Safety is one of the most important aspects of a lab and we have taken many precautions to ensure that potential hazards are mitigated. The first actions taken before stepping into the lab were ensuring every team member was properly trained on how to safely handle materials and operate equipment. In addition to the standardized rules and procedures, we also analyzed our project to determine what impacts it may have in regard to environmental health and safety.

Each team member received training in two forms. The first came from the Texas A&M University Biosafety Occupational Health Program in the form of online courses. These covered the basics of biosafety such as information about the different biosafety levels, how to operate in a biosafety cabinet, and disposing of biological waste. After this generalized training, lab specific training was given to each team member in the early stages of the project where team members were taught standard operating procedures to be followed in the lab.

The Sun and Zhu labs are rated as a biosafety level (BSL) 2 lab, meaning it is equipped to handle moderately hazardous pathogens. However, all materials and organisms used in this iGEM project fall under BSL 1 categorization which helped ensure safety procedures were more than adequate. While present in lab, proper attire including long pants and close-toed shoes was required at all time. Lab coats and gloves were worn when working with hazardous materials. Alternatives to latex gloves were available in the lab. Eye protection was worn when conducting procedures with the potential to result in splashes or sprays of biological agents or other hazardous materials. For all materials in the lab, SDS were available and read so that any potential hazards could be identified before proceeding with any activity. All activities also followed the lab’s standard operating procedures so as to limit the potential dangers that could arise from unidentified hazards.