General laboratory rules and

guidelines
EXPERIMENT # 01
GENERAL RULES – LABORATORY

 These are the general lab rules and guidelines to be practiced in

the laboratory
 Unauthorized entry or experimentation in the laboratory is strictly
forbidden; Staff wishing to use the laboratory out of normal work
hours must obtain their supervisor and the laboratory managers
permission
 All researchers must be aware of the conditions required for the
safe handling of lab material
Food items are strictly
prohibited in the laboratory
premises
 Broken glass, sharps, and laboratory waste must be placed in the marked bins
in the laboratory.
 No waste is to be left or placed in the sinks, and under no circumstance must
waste be placed down the sink.
 All spillages must be cleaned up immediately after they occur.
 Be aware of burning Bunsen burner by noting a hollow burning sound and/or
the absence of a blue cone of unburnt gas.
 Make sure to switch off Bunsen burner after working.
 No samples are to be taken from, or brought into, the laboratory without the
permission of your Supervisor or the Laboratory manager.
 Pipetting by mouth is strictly prohibited;
 Defective equipment or broken glassware must be reported to the
laboratory manager.
 Sitting on laboratory bench tops is prohibited. Never run in the laboratory
or along corridors.
 Exercise care when opening and closing doors to laboratory; i.e. open
or close door without making noises.
 Cover any open wounds e.g. cuts, dermatitis on hands;
 Always wash hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory.
 Always wear gloves when staining microbes
 Tie back hair and wear head cover.
 While conducting their experiments, students should never
contaminate items that will leave the laboratory.
 The area for culturing and working with microorganisms should be
as separate as possible from the area for taking notes.
 Absolutely no cell phone or personal electronic device use is
permitted in the laboratory.
 Students should write with laboratory-use-only pens and pencils
while taking notes in lab
 All cultures should be stored properly (e.g., in incubators or
refrigerators) and not left out in common areas
 Use proper transport vessels (test tube racks) for moving cultures in
the laboratory, and store vessels containing cultures in a leak-proof
container when work with them is complete.
 Use leak-proof containers for storage and transport of infectious
materials.
 Always turn off the microscopes after using them.
 Be aware of the safety facilities of the laboratory, i.e. location of
safety showers, eyewash stations, fire extinguishers and emergency
exits; of substances and specimens being handled
 If you don’t understand how to do something…ASK lab staff.
Laboratory cleaning

 Lab should be kept clean.

 The instructor is responsible for assessing the risk level of microbes
used in his or her lab and determining the most appropriate
disinfectant for routine decontamination of laboratory surfaces and
equipment
 Commonly used disinfectants for microbiology labs include 5-10%
sodium hypochlorite (bleach), 70% ethanol, and 70% isopropanol.
Many others are available; efficacy and cost are considerations
 Sodium hypochlorite is readily available and inexpensive.
 Commercial products are 5-6% aqueous solutions.
 Sodium hypochlorite is used to decontaminate surfaces; in waste
containers for used pipettes, tips and swabs; and to clean up spills.
 Bleach is corrosive to metals and should be used sparingly on
stainless steel. Metal surfaces that have been treated with bleach
should be “rinsed” with 70% ethanol.
Routine bench top disinfection

 Ten percent dilutions of commercially available bleach are suitable

for general use to disinfect tabletops and work areas.
 Spray the 10% bleach solution on the bench top, wipe the entire
surface, and allow to air dry. Mix 100 ml bleach with 900 ml water
for a 10% solution.
Disinfecting a spill

 A stronger solution of bleach (25% dilution) should be used to clean up spills

and in discard containers for used pipettes, tips and swabs.
 Following a spill, everyone in the lab should be made aware that there is a
spill.
 Cover the spill with paper towels and pour disinfectant around and over the
spill.
 Saturate the area with bleach and allow to remain undisturbed for 15 to 30
minutes.
 place paper towels in the biohazard bag to be autoclaved.
 spray bleach solution over the entire area and wipe it down one
more time.
 Mix 250 ml of bleach with 750 ml water for a 25% solution
Alcohol as disinfectant

 Alcohols (ethanol and isopropanol) are most effective as 70%

solutions.
 Alcohols are highly flammable and should not be used near an
open flame.
 Alcohols are effective at decontaminating stainless steel surfaces,
such as those in biosafety cabinets.
 Alcohols can be used to remove residual bleach from metals to
minimize corrosion.
Proper decontamination and disposal
procedures
 Autoclaving is the gold-standard sterilization method and must be used
for all petri dishes contaminated with organisms.
 Autoclaving is used for contaminated dishes
 Disinfection of petri dishes contaminated with organisms may be
accomplished by soaking the surface of the contaminated plate in 10%
bleach for 2 hours prior to discarding the plate
 Gloves used in a lab can also be decontaminated using this bleach
soaking protocol if an autoclave is not available.
 After two hours of soaking in 10% bleach, solid waste (plates,
gloves, etc.) can be disposed of in the regular trash and the bleach
solution can go down the drain.
autoclave

 Autoclaves are used to sterilize and decontaminate biological waste.

