This SOP applies to EVERYONE working in the laboratory.
Review BEFORE working.
1. Access to the laboratory is limited to staff, or other persons with permission of the Principal Investigator, when work with BSL-2 pathogens is being conducted.
2. Laboratory doors must be kept closed, but locking is at the discretion of the Principle Investigator.
3. Laboratory staff and all other persons working with infectious substances must wear gloves. Contaminated gloves must be changed immediately.
4. Laboratory staff must wash hands after handling infectious materials, after removing gloves, and always before leaving the lab.
5. Laboratory staff must not eat, smoke, handle contact lenses, or apply cosmetics in the lab.
6. Food for human consumption must be stored outside laboratory work area in refrigerators designated for that purpose.
7. Only mechanical pipetting devices must be used in the laboratory.
8. All sharps must be place in red sharps containers.
9. All non-liquid contaminated cultures, stocks, plates, and other biologically contaminated waste must be placed in biohazard waste containers for pickup by Stericycle.
10. All infectious liquids must be autoclaved or disinfected with 1: 10 bleach for one day prior to being poured into drain.
11. All procedures must be performed to minimize creation of splashes or aerosols.
12. As much work as possible with pathogens should be performed in the Biological Safety Cabinet.
13. All work surfaces must be decontaminated at the completion of work, at the end of the day, or after any spill or splash of viable material.
14. All laboratory personnel must be advised of potential hazards, and read the laboratory safety manual.
15. All support personnel must be made aware of hazards before working in the laboratory.
16. Spills and accidents that result in overt exposures to infectious materials must be immediately reported to the Principle Investigator and appropriate medical evaluation must be provided.
17. Laboratory equipment, surfaces, and other contaminated materials must be decontaminated with an effective disinfectant on a routine basis. Decontamination must also be completed after overt spills, splashes, or other contamination according to the Spill Control Procedures.
18. Contaminated equipment must be decontaminated before the equipment is repaired in the laboratory or sent out for repair, maintenance, or other purposes.
19. Lab coats must be removed and left in the laboratory before going to non-laboratory areas.
20. Lab coats must be laundered by the department, and should never be taken home.
21. Open-toed shoes must not be worn in the lab.
22. Laboratory doors must be locked when the laboratory is not occupied.
23. Bench tops should be kept neat, orderly, and accessible for cleaning.
24. Paper work stations are located away from hazardous materials and never within the level 2 laboratory zone.