Best Lab Practices

1.    Protect yourself (and others)

•  Always remember that you may do things correctly, but the person in the next bay may not. That person might be working with something that is dangerous, toxic, or incompatible with what you are doing. Keep your eyes open so you do not put yourself or anyone around you at risk.

2.    If you are using a chemical for the first time look up the MSDS or ask someone, play it safe, don’t assume you know how to handle it.

• The MSDS will tell you all the information you need to know about using the chemical, storing the chemical properly, and disposing of the chemical.

• If you see something in the chemical cabinet that seems out of place or is stored incorrectly let Erin/Katherine know.

3.    Label everything!

• Any new chemical, sample, or solution you make should have the following information on it:

  • name of chemical/solution

  • date received

  • date opened

  •  expiration date

  •  initials of person responsible

4.    Weighing chemicals

• Clean the instruments you use, brush off scale, clean up any spills on scale and surrounding area.

• If instruments need to be autoclaved and you don’t know how, ask Erin or Katherine

5.    Clean up all spills (or messes) immediately.

• Do not leave a bench area/hood unattended if there is anything still there that is not labeled, closed, and cleaned up. It should be clear to everyone what something is. If you spill something and are not sure how to clean it up, ask. There should be no mystery powders in drawers, hoods, on counters, or on tools.

6.    Dispose of biohazard, sharps, broken glass, and chemical waste properly.

• Any human sample that needs to be disposed should be de-identified and put into a biohazard bin.

• Put any biohazard sharps into a red sharps container. If it is full don’t force it in, start a new one and tell Katherine the old one is ready for pickup.

• Put any glass (broken or not) that is not biohazard into the broken glass box.

•  Chemicals should NOT be poured down the drain. Set up a container to collect any chemical waste and keep it in our satellite accumulation area. Tell the current safety person is when your container is just about full and they will call for a waste pickup. This system is EASY – use it!

7.    Wash glassware thoroughly

a.    Clean with appropriate detergent

b.    Rinse with regular water 3 times

c.     Rinse with DI water 3 times

d.    Autoclave – Katherine can help with this

e.    If you are busy and don’t have time to clean glassware let one of the students know so they can help out.

f.      After glassware is dry, check to see that there are no water spots (if there are it wasn’t washed properly – so wash it again) and put it away.

g.    Wipe up the counter around the sink and put away any dry glassware.

8.    Always log out of whatever computer you are using so others can use it without having to restart it. Although multiple users can be logged onto a computer, it significantly decreases the performance of the machine.

9.    Clean up all bench space at the end of each day.

10.  After you are done using a piece of equipment turn it off. If centrifuge was cooling leave it open when you turn it off to prevent condensation, otherwise keep the lid closed.

11.  If you are leaving the lab for the day do a quick check that everything is as it should be. All fridges and freezers closed (freezer temp OK), all equipment is off (that is not being used) and all chemicals/solutions are put away.

12.  Signing for packages

a.    Before you sign, check the name on the package, make sure it is someone you know.

b.    After you get the package, open it and check for any special storage requirements

                                          i. 15-30⁰ = Room temp

                                         ii. 2-8° = Fridge

                                        iii. -20⁰ Freezer above fridge or stand-alone regular Freezer

                                       iv. -80⁰ = big -80 freezer

c.     Be sure you completely empty all packing boxes so you don’t miss anything that is small and still in the box (check the packing slip to be sure you have accounted for all listed contents).

d.    E-mail the person and let them know their package came in (cc in Erin/Katherine if she was the one who ordered it so she knows it arrived).

13.  Remember to ensure -80 freezers are closed and maintaining temperature after you use them!

14.  Ordering supplies.

• Erin/Katherine have been ordering supplies for most people in the lab, and will continue to do so. Add the item you need in Quartzy, including the current price (check on M-Marketsite/Wolverine Access)

15.  Communication is key! 

• As the lab gets busier sharing equipment and supplies can be difficult. The best way to avoid problems is to communicate with the other lab users when certain equipment will be occupied for long periods of time or supplies are ‘borrowed’ from one another.

16.  If you don’t know how to do something, ASK! We can all learn from the expertise of one another!