Laboratory Rules

Laboratory Rules

  1. Become familiar with basic equipment in the laboratory and with their operation

  2. Locate fire extinguishers and blankets for use in case of an emergency

  3. A laboratory coat or apron must be worn at all times in the laboratory. It will protect your clothing from accidental contamination and against stains used daily in the lab. When leaving the laboratory, remove the coat or apron.

  4. Long hairs must be secured properly to prevent injury from Bunsen burners and contamination of culture material.

  5. Read over the assigned exercises before each laboratory period and clarify your doubts with your instructor

  6. Keep laboratory tables free of any material not essential in the performance of exercises

  7. Keep conversation to a minimum during laboratory periods

  8. It is the responsibility of everyone at each table to see that all materials are put away at the end of the periods

  9. Avoid leaving the burners on when not in use

  10. Do not eat or place any object in the mouth while you are in the laboratory. Gummed labels should never be moistened with your tongue

  11. Place old cultures / used media in receptacles that are to be autoclaved

  12. Whenever bacterial cultures are accidentally spilled on the floor, notify the instructor for proper disinfection. Normally the spilled area is covered with a disinfectant and allowed to stand for 10 minutes and wiped with a paper towel.

  13. If you contaminate your hands during the course of handling cultures, wash thoroughly  with a disinfectant soap

  14. Place contaminated or broken glassware in the assigned containers

  15. Remove all stains from table tops and sinks with acid-alcohol as soon as possible after the spill has occurred.

  16. Disinfect all table tops with the disinfectant provided before leaving the laboratory

  17. Do not remove cultures, reagents or other materials from the laboratory at any time

  18. In the event of an accident, notify the instructor immediately

  19. Before leaving the laboratory at the end of the period, wash your hands with soap and water. 
Last modified: Tuesday, 20 December 2011, 5:07 AM