LABORATORY SAFETY GUIDELINES IN CANADA

In Canada, all practices involving biological materials is strictly regulated by The Public Health Agency of Canada as well as The Canadian Food Inspection Agency. More specifically, there are certain Workplace Health & Safety Regulations and Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines that must be strictly adhered to when conducting research in a laboratory setting.

LABORATORY SAFETY GUIDELINES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO

All laboratory practices operated within The University of Waterloo iGEM Team are regulated by The University of Waterloo’s Safety Office. Procedures regarding biological materials are based upon their assessment of risk. In our lab, only Biosafety Level I microorganisms were ever used for experimentation, thereby posing minimal risk for the Lab & Design team members. Additionally, all laboratory work was carried out within a host laboratory under the direct guidance and supervision of Dr. Trevor Charles and affiliated associates.

To prevent accidents and injuries within the laboratory, all Lab & Design team members were mandated to provide proof of successful completion of specific training modules pertaining to the following safety guidelines:

• University of Waterloo Laboratory Safety Guidelines
• University of Waterloo Biological Safety Guidelines
• University of Waterloo Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
• University of Waterloo Material Safety Data Sheets
• University of Waterloo Workplace Violence and Harassment

PROJECT DESIGN

The majority of work performed within our laboratory utilized Biosafety Level I Escherichia coli, given its minimal risk of pathogenicity. Eventually, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also used in many of our subsequent experiments, in which the completion of standard biosafety training was sufficient for its handling. Despite the absence of Biosafety Level II pathogens, all members of the Lab & Design Team successfully completed training modules pertaining to the handling of LeveL II pathogens, as a necessary precaution.