge. All of these things come into Noisebridge and we can by NO MEANS be thought of as lab environment (until we come up with dedicated space or that).
  • Know your materials, know your materials, know your materials

Sterilization Guidelines

Pressure Cooker

The pressure cooker may be used to sterilize liquid and solid waste, as well as to sterilize media, glassware, tools etc. The procedures for use are as follows:

  • The pressure cooker should obtain a temperature of 121C and maintain this temperature for 20 minutes. When sterilizing larger quantities of media (i.e. 1 L) a longer time of 30 minutes is required.
  • Pressure-sensitive autoclave tape should be used on media, glassware, and waste to ensure proper sterilization.

Liquid Bleach

Liquid solutions may be sterilized adding 10% bleach to the solution and letting sit for 20 minutes.