Teaching Labs

Lab instructors must apply for approval from the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for all laboratory-based teaching courses involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, hazardous materials, infectious agents, or biological toxins.

IBC applications for teaching labs are completed in the same manner as research applications; however, students should not be listed as personnel on the application. Lab instructors are responsible for ensuring that students:

  • Receive appropriate biosafety training
  • Follow approved standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • Use proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Are adequately supervised during laboratory activities

For questions or assistance completing an application in the Cayuse Hazard Safety portal, contact Research Integrity & Compliance at researchcompliance@smu.edu.

For laboratory safety or training questions, please contact Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).

General Laboratory Safety Guidelines

  • Experimental manipulations may only be performed when a faculty member or teaching assistant is present.
  • Active supervision is required during all laboratory activities involving biohazardous materials.

Reporting Incidents

All incidents must be reported immediately to the instructor or a training staff member. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Spills
  • Injuries
  • Exposure to infectious agents
  • Equipment malfunctions involving hazardous materials

It is the instructor’s responsibility to contact Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and tosubmit an incident report through the 海角直播 IBC application in the Cayuse Hazard Safety portal.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Lab-specific training must be provided at the beginning of each course. Students must be instructed on:

  • Proper decontamination procedures
  • Waste disposal procedures specific to the experiments performed

If students manipulate human materials (e.g., blood or human cells), they are required to complete Bloodborne Pathogen training through SciShield prior to beginning laboratory work.

Potential Illnesses: Signs & Symptoms

Laboratory staff and students must receive training regarding potential illnesses, signs, and symptoms associated with exposure to biohazardous materials used in the laboratory.

If agents hazardous to immunocompromised or pregnant individuals will be handled:

  • Students may consult the Student Health Center to assess personal risk.
  • Staff may visit Concentra for risk evaluation.

Immunizations may be available to students and staff for agents handled or potentially present in the laboratory. Contact Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) for additional information.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

SOPs must clearly identify required PPE for all laboratory activities subject to IBC oversight.

Current BSL-1 standards include:

  • Gloves
  • Lab coats or disposable gowns
  • Protective eyewear when splashes or spills may occur

Additional requirements:

  • Closed-toe shoes
  • Long pants or long skirts

Disposable gowns may serve as cost-effective alternatives to lab coats and can often be reused by individual students when appropriate.

Training Requirements

Biosafety training for teaching lab instructors includes:

  • Initial training on general biosafety principles
  • Instruction on lab-specific procedures
  • Ongoing training when procedures change or new hazards are introduced

Instructors are responsible for ensuring students are properly trained and supervised, particularly when working with microorganisms.

Training modules through the CITI Program and SciShield have been designated to fulfill biosafety and laboratory safety requirements for instructors.