Safety

Introduction

The Nanobuddies have safety at the top of our mind when working in the PC2 lab. Each member had to complete a few online safety modules even before setting foot into the lab as well as an in person lab safety induction. Our lab also has a designated laboratory manager! So if we run into any trouble or safety concerns, we know who to contact.

While our project does not involve any dangerous organisms, the lab space is a shared area. So we also have to be aware of other potentially pathogenic strains people are working on while keeping our colleagues safe.

Lab entrance with key card access door lock system. Contact details of laboratory manager and first aid officers.

Lab entrance with key card access door lock system and contact details of laboratory manager and first aid officers.

Maintenance certification on centrifuge.

Maintenance certification on centrifuge. These certifications are on all appropriate lab equipment.

Our PC2 Lab

PC2 lab certification on the lab entrance, sign reads: “PC2 Certified Facility”.

PC2 lab certification on the lab entrance, sign reads: “PC2 Certified Facility”.

The lab we use is a certified PC2 space with regular maintenance checks on the equipment to ensure we are always in a safe environment. However, we also need to upheld safe work practices so we are thoroughly protected and no microorganisms escape the lab.

Safety measures in the lab: the green zone. Safety measures in the lab: the sink to wash hands. Safety measures in the lab: the shower. Safety measures in the lab: the spill kit.

Safety measures in the lab such as the green zone, sink to wash hands, shower, and spill kit.

Disinfectants

We spray 80% ethanol and F10SC on any surfaces labwork is completed on such as the benches to ensure everything is sterile.

Enclosed shoes

Non-absorbant enclosed shoes must be worn in the lab to prevent chemical or biological spills from damaging our feet or being carried out of the lab.

Green zone

Designated sterelised areas are marked in the lab with green tape so items that we want to take out of the lab (e.g. lab notebook) are uncontaminated. Notably, gloves cannot be worn when interacting with items inside the green zone.

Spill Kit

The kit contains chemical absorbents, additional personal protective equipment (e.g. eye shield), and a caution spill sign to contain and clean up any accidental chemical spills.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Lab gowns, safety glasses, and gloves are worn immediately when we enter the lab. Under no circumstances are these taken off unless we are interacting with items in the green zone.

Washing Hands

We must wash our hands before exiting the lab even if we were wearing our gloves the whole time to ensure our hands are uncontaminated.

Shower and Eye Wash

In the unlikely event of a toxic or corrosive chemical or biological agent entering our eyes or body, we have access to a shower or eye wash station to decontaminate.


