LAB SAFETY GUIDELINES 

Biosafety guidelines depends on the nature of hazardous substances presently are in use in the laboratory facility and their standard disposal procedure. For this a step wise protocol should be followed starting from risk assessment, formulating of standard operating procedure and generating users’ awareness.

Nature of hazardous substances and practices

1.      Chemical wastes

Chemical wastes were produced all the time. Chemical varies in terms of hazard levels and subsequent disposal procedure. Radioactive substances are not used in the labs; however some neurotoxic, corrosive chemicals are often used for various purposes.

Hazardous characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity, stains

Hazardous chemical wastes: Acids (Picric acids, glacial acetic acids, conc. HCl, H2SO4 etc.), phenols, neurotoxic polyacrylamide gels, Chloroforms ethidium bromide, formaldehyde, dyes and stains that can often make porcelain sinks dirty etc.

Disposal procedure:

Safe to dispose directly in laboratory sinks down to common drainage and not for sink disposal - stored in liquid chemical waste bins for timely collection by waste management team.

2.  Glass and sharp wastes: Department of Zoology generates plenty of sharp wastes starting form broken slides, glass wares, gel plates to hypodermic needles, rusted dissecting tools etc.

Hazardous characteristics: generates accidental injuries, bleeding, and transmission of fatal infections.

Disposal procedure: disposed separately into thick-walled disposal bins specified for sharp items.

3.  Plastic wastes: Plastic tips, microfuge tubes, falcons, gloves, zip bags, polythene carry bags etc. belongs to the plastic wastes category.

Hazardous characteristics: clogging of sink vents, contamination in experiments if mistakenly reused without proper autoclaving.

Disposal procedure: During working in the lab there will be disposable plastic wares waste that is contaminated with hazardous materials. These wastes must never be thrown in the regular garbage. For example, when using phenol/chloroform all the tips, tubes, and any other waste that is in contact with the phenol/chloroform must be collected and not thrown in the regular garbage. There are specific procedures on proper disposal for waste that has been contaminated with toxins. Solid waste bins to be maintained in the laboratories for collecting these wastes and routinely disposed centrally appointed groups.

4.  Bio-wastes: Dissescted specimens, tissue debris, cell cultures, bloods, collected specimens from fields are required to be disposed regularly.

Hazardous characteristics: Contamination of live specimens, infection to users, pungent smell, clogging of sinks and pipe lines etc.

Disposal procedure:

Bio-waste bins were installed in the undergraduate and postgraduate facility and regularly disposed. Since these wastes are decomposed pretty soon, pungent smell can grow in air if they are not disposed immediate basis. Moreover, they can grow risky germs which in turn can cause several infections in users. Spraying of disinfectants in the bench and sinks are to be done each day after their usage.

5.      E-wastes:

Electronic wastes although not present in great quantity, irreparable or out dated computers, printers, instruments, parts and accessories, storage devices etc. are often get piled in different corners of the laboratory. They blocks move ways, occupies table spaces, almirahs etc. and are not disposable due to lack of proper institutional disposal policy. Formulation of weeding out procedure or institutional disposal policy for electronic devices has to be performed.

6.  Paper wastes

Although society is committed to uptake paper-less mode of operation, sill unused or wasted papers were piled. Careful printing habit, recycling practice can minimize paper waste accumulation.

General safety protocol and standard practices within laboratory

1.      Laboratory doors must be free to access and the overall laboratory should be well ventilated so that if any accidental fume or gas releases can be exhaust out easily and in case of fire, users can escape quickly.

2.      The electrical wirings, switches should be checked periodically be licensed electrical technicians. Proper safety measures such as MCB should be installed in each room.

3.      Users must be advised of potential bio-hazards and standard handling of chemicals, glass wares, plastic wares etc. before entering the work area.

4.      Eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, chewing gum and/or storing food is not permitted in the laboratory areas.

5.      All spills, accidents and possible exposures to infectious materials must be reported immediately. Work surfaces should be decontaminated before and after work activities and after any spill.

6.      All contaminated or infectious liquid or solid materials must be decontaminated before disposal or re-use.

7.      Formaldehyde preserved museum specimen jars often evaporates fumes that can be corrosive for eyes and risky if inhaled for longer period. they must be kept in well ventilated places and lids should be in good condition.

8.      Corrosive chemicals are to be kept in separate almirah, likely in the lower racks and away from burners and electrical points.

9.      Use colored segregated dust bins for disposal of appropriate bio-hazard as well as chemical wastes.

10.  Potentially infectious exposure incidents must be evaluated immediately and treated accordingly.

11.  Handle with care - all instruments as Autoclave, centrifuges, hot plates, Incubators, Refrigerators, etc. and following their SOPs. After completion of work, respective log books of each instrument should be properly entered.

12.  There should be one biosafety fact check meeting in the department and resolutions of it should be intimated to the Institutional Waste management committee.

Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines

Department of Zoology, Asutosh College

Biosafety guidelines depend on the nature of hazardous substances presently are in use in the laboratory facility and their standard disposal procedure. For this a step-wise protocol should be followed starting from risk assessment, formulating of standard operating procedure and generating users’ awareness.