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DivisionofTeachingLabsPoliciesandProceduresWhenparticipatinginlaboratorysessionsintheDivisionofTeachingLabs(DTL)attheUniversityofToronto(UofT),FacultyofMedicine,thereareseveralpoliciesandbestpracticesthatmustbefollowed.HereatDTLweconstantlystrivetoprovidethesafestenvironmentpossible.Tothisendweaskthateachstudentreadthefollowingpoliciesandprocedures.KeepinmindthatasaUofTstudent,undertheCodeofStudentConduct,youareexpectedtoabidebythesepoliciesandprocedures.

PART ONE: GENERAL LAB POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

GENERALRULES1. Alwaysactinaresponsiblemannerinthelab.2. Alwaysbepreparedbyreadingthroughthelabinstructionspriortocomingtoclass.Alwayscheck-inwithyour

instructorbeforeproceedingwithanexperimentandifyouareunsureofanyofthedirectionsorhowtooperateparticularequipment.

3. Keepworkareascleanandtidyatalltimes.Likewisekeepthefloorandaislesclear.Bringonlythenecessarylaboratorymaterials(e.g.labmanualandnotebook)toyourbench.Otheritems(coats,backpacks,etc.)shouldbestoredinthedesignatedareasinthelabroom.

4. Alwaysrespectyourfellowstudentsandotherpersonnelinthelab.Tohelpreducethepossibilityofaccidentsyoushouldatalltimesbeconcentratingonwhatyouaredoing,andatnotimeshouldyouengageinanyformofhorseplay.

5. Neverconsumefoodorbeveragesorplaceanyfood/beverageitemsonanylabsurfacesincludingtheInterlabs.Neverdisposeoffoodorbeveragewasteinlabgarbagebins.Ifyouwishtoconsumefoodorbeveragesyoumaydosooutinthehallwaysanddisposeofthefood/beveragewasteinthehallwaygarbagebins.

6. Dressappropriatelyforalllabactivitiesbywearingclosed-toeshoesandlongpants.Alwaystiebacklong/loosehairandsecureanydanglingjewellery.

7. Weartheappropriatepersonalprotectiveequipment,PPE,(e.g.gloves,goggles,labcoat)asdirectedbyyourinstructor.Afullybuttoneduplabcoatisrequiredtoparticipateinallwetlabsessions.Eachstudentmustbringtheirownlabcoattothelab,whichcanbepurchasedfromtheBookstoreorMedStoresoncampus.

8. Keepyourhandsawayfromyourface,eyes,mouthandbody.Donothandleanyportabledevices,suchascellphones,laptops,orotherdeviceswithglovedorunwashedhands.

9. RemoveallPPEandwashyourhandswithsoapandwaterafterperformingexperimentsandbeforeexitingthelabroom.UsedesignatedhandwashingsinksONLYforwashinghands,notfordisposingofreagents,rinsingglasswareorconductingexperiments.

10. Cleanupafterthelabby:(a)disposingofwasteindesignatedcontainers;(b)removingalllabelsfromreusableglassware,thenrinsingtheglasswareandplacingitinthedesignatedcontainers;(c)clearingyourlabbenchandanyInterlabspacethatyou’veused;and(d)rinsingandreturningallequipmentcleanandinworkingordertotheiroriginalplace.

11. Ifanyequipmentisbrokenormalfunctioning,informyourinstructorortheInterlabtechniciansothatitcanberepaired.12. NEVERpipettebymouth;onlyusetherubberbulbsorpipetteaidsprovided.Whenusingapipetteaid,youmust

beextremelycarefultonotdrawanyliquidintothepipetteaid.13. Neverbringchemicals,biologicalorganisms,glasswareorequipmentintotheInterlabexceptwhennecessarytousea

pieceofequipmentlocatedthere(e.g.balance,spectrophotometer,centrifuge,etc.)ortousethefumehoodintheInterlab.IfitisnecessarytobringsuchitemsintotheInterlabthenthestudentmustalsobringitbacktohis/herlabbenchafteruse.

14. Nevertransferequipment,glassware,biologicalorganismsorchemicalsfromonelabtoanotherunlessspecifiedandsupervisedbytheinstructor.TheinstructorshouldinformtheInterlabtechnicianofanyequipmenttransfers.