Mitigation of Commonly-encountered Risks

Risks Safety Measure
  • Injury from contact with moving parts of the bead beater.
  • When the bead beater is moving, do not touch the moving parts.
  • An improperly closed sample tube lid could fly off during bead beating, potentially causing injury and/or and infection risk if the samples are infectious.
  • Ensure that all tubes going into the bead beater have screw-on lids, not snap-on lids. Ensure that all screw-on lids are tightly closed.
  • Improper balancing can cause the motor to malfunction and samples to be thrown off causing injuries and infections as above.
  • Check bead beater is balanced properly and if unsure ask another colleague.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Possibility of infection with microbial pathogens or release of GMOs due to incorrect use of the cabinet.
  • Know the specific hazards associated with the biological samples you are using before you start work and thoroughly read the safe operating procedures.
  • Possibility of burns to eyes or skin from UV light in the cabinet.
  • Ensure UV is turned off before using the cabinet.
  • Fire hazard due to use of ethanol to sterilise the cabinet.
  • Ensure ethanol is handled safely, and not near naked flame. Do not use excessive amounts of ethanol in the cabinet, as the vapours can accumulate inside. Only use the minimum amount required to clean the surfaces.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Rotor imbalance can cause catastrophic failure of centrifuge (explosion), injuring the user.
  • Always balance the centrifuge tubes (by weight, not just by eye), and put the balanced tubes in opposing positions in the rotor.
  • Rotor can fail due to excessive speed, causing catastrophic failure of centrifuge, injuring the user.
  • Know the speed limits of the rotor and don’t exceed these. Ensure that the rotor is firmly attached to the spindle and that the rotor lid is very tight before starting the machine.
  • Centrifuge tubes can break in rotor due to excessive wear+tear or inappropriate use, causing imbalance of rotor, catastrophic failure of centrifuge, injuring the user.
  • Ensure you use the correct tubes for the sample type, and do not use cracked or broken tubes.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Harmful vapours (toxic, corrosive, stench) may escape from hood if it is not set up correctly.
  • Keep the glass sash at the front of the hood down as far as possible when in use (approx. 20 cm gap is appropriate) – this ensures a strong airflow into the hood, and provides protection against toxic inhalation.
  • Use of a Bunsen burner or other ignition source in hood can lead to a fire.
  • Never use Bunsen burners or other ignition sources in a fume hood – fires in this location can get out of control quickly due to chimney effect, and the common use of fume hoods to store solvents and solvent wastes. Instead, use an electric heating element if you need to heat an item in the hood.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Eye damage if corrosive chaotropic salts contact eyes.
  • Wear safety glasses at all times in the lab.
  • Poisoning if chaotropic salts are ingested. Skin damage if chaotropic salts contact bare skin.
  • Don’t eat or drink in the lab. Wear gloves and a lab coat at all times and wash hands when exiting the lab.
  • Environmental damage if chaotropic salts are disposed of incorrectly.
  • Don’t put spin column waste down the sink – it should be disposed of by autoclaving (if recombinant) or as hazardous chemical waste.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Electric shock from the electrophoresis apparatus.
  • Check the apparatus is not damaged and do not open or touch the tank while it is running. Contact lab manager if the equipment has signs of wear.
  • Burns from hot agarose.
  • Only hold hot agarose bottle using heat-resistant gloves.
  • Explosion in microwave if a sealed bottle is heated.
  • Do not screw caps tightly on bottles that are placed in the microwave.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Flammables (e.g. 80% ethanol, TEMED)
  • Never use these chemicals near an open flame. Store large volumes in a dedicated fireproof flammables cabinet.
  • Corrosives (e.g. Tris, NaOH, acetic acid, methanol)
  • Use PPE (safety glasses, lab coat, gloves) when in the lab. Use fume hood when dealing with high concentrations of corrosives. Store all corrosive chemicals in dedicated cabinets separated by acids and bases.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Over heated liquids resulting in burns.
  • Use safety gloves when taking items out of the microwave after heating. Do not remove actively boiling or bubbling liquids from the microwave.
  • Explosion from heated closed vessels.
  • Do not put sealed containers in the microwave. Monitor the microwave at all times when heating, never leaving it unattended.
Risks Safety Measure
  • No pathogenic organisms were used in this project, but other research in the same lab makes use of a variety of organisms including vaccinia, Clostridium, and Listeria. Without proper procedures this could lead to a lab acquired infection.
  • Wear PPE in the lab, and wash hands before leaving. Disinfect equipment and bench before and after using. Don’t enter zones or use equipment specifically designated for these pathogenic microbes.
Risks Safety Measure
  • Acrylamide used to make gel. Potential for inhalation, skin/eye contact or ingestion with harmful effects. It is also a potent neurotoxin.
  • Wear gloves.
  • SDS is harmful by inhalation, ingestion, skin or eye contact. SDS is an irritant.
  • Wear gloves & dust mask when handling powder.
  • Mercaptoethanol in the buffer used for denaturing protein samples. Potential for inhalation, ingestion, skin or eye contact with harmful effects. Mercaptoethanol produces a strong stench, and is toxic.
  • Wear PPE and safety glasses and handle concentrated mercaptoethanol in the fume hood.
  • Electrophoresis. Potential for serious electrical shock or electrocution due to leaking chamber, faulty or corroded electrode cables, or faulty power supply.
  • Ensure all equipment is in good working order, and that lid is always on electrophoresis tank when in operation.
  • Chipped glass plates. Potential for causing lacerations or deep cuts to skin. May also result in leaking of unpolymerised acrylamide solution.
  • Discard any chipped or damaged plates.