Difference between revisions of "Team:KU Leuven/Safety"

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<h1> Lab Safety </h1>
 
<h1> Lab Safety </h1>
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<h3> Work Environment </h3>
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<h3> <strong>Work Environment </strong> </h3>
 
<p>We arranged a room on the campus KU Leuven near the UZ Hospital Gasthuisberg, which is close to the lab. Despite it being a small room, we make sure that there is always plenty of food and drinks for us. </p>
 
<p>We arranged a room on the campus KU Leuven near the UZ Hospital Gasthuisberg, which is close to the lab. Despite it being a small room, we make sure that there is always plenty of food and drinks for us. </p>
  
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<h3> General Safety </h3>
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<h3><strong> General Safety </strong></h3>
 
<p>Every member of the iGEM KU Leuven Team 2017 received an introduction to lab safety at the beginning of July. Some general rules include:</p>
 
<p>Every member of the iGEM KU Leuven Team 2017 received an introduction to lab safety at the beginning of July. Some general rules include:</p>
  
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<p>With the patch clamp, we have to make sure we are always earthed or else the risk of getting an electricity shock is higher. Also, we have to make sure that no buffers can be dripped onto the microscope lens such that damage can be prevented. We also have to make sure that we keep our needles in the needle box, in case someone could get injuries. For the agarose gel, we have to take in account that we are using SyberSafe which means we have to keep working in a toxic zone when it is used. Make sure that all the rubber gloves are taken off after using SyberSafe and all the used equipment are kept in the toxic zone. For example, agarose gels can only be viewed in the toxic zone.</p>
 
<p>With the patch clamp, we have to make sure we are always earthed or else the risk of getting an electricity shock is higher. Also, we have to make sure that no buffers can be dripped onto the microscope lens such that damage can be prevented. We also have to make sure that we keep our needles in the needle box, in case someone could get injuries. For the agarose gel, we have to take in account that we are using SyberSafe which means we have to keep working in a toxic zone when it is used. Make sure that all the rubber gloves are taken off after using SyberSafe and all the used equipment are kept in the toxic zone. For example, agarose gels can only be viewed in the toxic zone.</p>
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<li>Choosing a non-pathogenic chassis</li>
 
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<li>Choosing parts that will not harm humans / animals / plants</li>
 
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<li>Substituting safer materials for dangerous materials in a proof-of-concept experiment</li>
 
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<li>Including an "induced lethality" or "kill-switch" device</li>
 
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<h5>Safe Lab Work</h5>
 
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<p>What safety procedures do you use every day in the lab? Did you perform any unusual experiments, or face any unusual safety issues? Write about them here!</p>
 
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<h5>Safe Shipment</h5>
 
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<p>Did you face any safety problems in sending your DNA parts to the Registry? How did you solve those problems?</p>
 
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Revision as of 13:49, 9 August 2017

Lab Safety

Work Environment

We arranged a room on the campus KU Leuven near the UZ Hospital Gasthuisberg, which is close to the lab. Despite it being a small room, we make sure that there is always plenty of food and drinks for us.

General Safety

Every member of the iGEM KU Leuven Team 2017 received an introduction to lab safety at the beginning of July. Some general rules include:

  • • No eating and drinking in the lab
  • • Wearing lab coats in cell culture lab, rubber gloves and safety goggles when needed
  • • Use the assigned lab coats when entering the bacterial culture lab
  • • Cleaning after work with 70% ethanol and autoclaving glasses
  • • Washing hands before leaving the lab

Minimizing Risks

We have different lab rooms for cell culture and bacterial culture. Only a few members are granted access to the cell culture and a few to the bacterial culture and the cell and bacterial culture can only be worked with by those members. In the bacterial lab, we have to put on lab coats that are provided for only the bacteria lab.

With the patch clamp, we have to make sure we are always earthed or else the risk of getting an electricity shock is higher. Also, we have to make sure that no buffers can be dripped onto the microscope lens such that damage can be prevented. We also have to make sure that we keep our needles in the needle box, in case someone could get injuries. For the agarose gel, we have to take in account that we are using SyberSafe which means we have to keep working in a toxic zone when it is used. Make sure that all the rubber gloves are taken off after using SyberSafe and all the used equipment are kept in the toxic zone. For example, agarose gels can only be viewed in the toxic zone.