MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY SAFETY RULES“NEVER UNDERSTIMATE A MICROBE”

1) Keep your workbench space free of clutter. Please place your coats, hats, knapsacks, etc on the spaces provided.

2) Eating or drinking in the laboratory is not permitted. Avoid placing pencils, pens, etc. in your mouth. No mouth pipeting!

3) Laboratory coats must be worn in the laboratory. Students with long hair must wear bands that gather the hair so it falls down the back.

4) Report any breakage of equipment to the instructor.

5) Report any personal accidents such as cuts to the instructor at once.

6) Before beginning your laboratory exercises, wash off the bench top with the disinfectant provided. When exercises are completed, wash off the bench top again. Always wash your hands with soap and water before leaving the laboratory.

7) Before leaving the laboratory, see that all the equipment is in the proper location and gas and water turned off.

8) Students are to remain in the laboratory until exercises are complete. When chemicals, equipment, etc. cannot be located, ask the instructors for them.

9) Purchase a fine point, waterproof marker and a small roll of masking tape. You will use these to clearly label your cultures.

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10) Cultures are not to be removed from the laboratory unless the instructor gives permission.

11) Always place culture tubes (both broth and slants) in an upright position in a rack or basket for incubation or disposal.

12) Treat all cultures as potentially pathogenic, i.e. flood areas with disinfectant if cultures are spilled, wash hands after contact and notify your instructor at once.

13) Read the instructions carefully before beginning an exercise. Also, make sure you have all the materials needed for the exercise at hand before you commence the experiment. Ask the instructor for clarification of any points about which you are in doubt.

14) Flame the inoculating loop or needle immediately before and after use. If viscous material is present, on the loop or needle, dry it at the side of the flame before placing it directly in the flame.

15) Laboratory notebooks must be kept up-to-date. Drawings are to be made when requested. All questions are to be answered on pages immediately following each exercise.

16) A portion of your laboratory mark will be based on your ability to carry out aseptic technique in the laboratory.

17) Make sure you make the proper arrangements with the instructor to dispose of the cultures that are not needed any longer. Remove all labels and markings from the tubes before disposing of them, Do not discard anything into the sinks.

18) Please inform your instructor if you have any medical condition that could potentially affect your safety in the laboratory (examples are diabetes, epilepsy, immunosuppression, etc).

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