Table 9.1.

Guidelines for Cellular Lab Safety

●Every laboratory worker is responsible for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by work carried out in the cell culture lab.

●Personal protective equipment must be worn upon entering the cell culture lab and removed when leaving or contaminating any personal protective equipment. Upon handling hazardous agents, potentially contaminated gloves must be removed immediately and disposed of in the biohazard waste. Wash hands.

●The exposure of skin in open-toed shoes, short trousers, and skirts is not recommended.

●The consumption of food, drink, the storage of groceries, smoking, applying cosmetics, or handling contact lenses is not permitted in the cell culture lab.

●Cell phones should not be used while working in the cell culture lab.

●Loose items of clothing (e.g., scarves, dangling necklaces) should be removed before commencing work and hair should be tied back.

●The cell culture lab must be kept tidy and cleaned routinely with a disinfectant (e.g., incubators, laminar flow hoods, and work surfaces).

●All laboratory tools in contact with potentially infectious or hazardous agents must be decontaminated before and after working with them. Potentially infectious and hazardous material must be decontaminated and disposed of via their recommended route.

●Sharp items (e.g., pipette tips) must be disposed of immediately via designated sharp’s boxes.

●Hands should be washed before leaving the cell culture lab.

●The laboratory’s safety officer should be notified upon exposure or spillage of infectious or hazardous agents to advise on a suitable strategy for containment and decontamination.