SOP For General Safety in Microbiology Laboratory
1.0 Objective
1.1 To establish general safety procedures to be followed in the Microbiology Laboratory to ensure personnel safety, prevent contamination, and maintain a safe working environment.
2.0 Scope
2.1 This SOP is applicable to all personnel working in or entering the Microbiology Laboratory.
3.0 Responsibility
3.1 Microbiologist or above – Microbiology Laboratory:
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Preparation and implementation of this SOP.
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Ensuring adherence to safety practices.
3.2 Head – Microbiology Section / Nominee:
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Review and approval of the SOP.
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Monitoring compliance with safety procedures.
4.0 Accountability
4.1 Head – Quality Control / Nominee:
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Overall compliance with this SOP.
5.0 Procedure
5.1 General Safety Practices
5.1.1 All personnel must wear clean laboratory garments or aprons while working in the laboratory.
5.1.2 Safety goggles shall be worn while handling chemicals. Face masks and gloves must be worn while handling microbial cultures.
5.1.3 Upon entering the laboratory and after completion of work, disinfect the LAF (Laminar Air Flow) bench and working surfaces using an approved disinfectant.
5.1.4 Do not place hands, pencils, laboratory ware, or any other potentially contaminated items near the mouth.
5.1.5 Eating, drinking, chewing gum, or storage of food items inside the laboratory is strictly prohibited.
5.1.6 All contaminated equipment and glassware (e.g., pipettes, Petri plates, culture tubes) must be properly decontaminated before cleaning or disposal.
5.1.7 Any accidents, such as spills, exposure incidents, cuts, or injuries, must be immediately reported to the Laboratory Supervisor or Department Head.
5.2 Handling of Microbiological Spillage
5.2.1 In case of spillage of bacterial or fungal suspensions, cultures, or contaminated media, immediately cover the spill with an appropriate disinfectant solution.
5.2.2 Allow a minimum contact time of 10 minutes for effective disinfection.
5.2.3 Wear gloves and a face mask while cleaning the spill.
5.2.4 Wipe the spill using paper towels and dispose of contaminated materials into a designated stainless steel (SS) bin.
5.2.5 Decontaminate the collected waste as per SOP on Decontamination and Disposal of Used Media (QC-SP-332) by autoclaving in a vertical autoclave.
5.2.6 Disinfect hands thoroughly after completion of spill cleaning.
5.3 Handling of Chemical Spillage
5.3.1 Immediately inform all personnel present in the laboratory and prevent movement through the affected area.
5.3.2 Personnel involved in cleaning must wear appropriate PPE, including goggles, gloves, and a face mask.
5.3.3 In case of corrosive liquid spills, cover the area with sand, collect and discard the sand appropriately, and then clean the area with a wet cloth.
5.3.4 In case of powder or solid chemical spills, dissolve in water (if safe and applicable) before disposal.
5.3.5 In case of organic solvent spills, wipe using a dry cloth and collect the solvent residue in a suitable container for proper disposal.
5.3.6 For water spills, mop the area using a dry cloth to prevent slipping hazards.
5.4 Sample Destruction
5.4.1 Do not discard samples in powder form directly into the waste. Analytical leftover samples shall be dissolved in water before disposal in the sink.
5.4.2 Samples that are not water-soluble shall be dissolved in 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution prior to disposal.
5.5 Emergency Precaution
5.5.1 In case of detection of any abnormal or hazardous odor, immediately vacate the laboratory and inform the Laboratory Supervisor or Department Head.
SOP For Operation, Cleaning and Maintenance of Fogger and Fogging of Microbiology Testing Areas