Team:Hong Kong HKUST/Safety
Research and Laboratory Safety Regulations in Hong Kong
All biological and clinical research in Hong Kong is strictly regulated by the government. Protocols and specific guidelines can be found here.
Laboratory Safety in HKUST
All laboratory practices in HKUST are regulated by the Health, Safety, and Environment Office (HSEO).
More information about the HSEO of HKUST can be found here
Laboratory Safety in HKUST’s Innolab
Safety is the number one priority in the Innolab where we conduct our iGEM project. We store and label all of our solutions in appropriate containers, and organize them on a weekly basis. We also dispose of our waste materials properly, making sure to separate contaminated gloves, pipette tips, etc. into our biological waste bin. When full, the container is then shipped to the HSEO of HKUST where it is handled by experienced personnel.
Our members are also briefed on the designated fire exit pathways and location of fire extinguishers as well as eye wash equipment. The aforementioned equipment is managed by the HSEO of HKUST and maintained on a regular basis.
Safety Training and Design Consultations
All team members who work in the wet lab must complete a total of three safety training assessments organized by the HSEO at HKUST, as well as basic wet lab training conducted by our advisors and supervised by our supervisor - Dr. Jessica Tang.
The safety training comprises of:
- Biological Safety
- Chemical Safety I – Chemical Safety for Laboratory Users
- Chemical Safety II – Hazardous Waste Management
More information about the safety training can be found at http://www.ab.ust.hk/hseo/training.htm
Our team has also consulted the HSEO about safe product design, where we discussed potential risks of implementing our project. With their guidance, we were able to minimize these risks by using a biosafety level 1 organism as our chassis, Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain DH5alpha. Our parts are also designed to pose no harm to humans, animals, or plants.