Safety in Canada

Safety in the Laboratory

All operations within the University of Waterloo, the host institution, are regulated by the University of Waterloo’s Safety Office. The regulations set out by the Canadian Biosafety Regulations & Guidelines affects the practices of the University. The University of Waterloo Safety Office, including the University of Waterloo Lab Safety Committee, has certified our host laboratory for the intended research. We follow the Biosafety Programs & Procedures set out by the Safety Office.

The team operated out of a host laboratory to ensure team members are supervised and well supported throughout the project. Our team performs all laboratory work in a host laboratory under the supervision of the Masters and PhD students as well as the host Faculty Member, Dr. Trevor Charles. The permits obtained by the parent laboratory cover the project carried out in the laboratory.

Our team members have completed the following training modules and procedures to prepare for working in the lab:
1)Workplace Violence and Harrassment Training
2)General Laboratory Safety
3)WHMIS
4)Laboratory Biosafety Training
5)Biosafety Guidelines

To see our About Our Lab Form, click here
To see our Safety Form, click here

Project Design

Before the initiation of the project, design and safety were discussed with Faculty Members, including but not limited to our Faculty Advisors.

Strain Considerations
Due to the nature of our project dealing with MRSA, a Level 2 pathogen, our design had to be modified in order to be safe for undergraduate students to safely work on the project. Thus, a Level 1 organism, Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228) was used in the lab. Not only does this reduce the risk to students working in the lab, but it also reduces the risk of any pathogenic organisms being accidentally released into the environment. Staphylococcus epidermidis was a great alternative and met all design needs (for example, it is able to conjugate with Staphylococcus aureus) content 2
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