SAFE LAB PRACTICES

USE COMMON SENSE

Never work alone in the lab.

Do not eat, drink or smoke in the labs at any time.

Never wear roller blades in the lab.

Never mouth pipet.

Be sure that all hot plates, and Bunsen burners are off before you leave.

USE AND STORE REAGENTS SAFELY

Always use secondary containment when trasporting hazardous materials.

Always label bottles, tubes, dishes and other glassware! Tape and markers are provided for this purpose. Never write directly on glassware.

Discard hazardous waste in the proper container as soon as possible.

Do not leave uncapped bottles or uncovered dishes anywhere, even in the hood. If you have lost a cap or cover, get a new container, or use aluminum foil until a proper cover is found.

Make sure bottles are kept tightly capped, unless they are being heated.

 A NEAT LAB IS A SAFER LAB

Do not leave used pipet tips, pipettes, kimwipes, paper towels, eppendorf tubes, sharps, slides and other waste on your bench. Clean up after yourself.

Do not leave unneeded samples such as petri dishes, test tubes, slides, scintillation vials, and eppendorf tubes in incubators, refrigerators, or on the bench. Discard samples as soon as you are finished with them.

PROTECT YOURSELF

Keep hoods closed when not in use. Do not raise the hood sash above the safe level indicated by the line on the yellow sticker. Always work in the hood, not on the edge of the hood.

Wear protective gear such as safety glasses, lab coats, gloves, and face shields as instructed by the teaching staff. If you have a latex allergy, vinyl gloves are available.