Safety

When it comes to safety, LASA does not take short cuts

Safety is not something to disregard. Especially in a lab where one is surrounded by dangerous chemicals that need to be handled carefully. We at LASA understand the consequences of not following all safety regulations, so we make sure to avoid all accidents possible.

General Lab Safety

With regard to lab safety, LASA keeps up with the broad and specific details. Proper lab attire is a staple of general safety.

When working in a lab, we always use gloves to protect ourselves from spills and to avoid contaminating samples
We also wear lab coats for the same reason, as well as pants
Closed toed shoes are also important to protect your feet from spills and falling objects
Long hair is tied back so that it does not get caught in something or fall in samples
Last but not least, lose jewlry and clothing items are not worn in the lab: they catch easily and can cause some real harm

Aside from dress, here are some other regulations we follow

We keep a clean and organized lab space
We always have at least one buddy in the lab working with us at all times
We keep personal items like cell phones and backpacks off to the side and only use them when we are in a safe space
We keep tabs on all safety equipment and make sure it is in working condition

Finally, we make sure to have extensive training for anyone who is new at doing things. Even if a person needs a refresher on how to do something, there are plenty of people that are willing to help them in lab

Chemical Safety

In order to ensure safe chemical usage in the lab, LASA puts extra effort into taking care of our chemical's needs, whatever they may be

First of all, we always pay attention to fire hazards by keeping combustibles at a minimum and only turning on gas or keeping an open flame when it is actively being used
While LASA has not specifically used them, flume hoods have been made available for us to be trained on
We always label our items. This way if they are misplaced we are able to find them still. It also helps nonLASA students identify our project parts
We also keep track of where we store things, in fact we have a refrigerator spreadsheet
Everyone knows how to access exits and where telephones are, in case of an uncontrollable chemical disaster
Each member of the team is trained on how to use a fire extinguisher, so in case the situation arises, we can use one.

Biological Safety

As per the rules of iGEM, we stay away from all level three and four organisms, as they could cause serious harm to us
We also use mechanical pipettes not only to ensure better measurements but to increase control (2 for 1!)
We also get a two for one when we properly dispose of our pipette tips and beads: It keeps our lab clean and keeps bacteria under control
Wiping the work bench routinely with a disinfectant is also good for keeping bacteria under control and out of our experiment. It also keeps our bench clean
While this may seem like the most obvious, it is arguably one of the most important. No food or drink should be in the lab. If we need to eat a snack, there is a lounge just down the hall that we can go to and eat

the main Safety page

On this page of your wiki, you should write about how you are addressing any safety issues in your project. The wiki is a place where you can go beyond the questions on the safety forms, and write about whatever safety topics are most interesting in your project. (You do not need to copy your safety forms onto this wiki page.)

Safe Project Design

Does your project include any safety features? Have you made certain decisions about the design to reduce risks? Write about them here! For example:

Choosing a non-pathogenic chassis
Choosing parts that will not harm humans / animals / plants
Substituting safer materials for dangerous materials in a proof-of-concept experiment
Including an "induced lethality" or "kill-switch" device

Safe Lab Work

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!

Safe Shipment

Did you face any safety problems in sending your DNA parts to the Registry? How did you solve those problems?

Team:Austin UTexas LASA/Safety