Virginia United
All students in the Virginia United regional iGEM team received biosafety training at the iGEM boot camp and signed safety contracts.
VT/BSC subteam
Students attended Virginia Bioinformatics Institute’s mandatory Student Groups Health & Safety Orientation.
Students received ethidium bromide training from Virginia Bioinformatics Institute to ensure safe handling and disposal of this chemical.
The subteam worked in a BSL-1 laboratory which met practices, safety equipment, and facility requirements for this biosafety level.
Students were supervised at all times in the lab by a faculty advisor with microbiology experience and considerable laboratory safety training. In addition, a molecular biologist and laboratory manager at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and a laboratory manager at Fralin Biotechnology Center provided safety counseling.
All subteam members were provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – laboratory coats, gloves, and safety goggles. PPE was used appropriately. Team members were required to wear appropriate clothing in the lab - no open toed shoes and no clothing above the knee were permitted.
No food or beverages were permitted in the lab.
Biohazard waste was properly handled and was autoclaved on a regular basis.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) were reviewed before chemicals were used. Chemicals were handled according to MSDS instructions. A fume hood was used to perform work involving volatile chemicals.
Hazardous chemical waste was labeled and stored properly. This waste was picked up by Environmental Health Safety Services for proper disposal.
Flammables were stored in a flammables cabinet.
Bunsen burners were turned off when not in use.
The laboratory facility was cleaned daily and kept organized.
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