15. Whenusingequipmenttakenoffshelvesorwagonsreturnthemtotheiroriginallocationattheendofthelabsession.16. Toreducethepossibilityofaccidents,keepInterlabtraffictoaminimumsothatitdoesnotbecomeovercrowded.17. Handleallglassware,sharps,organismsandchemicalsinarespectfulmanneranddisposeofthemproperly.Specific

guidelinesonhowtodisposeofvarioustypesofwastearedescribedinPartTwo.18. Letyourinstructorknowifyouhaveanyallergiesormedicalconditionswhichmayaffectyourabilitytoconductan

experimentortoreceivetreatmentintheeventofanaccidentorhealthincident.

DivisionofTeachingLabsPoliciesandProcedures


EMERGENCIES,ACCIDENTS&INJURIES19. Knowthelocationandoperatingprocedureoftheeyewashstationwithinyourlabandemergencyshowerinthe

interlab.Yourinstructorwillshowyouhowtouseaneyewashstation.20. Knowthelocationofthedustpanandbroom,spillkit,andfirstaidkit.YourTA/instructorwillattendtospills,broken

glasswareandfirstaid;studentsarenottocleanupspillsorattendtoinjuries.21. Reportanyaccident(spill,breakage,etc.),injury(cut,burn,etc.),orhealthincident(e.g.dizziness,fainting),tothe

instructorimmediately,nomatterhowtrivialitmayappear.22. Ifachemicalsplashesinyoureye(s),immediatelyflushwithrunningwaterfromtheeyewashstationforatleast20

minutes.Notifyyourinstructorimmediately.23. Ifachemicalsplashesonyourskin,immediatelyflushwithrunningwaterfromtheemergencyshowerforatleast20

minutes.Ifclothingiscontaminateditshouldberemoved.Notifyyourinstructorimmediately.Notethatuseoftheshowerisusuallyonlynecessaryifalargeamountofahazardoussubstancehassplashedonyourbody(e.g.ifyousplashasmallamountofchemicalonyourhand,youcanflushitwithwaterinthesinkratherthantheshower).

24. Knowthelocationofthefirealarmandemergencyexits.25. Incaseofemergencyorfiredrill,staycalmandfollowyourinstructor’sdirections.Youmayberequiredtoshutdown

certainequipment(e.g.Bunsenburners)beforeexitingthelabroom.Leaveallbags,coats,etc.inthelabroomsandproceedinanorderlyfashionalongwithyourinstructortothenearestexit.Yourinstructorwillensurethatthelabroomislocked.

WORKINGWITHOPENFLAMES&HEATINGSUBSTANCES26. Alwaysfollowyourinstructor’sdirectionsontheproperuseofBunsenburnersandotherheatingdevices(e.g.hotplates,

hightemperaturewaterbaths).27. ExerciseextremecautionwhenusingaBunsenburner.Tiebacklong/loosehair,loosejewellery,andensureyouarea

safedistancefromtheflameatalltimes.Donotputanysubstanceintotheflameunlessspecificallyinstructedtodoso.NEVERreachoveranexposedflame.NEVERleavealitBunsenburnerunattended.

28. NEVERleaveanythingthatisbeingheatedathightemperatureorisvisiblyreactingunattended.29. Alwaysturntheburnerorhotplateoffwhennotinuse.30. Exerciseextremecautionwhentransferringsubstancesintoandoutofboilingwaterbaths,heatingblocksor

microwaves.31. Protectyourhands(e.g.usetongs,wearprotectivegloves)whenhandlingglasswareormetalobjectsthathavebeen

heated.

HANDLINGREUSABLEGLASSWARE32. Studentsmustrespectglasswareaspotentiallyhazardousanddangerousitems.Glasswaremustonlybehandledforits

intendedpurpose.33. DirtyreusableglasswareMUSTbeplacedintheappropriatelymarkedDIRTYglasswarecontainers.DONOTPUTDIRTY

GLASSWAREBACKINWITHCLEANGLASSWARE.34. Thoroughlyrinseglassware(ifnon-hazardous)andremovealllabelsbeforeplacingtheminthedirtyglasswarebins.35. Brokenanddisposableglassware(includingPasteurpipettes),plasticconsumables(e.g.tips),anditemsdesignatedas

sharpsaretobedisposedofintheappropriatecontainersasdescribedinPartTwo.

RECYCLING36. Inmanyinstanceswastegeneratedwithinalaboratorysettingcanbesafelyrecycledtherebyminimizingthe

environmentalimpactofyourwork.Itemsthatmayberecycledinclude:glassware,plasticware,paperproducts,electronics(toner,computerequipment,labequipment),andbatteries

37. BeforeyouconsiderrecyclinganysolidwasteyoumustensurethatitisNOTCONTAMINATEDwithanyhazardousmaterial;ithastobefreeofanybiological,chemical,orradioactivecontamination.

