Safety
Safety Hub
Welcome to the 2017 Safety Hub! Below you will learn about Safety as it pertains to the iGEM competition. We expect all team members and instructors to review this information carefully prior to starting your iGEM project.
General Safety Information
What is Safety?
In iGEM, we have clear expectations for teams when it comes to safety. Please read our What is Safety page for complete details about Safe Project Design, Safe Laboratory Work, and Safe Shipment Practices.
Responsibility and the Safety Committee
We expect everyone involved with iGEM to act responsibly in the lab. Please read our Responsibility and Safety Committee page for more information on how we define Responsibility and for information on the iGEM Safety Committee.
Help
If you have any questions or problems about safety, please reach out to us, we're here to help you! Email safety AT igem DOT org at any time with any questions you might have! We are friendly and available, and we will do our best to answer your questions quickly. Any team member can ask a question, whether you are a student, a leader, or an advisor. You should not fear that your team will suffer consequences simply because you asked us a question.
Safety Check-In Form — Form Opens: June 2, 2017
Some organisms and parts present risks beyond what is ordinary for lab work in synthetic biology. As your project progresses, you should consider the risks presented by each organism and part you plan to use. The White List can help you with this.
Before you acquire or use any organism/part that is NOT on the White List, you must submit a Check-In. Check-Ins allow the iGEM Safety Committee to help you ensure that you will work safely with these riskier organisms/parts.
"About Our Lab" Form — Due Date: June 30, 2017
This is a short questionnaire form about the laboratory where you will work on your project.
"About Our Project" Form — Due Date: June 30, 2017 & update when your primary project idea changes
This is a short questionnaire about your primary project idea. Its main purpose is to encourage you to think about the safety of your project as a whole, rather than focusing narrowly on individual parts. It can also help you think about future applications of your project, and what safety health environmental issues would be important to consider.
You should complete the "About Our Project" form, and then revise it if you choose a new primary project idea.
Final Safety Form — Due Date: September 1, 2017
The Final Safety Form is a more comprehensive review of your project, and it must be signed by an Instructor or Primary Contact of your team.
Guidelines
General rules and advice for working in and outside the lab.
Risk Groups
iGEM teams should use BL1 or BL2 organisms. Teams are not allowed to work with BL3 or BL4 organisms. For more information about Risk Groups, click here.
White List
The White List is a list of allowed organisms that teams can use in iGEM, along with organisms that require teams to contact HQ. For the full list, please click here.
Do Not Release
iGEM teams should not release any genetically modified organisms outside the lab. For more details, please click here.
Ask your Instructors!
Your first resource is always your instructors, advisors, and professors. They have experience working in their own lab facilities, and they know how to work with your university to ensure lab safety. Other local resources include:
- The laboratory manager for the lab where you work
- The safety office or Biosafety Committee at your university/institution
- Members of your local or national government
