Principles, Practices and Hardware

Risk/Safety Level:

Q.1 What is the Safety Level of Your Lab (e.g. BSL1, BSL2, other)?

  • Our lab bio safety level is BSL 1. Our lab is setting in small space in a floor of building. And open bench type.
  • I referred Laboratory Biosafety Manual issued by WHO and came to know that definition of Bio Safety level is as follows.
Summary Table
  • According to this definition, BS1 needs GMT(Good Microbiological Technique) as lab practice and no need any safety equipment. And BS2 needs GMT plus protective clothing, biohazard sign as lab practice, and open bench plus BSC(Biological Safety Cabinet) for potential aerosols.
  • Our lab has clean bench(Clean air for specimen first) and do not have BSC(Human safety first). The difference between these two equipments are flow of the air. BSC has vacuum in researcher side because not to blow air to human.
  • And our lab do not have sticker.
  • Therefore, it would be judged as Bio Safety level 1.

Q.2 Do you have different spaces with different safety levels?If so, describe which activities are done in different spaces. Include a picture of your lab.

  • No, our lab is same safety level in one floor.

Work Area:

Q.Which work areas do you use for handling biological materials? (e.g open benches, biosafety cabinet, fume hoods etc)? Include a picture of your work spaces.

Open bench Safety Cabinet Waste box Clean bench
Open bench Safety Cabinet Waste box
  • Our lab has open bench, safety cabinet, waste box, and clean bench.

Training:

Q.Have you received, or will you receive, any ethics and/or safety training? Who provides this training? Briefly describe any topics covered.

Yes, I studies basic knowledge through IGEM HP. And I got lecture from my local guru about how to use lab space, how to treat bio waste, how to use equipment.

Rules and Regulations:

International Rule / National Rule

Local Rule

Our lab is located in "Kanagawa prefecture" "Yokohama area" and checked both local offices about the regulation.

Kanagawa local office Yokohama local office
  • In order to check local rule, I called Kanagawa prefecture office and questioned that "When I open the bio community lab, is there any rule which I shall follow?". However staff said that "Please check with Yokohama area office about local rule in Yokohama area". It seemed that there is no local regulation/rule in Kanagawa Prefecture
  • Then, I called Yokohama local city office and questioned as same. Then staff said that "We have not heard such rules. Why don't you to contact with Kanagawa prefecture office?", then I explained that I had already called with them. Therefore it seem that there is no local regulation/rule in Yokohana area.

Our Local Lab Rule

  • Do not bring food in lab area.
  • To wash hands before/after experiments
  • To inactive all of living when we waste any thing in order to have responsible for killing anything we grow.

Organization and Practices:

Q.How do you enforce these rules? Who is responsible for ensuring safety in you lab/space? What happens when safety issues are raised?

  • Our local guru - Yumi is the representative of our lab safety.
  • We will hold experiment with team not alone.

Uncertainties:

Q.Are there any areas where you are uncertain about how to apply these rules, and whether they are relevant to your lab and/or work?

There is no areas as such.

Getting Help:

Q.Who can you work with to resolve any problems or uncertainties (both to figure out how you can adhere to standards and update them if needed)? How difficult are they to contact?

  • I will consult with my gurus and there are several bio communities in Japan. And our lab has special supporter from several backgrounds including academic and they are so knowledgeable.(I am very respecting them..)Therefore I will consult with them.
  • There is one more bio community lab "Bio Club" near our lab around 3-40 min distance by train. They also have wet facility.

Q. Are there activities in your lab/project which you think may have ethical, safety or security concerns that are not fully covered by current rules and standards? If so, please briefly describe them.

  • At present, NO.

Other Information:

Q.Is there anything else we should know about your lab?

  • NO

Weekly Reflection:

Q.Do your activities this week raise new ethics and/or safety considerations you had not considered in week 1? Describe what activities have raised these considerations and any changes you have implemented in response.

  • When I called local government office in order to check local rules, it was run around situation. I do not intend to criticize government office, but it seems the reality around bio communities in Japan which is still new because Bio is in the position between academic and popular and still academic side image is strong in Japan(ALthough it is just my recognition). Therefore I felt that we have to keep our safety by ourselves collaborating with bio friends.
  • Fortunately, I do have knowledgeable supporters including my gurus, and bio communities member, academic supporters.Therefore, I felt that "open sharing mind" is very important in the aspect of safety control so that we can get appropriate advice before having dangerous situation.

  • Considering above, I felt that open collaboration with hacker spaces, academic institutes, knowledgeable people are very important for this category.

  • Meanwhile we discussed about local safety level. And regarding disposal rule, according to Take, he found the appropriate place appropriate place and the company to dispose the material.

Hardware Homework

Design and build a piece of open hardware for engineering biology.

I made microscopy. This detail is being explained in week 10 assignment.

Photo -1 Photo -2

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