38. Allproductsmustbetriplerinsedbeforetheyareplacedintothedesignatedrecyclingcontainer/bin.39. Pleasecheckwithyourinstructorastowhetheryoumayrecycleaparticularitem.



PART TWO: PROPER HANDLING & WASTE DISPOSAL IN THE LAB

CHEMICALHANDLINGANDDISPOSAL

Duringthecourseofalabsessionyoumayberequiredtodispenseorhandlehazardousreagentsthatmaybereactive,poisonous,and/orcorrosive.PleasemakesurethatyouuseappropriatePPEandexerciseprecautionswhenhandlingsuchchemicalsanddisposeofthemintotheappropriatecontainerasoutlinedbelow.

Notethatglasswareandconsumablesthathavebiologicalorradioactivecontaminationaretreateddifferently(seesectionsonWorkingwithOrganismsandWorkingwithRadioisotopesbelow).

Whenworkingwithchemicals:• Payattentiontowarninglabelsprovidedonchemicalbottles.• Takeonlyasmuchchemicalasyouneed.• Neverreturnunusedchemicalstotheiroriginalcontainers.• Nevertouchortasteanychemicals.Whensmellingachemicalusethewaftingtechnique.Whendisposingofchemicalwaste:• LIQUIDCHEMICALS:

o Usedesignatedbottlesorbeakersthatwillbesetupandlabelledinthelab.DONOTfillcontainerspast75%ofthetotalvolume.

o Somechemicalscanbedisposedofdownthedrain;beforedoingso,verifywithyourinstructorthatthisispermitted.

• SOLIDCHEMICALS:o Usedesignatedbeakersthatwillbesetupandlabelledinthelab.

• LABCONSUMABLESUSEDWITHCHEMICALS(EXCEPTMEDICALSHARPS):o LabConsumables(LCs)suchastips,microtubes,Pasteurpipettes,thathavecomeintocontactwith

non-hazardouschemicalsarecollectedinaMilkshakeCupatyourworkbenchanddisposedattheendofyourclassinadesignatedcontainer.

o LCssuchasplastictubes,plastic96-wellplates,plasticsyringes(notneedles)thathavecomeintocontactwithnon-hazardouschemicalsshouldberinsedandcollectedinadesignatedcontaineronthecentrebench.Theseplasticswillberecycledwiththemunicipalwaste.

o LCsusedwithhazardousmaterialmustbedisposedofinaGREENPAIL,unlessdesignatedotherwisebyyourinstructor.

o NotethatPasteurpipettesarenotreused,thereforetheymustalwaysbedisposedofintheGREENPAIL.DonotplacePasteurpipettesintobasinsmarkedfordirtypipettes(thisreferstoreusableglasspipettesonly).Remembertoreturntherubberbulbtothegenerallaboratorysuppliestray.

• MEDICALSHARPSUSEDWITHCHEMICALS:o Razorblades,scalpels,needles,lancetsandothermedicalsharpsaredisposedofinaYELLOWBIOHAZARD

SHARPSCONTAINERONLY!

Ifyouareunsureorconfusedastowheresomethingshouldbedisposedofalwaysaskyourinstructor!Imagesofthevariousdisposalcontainerscanbefoundatthiswebsite:http://teachinglabs.med.utoronto.ca/StudentArea/Pages/DTL_LabPolicy.html



WORKINGWITHANIMALSAMPLESOverview:AnimalworkistypicallyconductedintheDepartmentofComparativeMedicine’s(DCM)facilities.StudentswillreceivetrainingfromDCMandmustcomplywiththeirrulesandregulationsforproperanimalcare.ForanimalexperimentsconductedinDTL,studentswillreceivehands-ontrainingfromtheCourseCoordinator,teachingassistant,oraDCMstaffmember.ProceduresatDTL:AnimalproductsarecollectedinbiodegradableGREENBAGS.DONOTplaceanyothermaterialssuchasgloves,papertowels,tips,needles,etc.,inthesebags.Studentsareresponsibleforthesurgicalinstrumentsthattheyuse.Allsurgicalinstrumentsmustbesoakedandwashedaftereachusetopreventdamage.Instructionswillbeprovidedinthelab.Photographinganyanimalworkisnotpermissiblegiventhesensitivenaturesurroundingtheuseofanimalsinexperiments.

