laboratory safety

• Laboratory safety rules are a major aspect of every microbiology lab
• Each student in microbiology laboratory must follow specific safety rules and procedures
• Lab safety rules and symbols are needed so that students do not injure themselves or their classmates
• Protective clothing

  • Gloves are essential
  • Lab coats are required
  • Safety glasses (goggles) may be required to avoid splashes
• Laboratory personnel should not wear sandals
• Avoid wearing jewelry, loose or baggy clothing
• Avoid touching objects (e.g., pencils, cell phones, door handles) while wearing gloves
• Pencils, labels, or any other materials should never be placed in your mouth
• Caution must be taken when using gas burners. Be sure gas burners are turned off when finished
• Long hair must be tied back or covered to minimize fire hazard or contamination of experiments
• Do not eat food or drink water in the lab. Do not use lab glassware as food or water containers
• Protect your hands safety


  1. Wash hands after every lab

  2. Handle glassware, sharp tools, and heated containers carefully
• Electrical safety


  1. Unplug electrical equipment after use

  2. Keep all electrical cords and wires away from water
• Chemical safety


  1. Never touch, taste, or smell a chemical unless instructed to do so

  2. Never mix chemicals unless instructed to do so

  3. Keep lids on chemical containers when not in use
• Do not take any cultures out of the lab for any reason. All cultures should be handled as potentially pathogenic. Liquid cultures must always be kept in a test tube rack
• Do not engage in practical jokes or horseplay in the lab
• Keep nonessential books and clothing far away from your work area
• Wipe the bench tops down with disinfectant

  Before you begin your work and after you have completed your work
• Report all accidents, no matter how minor, to your supervisor
• Lab Safety Equipment

  • Safety shower
  • Eye wash
  • Fire Blanket
  • Fire Extinguisher
• Lab Safety Symbols


  • They alert about the possible dangers in the lab
• Biological Safety Levels


  • BSL1
  • BSL2
  • BSL3
  • BSL4
• BSL-1: Not known to cause disease in healthy adult humans. Safety equipment: Minimal requirements. Facilities: Open bench top
• BSL-2: Associated with mild to moderate disease in humans. Safety equipment: Biological Safety Cabinet and personal protective equipment as needed. Facilities: BSL-1 plus the availability of a mechanism for decontamination
• BSL-3: Associated with serious or potentially lethal disease in humans. Safety equipment: Biological Safety Cabinet and personal protective equipment required. Facilities: BSL-2 with self-closing double door access and single-pass negative directional airflow
• BSL-4: Associated with high risk of life-threatening disease in humans and/or animals. Safety equipment: Biological Safety Cabinet, Full-body air-supplied, positive pressure personnel suit. Facilities: BSL-3 plus dedicated air and exhaust, decontamination procedures for exit, separate building, etc