Safety

We designed our project specifically because of the safety hazard presented by arsenic pollution, and Tacoma's reputation of being a city with a relatively high level of Arsenic contamination.

  Lab Safety

Lab Safety Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1)

Safety Guidelines If you work in a lab that is designated a BSL-1, the microbes there are not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults and present minimal potential hazard to laboratory staff and the environment. An example of a microbe that is typically worked with at a BSL-1 is a nonpathogenic strain of E. coli

Laboratory Practices

• Individuals must wash their hands: (a) after working with potentially hazardous materials, recombinant materials and animals; (b) after removing gloves; and (c) before leaving the laboratory.

• Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses and applying cosmetics are not permitted in laboratory areas.

• Mouth pipetting is prohibited; mechanical pipetting devices must be used.

• All procedures should be performed in such a way that minimizes splashes and/or aerosols.

• Work can be performed on an open lab bench or table .

• Decontaminate all work surfaces after completion of work and after any spill or splash of potentially infectious or viable recombinant material with appropriate disinfectant. Suitable disinfectants include: 10% bleach solution, 70% ethanol solution or 2% wescodyne solution.

• Decontaminate all cultures, stocks, and other potentially infectious or recombinant materials before disposal using an effective method.