Team:USAFA/safety
SAFETY PAGE
The USAFA IGEM team practiced extra precautions during the planning and experimentation phases of the iGEM competition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each member took precautions to wear masks and socially distance throughout the iGEM competition and preparation. The team selected carriers and test organisms based on the living bacteria and fungus in soil contamination sites. During the creation and testing of our vectors, the team ensured that they did not insert any organisms with vectors that would allow them to cause diseases. The team worked in the lab with proper safety and security training. The training included the use of a safety shower, using safety materials such as lab coats, gloves, and goggles, avoiding contamination and disposing of hazardous material. In addition, our team was instructed on how to handle hazardous chemicals, glassware, and lab techniques. Information security was taught to the team to help in handling sensitive information from government networks. Since our project requires contact with PFOA and PFOs, we took extra precaution when handling them. Our team used nitrile gloves and worked under the fume hood.
Please visit our human practices page to see how we got to talk to an FBI agent specializing in biosafety and biotechnology