 The key components are:
 Appropriate use of the autoclave to decontaminate biological waste
 Minimal parameters are 121o C at 15 psi for 15 min.
 Time may need to be increased for larger loads and larger volumes of
fluid.
 Items should be loaded in a manner that ensures that steam can penetrate
packages and test tubes.
 Pest control

 The microbiology lab is a controlled, regulated, and sanitary environment

where only known organisms should be cultured and stored.
 Just as in the home or commercial kitchen, any contamination with insects,
rodents, other pests or unwanted contaminants (such as mold) cannot be
allowed.
 Following all safety guidelines for hygiene should help ensure that these
unwanted visitors are reduced or eliminated.
 However, in older buildings or through any mismanagement, neglect, or
careless use of a facility, problems are inevitable.
 Rodents. All media should be stored in sealed containers or rodent-proof cabinets.
 keep plated cultures in sealed plastic containers or bins when they are not
refrigerated or incubated.
 Never store animal feed or grains in the microbiology laboratory.
 If there is any sign of rodent invasion, take action immediately with recommend
protocols, e.g., traps or consultation with pest-control specialists, for your
institution. A more humane approach is to use traps that kill mice instantly. If you
set traps, check them frequently.
Flies, cockroaches, and other insects

 Windows in a microbiology lab should not be opened, but if this is

necessary, then the windows must be screened.
 Typical methods of flying-insect or roach control can be used to
eliminate these pests.
 Good hygienic practices are the first defense, and the source of any
new infestation should be speedily identified.
 Fruit flies can present a special problem since they are attracted to microbial
cultures and can enter and exit petri plates easily.
 This makes cross contamination of cultures and contamination of surfaces
possible.
 Keeping all media sealed is the best method of control.
 Door guards can prevent flies from entering from another laboratory.
 In some cases, flies come from a nearby lunchroom.
 There are many commercially available traps for fruit flies; a
simple homemade trap consists of diluted vinegar or apple cider
poured into the bottom of an open plastic soda bottle.
 Flies are attracted to the liquid, enter or fall into it, and drown.
Such traps should be changed frequently during an infestation
mold

 Damp environments, especially those in areas without proper

ventilation, cultivate mold.
 Keeping the laboratory clean and dry with windows closed is the
best method of prevention.
 Report any serious mold infestation in the laboratory because it
can pose a human health hazard that should be addressed by
professionals.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE

 It is your responsibility to read safety and fire alarm posters and

follow the instructions during an emergency
 Know the location of the fire extinguisher, eye wash, and safety
shower in your lab and know how to use them.
 Notify your instructor immediately after any injury, fire or
explosion, or spill.
 Know the building evacuation procedures.
GENERAL RULES –LABORATORY
DRESS CODE

 GENERAL RULES –LABORATORY DRESS CODE

 Protective Equipment (PPE) is widely recognized as a means of
protection for individuals working in an environment where all
other methods of hazard control are in place and there is still a risk
of injury.
 You must remember that PPE is the last barrier or line of defense
between you and the hazardous material you are working with.
 The minimum PPE you are required to wear when working in
University Laboratories are:
 Enclosed Shoes (no bare feet, thongs, or sandals)
 Lab Coat (must be individually issued, worn at all times when working
in the lab, removed before leaving the lab and laundered regularly and
when contamination is suspected).
ADDITIONAL PPE

 The following additional PPE is provided and should be used

where required / instructed / determined by a risk assessment:
 Safety Glasses / Goggles
 Gloves
 Dust Mask / Respirator
 Face Shield
PROPER WORKING CONDITIONS:
review

 Adequate ventilation, exhaust fans should be on during laboratory work

 Satisfactory lighting.
 Proper water supply and drainage
 Adequate working space. Students should not be standing close to each
other. Enough space for all the necessary equipment should be present
 Adequate storage facilities for specimens, i.e. formalin for pathological
specimens
 Acceptable procedure for waste disposal
 Fire safety protocol
 Procedure manuals
 Easy access for consultation with the supervising pathologist
 Adherence to code of conduct