Crews Laboratory: Lab Manual

Lab Manual Page
Laboratory Saftey

The use of radioisotopes, chemical carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals create a potential for biohazard in the Crews Laboratory in the basement and on the fourth floor of Patterson. In order to minimize potential biohazards and provide for the safety of both regular staff and visitors, the following precautions are to be adhered to at all times:

1. All members of the Crews Lab must complete the requisite courses offered by the UT saftey office.

2. No unaccompanied visitors, friends and relatives of employees and students, and students of teaching assistants are allowed to enter of the radioimmunoassay, histology, or animal rooms of Crews' Lab at any time.

3. All eating and beverage drinking must be confined to the study desks or office area. No food or drink will be permitted in the working areas of the lab.

4. There will be no smoking in laboratory rooms.

5. All animal carcasses and tissues for discard must be sealed in a plastic bag, and placed in the chest freezer in the appropriate basket. The bags are then collected, placed in a garbage bag, sealed, and then taken to the loading dock freezer for disposal.

6. All disposable items (glass, plastic, etc.) used for hazardous materials are to be placed in the appropriate containers provided in each lab room. All glassware for washing must be rinsed with hot water before soaking in liquinox detergent solution.

7. Handle all materials for light-microscopy with proper attention and care. Fixatives are deadly poisons, embedding media are potent allergens, and clearing agents are highly explosive. Glassware and equipment used with fixatives may contaminate physiological solutions and must not be used in the radioimmunoassay room or in surgery. Be especially careful to avoid contamination when fixatives must be used in those rooms. Glassware is not to be transferred to other rooms.

8. Protective clothing (lab coats) must be worn while packing hormones.

9. The use of radioactive compounds, carcinogens and biohazardous materials is regulated by the Radiation Safety Office. Anyone using these substances must take the appropriate Radiation Safety Office course or show documentation that they have had the necessary training. These steps must be taken before material is used. Specific procedures for the use of these materials are posted in the laboratory and copies can be obtained from the University's radiation safety officers or Ryan Baldwin or Dr.Skipper. All such work must be cleared with them.

10. All flammable liquids should be stored in safety-cabinets in rooms 34, 42, and the Histology Lab.

11. Reptiles are vectors for Salmonella which can lead to painful gastrointestinal disorders. Prolonged diarrhea can lead to hospitalization and even death! Always wash hands after handling animals, particularly before eating.

These regulations are for the safety of everyone working in the lab. They are also necessary to protect the lab from liability and, as such, are not voluntary. Failure to comply with the general regulations or with the specific regulations for use of radioactive, biohazardous or carcinogenic compounds will be brought to the attention of the Environmental Safety Office

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	Lab Manual Page Laboratory Saftey The use of radioisotopes, chemical carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals create a potential for biohazard in the Crews Laboratory in the basement and on the fourth floor of Patterson. In order to minimize potential biohazards and provide for the safety of both regular staff and visitors, the following precautions are to be adhered to at all times: 1. All members of the Crews Lab must complete the requisite courses offered by the UT saftey office. 2. No unaccompanied visitors, friends and relatives of employees and students, and students of teaching assistants are allowed to enter of the radioimmunoassay, histology, or animal rooms of Crews' Lab at any time. 3. All eating and beverage drinking must be confined to the study desks or office area. No food or drink will be permitted in the working areas of the lab. 4. There will be no smoking in laboratory rooms. 5. All animal carcasses and tissues for discard must be sealed in a plastic bag, and placed in the chest freezer in the appropriate basket. The bags are then collected, placed in a garbage bag, sealed, and then taken to the loading dock freezer for disposal. 6. All disposable items (glass, plastic, etc.) used for hazardous materials are to be placed in the appropriate containers provided in each lab room. All glassware for washing must be rinsed with hot water before soaking in liquinox detergent solution. 7. Handle all materials for light-microscopy with proper attention and care. Fixatives are deadly poisons, embedding media are potent allergens, and clearing agents are highly explosive. Glassware and equipment used with fixatives may contaminate physiological solutions and must not be used in the radioimmunoassay room or in surgery. Be especially careful to avoid contamination when fixatives must be used in those rooms. Glassware is not to be transferred to other rooms. 8. Protective clothing (lab coats) must be worn while packing hormones. 9. The use of radioactive compounds, carcinogens and biohazardous materials is regulated by the Radiation Safety Office. Anyone using these substances must take the appropriate Radiation Safety Office course or show documentation that they have had the necessary training. These steps must be taken before material is used. Specific procedures for the use of these materials are posted in the laboratory and copies can be obtained from the University's radiation safety officers or Ryan Baldwin or Dr.Skipper. All such work must be cleared with them. 10. All flammable liquids should be stored in safety-cabinets in rooms 34, 42, and the Histology Lab. 11. Reptiles are vectors for Salmonella which can lead to painful gastrointestinal disorders. Prolonged diarrhea can lead to hospitalization and even death! Always wash hands after handling animals, particularly before eating. These regulations are for the safety of everyone working in the lab. They are also necessary to protect the lab from liability and, as such, are not voluntary. Failure to comply with the general regulations or with the specific regulations for use of radioactive, biohazardous or carcinogenic compounds will be brought to the attention of the Environmental Safety Office