Team:TU Eindhoven/Safety/Biosafety

Biosafety

Lab safety

One of the most important things when working in the lab is the safety of the team members and the other persons working in the lab. Therefore it is important to follow the rules of the laboratory.

Because we work with genetically modified organism (GMO) material or with cells in the lab we cannot simply enter the laboratory. So the team needed a safety training first. In this safety training we had a lab tour in which we discussed topics like the safety equipment, personal equipment, safety measures, waste disposal and biosafety rules or guidelines concerns working with GMO’s. After the training we received our permission to enter the lab.

In Europe there are some biosafety regulations, which we also have to follow in the lab. These can be found here. At the Eindhoven University of Technology there is one main person responsible for the biological safety. Her name is Moniek de Liefde – van Beest. She is the biosafety officer of the TU Eindhoven. There are also principal investigators (PI). The PIs are responsible for the biosafety and lab safety at their appointed laboratories.

Some of the biosafety guidelines for our laboratory are as following: when working with GMOs, it is important to be careful, work clean and hygienically, know how to work with GMOs and know the safe microbiological techniques (SMT).