WORKINGWITHHUMANSAMPLESWorkingwithanddisposingofhumansamples:UniversalPrecautionsmustbetakenwheneverconductingexperimentsinvolvinghumanbloodandanyotherpotentiallyinfectiousmaterial(e.g.saliva,urine,etc.).Sincewecannotdeterminebyeyewhethersuchmaterialsmaybeinfectious,wemusttreatthemasiftheyareinfectedandhandleanddisposeofthemaspotentiallyinfectiousmaterials.ThesematerialsandallcontaminatedwastegeneratedduringtheseexperimentsaredisposedofinYELLOWBIOHAZARDPAILS.Inthecaseofanaccidentinvolvinghumanbloodorotherpotentiallyinfectiousmaterial:

• Ifyouarebleeding,notifyyourinstructorimmediately.Donotaskfellowclassmatesforassistancesothatweminimizetheriskofexposuretoothers.

• Ifyourinjuryallows,youmaybeaskedtohelpcleanupanycontaminatedareas.• Anyonewhoassistsaninjuredpartyshouldwearglovestoprotectthemselves.• AllcontaminatedareasmustbeproperlydisinfectedandinfectiouswastedisposedofintheYELLOW

BIOHAZARDPAILS.

WORKINGINACONTAINMENTLEVEL2ROOM

RoomsthatarezonedasContainmentLevel2(CL2)havespecialrules:

v Usersoftheseroomsmaynotbringpersonalitems(e.g.backpacks,coats,etc.)intotheserooms.Designatedstorageroomswillbeprovidedforyoutostoreyourpersonalbelongings.

v Labcoatsusedintheseroomsmuststayintheserooms.Attheendofthecourse,yourlabcoatwillbedisinfectedandwashed,andreturnedtoyou.

Currently,DTLrooms3282,3284,3377,3379,3381and3383aredesignatedasCL2(indicatedbysignsonthedoors).



WORKINGWITHMICROORGANISMS:RISKGROUP1WhenworkingwithmicroorganismsdesignatedasRiskGroup1(RG1),specialprecautionsmustbetakentoensuretheworkspaceisusedandcleanedproperlyandthatallbiologicallycontaminatedwasteisproperlydisposedofintheappropriatecontainers.PleaseverifywithyourinstructorwhetherthebiologicalsyouwillbeusingaredesignatedasRG1orRG2.WhenworkingwithRG1organisms:

• WeartheappropriatePPEasdirectedbyyourinstructor• DisinfectyourworkbenchBEFOREandAFTERusewitheitherDettolor70%alcohol

WhendisposingofRG1waste:

• DisposeofRG1biologicallycontaminatedwasteintoappropriatecontainers,usingthefollowingrules:

o GLASSWARE

§ REUSABLEGLASSPIPETTES:Biologicallycontaminatedreusableglasspipettes(notPasteurpipettes)shouldbeplacedinMETALPANSORBLEACH-FILLEDJARSasinstructedbyyourinstructor

§ OTHERREUSABLEGLASSWARE:Otherbiologicallycontaminatedreusableglassware(e.g.beakers,flasks,etc.)shouldbeplacedinthedesignatedMETALBUCKETS.

o MEDIAPLATES:PlacesolidmediaplatesinthedesignatedMETALBUCKETS.

o LABCONSUMABLES

§ LABCONSUMABLES:Biologicallycontaminatedconsumables(e.g.tips,Pasteurpipettes,butNOTmedicalsharpssuchasneedlesandrazors)aredisposedofinareceptaclelinedwithaREDBIOHAZARDBAGORMETALCONTAINER

§ MEDICALSHARPS:Razorblades,scalpels,needles,lancetsandothersharpsaredisposedofinaYELLOWBIOHAZARDSHARPSCONTAINERONLY!DoNOTattempttoremoveaneedlefromasyringeorrecaptheneedle;placetheentireassemblyinthesharpscontainer.

o LIQUIDWASTE:Usedesignatedbottlesorbeakersthatwillbesetupandlabelledinthelab.DONOTfillcontainerspast75%ofthetotalvolume.

Whenusingbiosafetycabinets(BSCs)withRG1organisms:

• Disinfecttheworkspacebeforeandafteruse• Tidyup• Disposeofanymaterials(tips,pipettes,etc.)asdirectedbyyourinstructor

NotethatstandardBSCprocedureisforonlyoneusertoworkataBSCatatime.Forteachingpurposes,wemayallowtwostudentstoworksimultaneouslyatalargerBSCforRISKGROUP1WORKONLY.



