Stanford/BIOE44(S11):Safety

Lab Safety

Taking responsibility for your own safety is important in every laboratory. In this lab space, in particular, you should exercise good judgment. The Pediatrics department used this lab for many years as a research facility.

Here are some guidelines to help maintain your safety as well as that of your bench-mates.

Basics

1. No sandals or open-toed shoes in the lab.
2. Never bring food or drink into the lab.
3. No pipetting by mouth. (Believe it or not, people once did this. YOU SHOULD NOT).
4. Always wash your hands with SOAP before leaving.
5. Do not use fume hoods unless instructed to do so. Stay within areas of the lab designated for your use.
6. Avoid touching doorknobs or computer clusters with gloved hands. (This protects you and others when exiting the lab).
7. Never take pipettes, reagents, cultures, or any other laboratory materials out of the lab.
8. Get in the habit of labeling liquids you are using. (Label the contents of any solution and include the date it was prepared).
9. If glass breaks, do not pick it up by hand. First, tell a TA. Then use a broom and dust-pan to pick it up.
10. Always report an accident or spill immediately.

Flames

1. Tell your partner when you turn on your Bunsen burner.
2. Be careful when wearing nitrile or latex gloves next to an open flame. If they melt, gloves can cause severe burns.

Gel Station Electrophoresis often employs ethidium bromide (EtBr) to fluorescently tag DNA. EtBr is a mutagen.

1. You should always wear gloves and eye protection when working with EtBr.
2. When you are done at the Gel station, remove and throw away gloves before returning to your bench.
3. Do not use your own pipettes and beakers at the gel station. Tools will be provided.

UV Light Boxes

1. Limit exposure and wear proper protective eyewear and long-sleeved clothes when using UV boxes

In case of...

1. Locate at least two eye-wash stations and showers in the lab.
2. Locate a phone where you would be able to call 9-911 in an emergency

Training

1. Be sure to complete and keep up to date your Stanford EHS-1500 Biosafety training c/o Axess