The 2019 edition of the UW Biosafety Manual is here! The most significant changes include:
A list of changes is included in the log of changes.
Lab animal allergens can be a serious health concern for those who work with animals at the UW; it’s important to understand the health risks and how to protect yourself. EH&S has resources that can help.
Particularly Hazardous Substances (PHS) are chemicals that pose a high risk to employees in the workplace. Work with these substances requires specialized training from your PI or supervisor, and customized standard operating procedures (SOPs) that identify designated work areas, containment devices (such as fume hoods and glove boxes), procedures for decontamination, and prior approvals before work begins.
After a research group has moved or left the University, the department may be faced with handling a variety of hazards. There may be chemicals, radioactive materials, biological materials, and equipment containing hazardous materials that must be managed before a new group takes ownership of the space.
PPE is the last line of defense against hazards that are part of your work in a laboratory or research space. Most eye injuries that occur in the lab are due to lack of proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
You should always evaluate your workplace for potential eye hazards so you can select the appropriate safety equipment. Eyeglasses are never a substitute for safety glasses or safety googles. There are plenty of eye protection options that fit well over your eyeglasses.
Safety glasses versus safety goggles
If you use an autoclave to decontaminate biohazardous waste, you need to have a site-specific SOP. Use this fillable PDF template to create your SOP. Any personnel operating the autoclave needs to have documented training on the site-specific procedures.
Standard operating procedures for research and veterinary services procedures.
Emergency washing equipment (EWE) is provided in UW facilities for the purpose of rinsing chemicals or other harmful agents from the eyes or skin. It is an important safety tool that can prevent or limit damage to the body from exposure to harmful agents. Examples include:
Eye wash
Eye washes are required in areas where any of the following agents are used: corrosives; strong irritants; or toxic chemicals of concern. An eyewash is also required in a BSL-2 or BSL-3 laboratory, regardless of whether the above agents are used.
Does your biological safety cabinet (BSC) have an ultraviolet (UV) lamp in it? If so, it may not be as effective for sterilization/decontamination purposes as you need it to be.
Ultraviolet radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation, and biological effects from it vary with wavelength, photon energy, and duration of exposure. The 100-280 nm wavelength band is designated as UV-C, which is used for germicidal purposes.
The sterilization/decontamination activity of UV lights is limited by a number of factors, including:
Has an EH&S representative visited your lab lately? If not, chances are good that one of our safety ambassadors will visit soon to review the Laboratory Safety Checklist, a list of 78 questions addressing a variety of topics including chemical safety, training of personnel, personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness.