WORKINGWITHMICROORGANISMS:RISKGROUP2WhenworkingwithmicroorganismsdesignatedasRiskGroup2(RG2)specialprecautionsmustbetakentoensuretheworkspaceisusedandcleanedproperlyandthatallRG2wasteisproperlydisposedofintheappropriatecontainers.PleaseverifywithyourinstructorwhetherthebiologicalsyouwillbeusingaredesignatedasRG1orRG2.WhenworkingwithRG2organisms:

• WeartheappropriatePPEasdirectedbyyourinstructor• DisinfectyourworkbenchBEFOREandAFTERusewitheitherDettolor70%alcohol

WhendisposingofRG2waste:• ALLRG2WASTE:AllwastefromRG2organisms(plates,tips,labconsumables,etc.)MUSTBEdisposedof

inYELLOWBIOHAZARDPAILS.• MEDICALSHARPS:Razorblades,scalpels,needles,lancetsandothersharpsaredisposedofinaYELLOW

BIOHAZARDSHARPSCONTAINERONLY!DoNOTattempttoremoveaneedlefromasyringeorrecaptheneedle;placetheentireassemblyinthesharpscontainer.

Whenusingbiosafetycabinets(BSCs)withRG2organisms:

• Disinfecttheworkspacebeforeandafteruseusingthe70%alcoholprovidedinspraybottles• Tidyup• Disposeofanymaterials(tips,pipettes,etc.)asdirectedbyyourinstructorNotethatbiosafetyregulationsstipulatethatONLYONEUSERSHOULDWORKATABSCATATIMEWHENCONDUCTINGWORKWITHRISKGROUP2ORGANISMS.StudentsmustcomplywiththisregulationwhenworkingwithRiskGroup2organismsinourBSCs.



WORKINGWITHRADIOISOTOPESNote:For2017-18,nocoursesruninDTLwillbeusingradioisotopes.Whenworkingwithradioactivesubstances:

• WearglovesandalabcoatatALLTIMES• ONLYworkoverbenchesthathavebeencoveredwithwhiteabsorbentpaper• ONLYuseequipment/toolsthathavebeenspecificallydesignatedforradioactivework,suchasMARKED

centrifuges,MARKEDshakers,MARKEDpipettors,etc.• Understandtheproperties,risksandproperhandlingproceduresassociatedwiththeparticularradioisotopes

youareusing;askyourinstructorifyouareatanytimeunsureabouttheproperprocedures.• Ifanyequipmentorworkspacebecomescontaminatedwitharadioactivesubstanceinformyourinstructor

immediatelysothatitcanberemovedfromuseanddecontaminated.• Ifanaccidentorinjuryoccurswhileworkingwitharadioactivesubstanceinformyourinstructorimmediatelyso

thattheappropriateassessmentandtreatmentcanbeperformed.

Whendisposingofradioactivesubstances:• DisposeofradioactivewasteintotheappropriatelyMARKEDcontainers:

o LIQUIDS:CarefullypourorpipetteradioactiveliquidsintotheappropriateCELITECONTAINER–notethatspecificcontainersareuseddependingonthehalf-lifeoftheradioisotope.Besurenottooverfillthesecontainers.Donotputanysolidwasteinthesecontainers.

o SMALLLABCONSUMABLES(E.G.TIPS,TUBES):Placeintheprovidedemptygloveboxesonthebenchasyouareworking.Whenyouhavecompletedyourwork(orwhentheboxisfull),sealthegloveboxwithtapeanddisposeofitintheYELLOWRADIOACTIVEWASTEBIN.

o OTHERDISPOSABLESOLIDS:Disposeofsolids(e.g.gloves,papertowels,etc.)intheYELLOWRADIOACTIVEWASTEBIN.

o GLASSWARE:Beforetheycanbeplacedinthedirtyglasswarebins,radioactively-contaminatedglasswaremustbethoroughlyrinsedusingDettolsolutionandallrinsesolutionsdisposedofasradioactiveliquidwasteintheappropriatecelitecontainer.DoNOTdisposeoftherinsesolutionsdownthedrain!

• Seepicturesofcontainersat:http://teachinglabs.med.utoronto.ca/StudentArea/Pages/DTL_LabPolicy.html)