Laboratory Safety Statement

Personal Protective Equipment & Attire Handling Equipment & Chemicals Handling Biological Materials Laboratory Waste Disposal Rules Fire & Emergency Procedures Common Sources of Danger Best Practices for Lab Safety

Our project aims to produce antimicrobial peptides using Escherichia coli, which will be used to manufacture pet antibacterial sprays. This is intended to address the disease issues caused by zoonotic bacteria, a problem exacerbated by the growing pet ownership rate.


Our project involves a significant amount of laboratory work. Laboratory safety is essential to protect individuals in laboratories, prevent accidents, and maintain a controlled working environment. Strict adherence to safety protocols minimizes risks associated with hazardous chemicals, equipment malfunctions, and human error. By following these guidelines, we ensure both personal safety and the integrity of our experiments.


When entering the laboratory, we must strictly comply with the following requirements：


Personal Protective Equipment & Attire

  1. Lab coats must be worn at all times when inside the laboratory.
  2. Gloves must be worn when handling chemicals; do not dispose of them in regular trash bins—use designated disposable bins marked “Hard Waste”.
  3. Proper footwear is required:
    1. No sandals or slippers allowed.
    2. Shoes must fully cover feet and toes.
  4. Avoid using phones while wearing gloves or during experiments to prevent contamination.

Handling Equipment & Chemicals

  1. Pipettes
    1. Use a new tip each time dipping into different chemicals.
    2. Replace tips vertically (not horizontally) on the counter.
    3. Rotate slowly to the desired volume.
    4. Always reset to the largest volume after use.
    5. Dispose of used tips in special disposable bins.
  2. Electrical Appliances
    1. Never leave unattended—if necessary, assign someone to monitor.
    2. In case of serious sparks/fire/smoke/detection of abnormal chemical smells:
      1. Wet a cloth to cover nose and mouth.
      2. Pull down the main electrical control (shut off electricity)
      3. Evacuate immediately.
  3. Centrifuge Use
    1. Speed and time settings must match instructions exactly.
    2. Do not overfill tubes—if the top loosens, liquid will spill.
    3. Make sure the weight of the tubes is equally distributed in the dish.
  4. Chemical Handling
    1. Before opening odorous chemicals:
      1. Go near the ventilation chimney.
      2. Open airflow vent first, then open the chemical container.
    2. Inflammable/explosive chemicals should NEVER be handled near open flames or in ventilation chimneys. Ventilation chimneys are NOT designed to handle explosive reactions.
    3. Never sniff chemicals—especially toxic ones (CO, HCN, Cl₂, NH₃, SO₂, SO₃).
    4. Do not dump used liquids directly into the sink—deactivate them first before disposal.
  5. PCR Machine
    1. Do not open the lid during operation to avoid thermal burns or contamination.
    2. Check that tubes are properly sealed to prevent evaporation and cross-contamination.

Handling Biological Materials

  1. The Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain used in our experiments is non-pathogenic, and it poses virtually no infection risk under standard laboratory operating procedures. Nevertheless, we still need to adhere to the following specifications when conducting laboratory operations：
    1. Working with the bacteria inside clean benches is preferred for sterile purposes and good hygiene.
    2. Always use sterile techniques such as wiping gloves with ethanol beforehand and operating in clean bench to avoid contamination.
    3. Decontaminate work surfaces with 70% ethanol solution after use.
    4. Dispose of bacterial cultures and materials in specified bags for sterilization.
    5. Avoid aerosol contamination (e.g., vigorous pipetting or vortexing open tubes).
    6. Wash hands thoroughly after handling bacterial cultures.
  2. High concentrations of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may cause hemolysis of mammalian cells. However, due to safety restrictions, we are unable to experimentally verify the concentration of AMPs that would induce hemolysis in mammalian cells. Therefore, we will take proper protective measures when using AMPs in experiments, such as wearing gloves. Additionally, the concentration of AMPs used in our antibacterial experiments is far lower than the hemolytic concentration described in relevant literature.

Laboratory Waste Disposal Rules

  1. Chemical Waste
    1. Never mix incompatible chemicals, such as oxidizers with organics and inflammatory chemicals with highly concentrated oxygen.
    2. Use designated waste containers—no sink disposal unless permitted by laboratory instructor with specified reasons.
  2. Biological Waste
    1. Autoclave all bacterial cultures, tips, and contaminated materials before disposal.
    2. Place sharp objects like needles and broken glass in puncture-proof sharps containers.
  3. General Waste
    1. Non-hazardous waste such as paper, wrappers, and gloves must go in small trash cans marked “Soft Waste”.
    2. Waste such as tips, centrifuge tubes, and PCR tubes must go inside small trash cans marked “Hard Waste”.
    3. At the end of an experiment or at the end of the day, each small trash can must be emptied into its corresponding bigger trash can for appropriate disposal.

Fire & Emergency Procedures

  1. EXAMPLE - Alcohol Lamps
    1. When adding alcohol: Do not exceed the maximum volume line.
    2. When not in use: Extinguish and cover the lamp.
    3. If spilled:
      1. Do not panic—cover with a wet cloth.
      2. Only escalate if the situation worsens.
  2. General Emergency Response
    1. Gas leaks (especially toxic ones): Evacuate and report immediately.
    2. Unattended experiments:
      1. If you must leave, pause the experiment.
      2. If it must continue, assign a supervisor.

Common Sources of Danger

  1. Chemical Hazards
    1. Poisonous gases (CO, HCN, Cl₂, NH₃, SO₂, SO₃) -> Do not inhale!
    2. Flammable & evaporative chemicals -> Keep away from open flames.
  2. Equipment Hazards
    1. Electrical devices -> Risk of fire/electrical shock.
    2. High-pressure containers (e.g., autoclaves) -> Observe seniors/teachers first.
    3. Old or faulty equipment -> Report malfunctions immediately.
  3. Unsafe Practices (Regulatory Violations)
    1. Using unlabeled reagents or failing to label them.
    2. Using improper objects as stirring sticks.
    3. Not wearing masks when handling acidic reagents.
    4. Sniffing chemicals or ignoring safety protocols.

Best Practices for Lab Safety

  1. Always follow senior student/teacher instructions.
  2. Do not perform unauthorized experiments.
  3. Maintain a clean and organized workspace.
  4. Report unsafe conditions immediately.