1. Disinfect work surfaces at the end of each session. Disinfect by wiping with 70% ethanol. If you are performing molecular biological procedures, also disinfect the work surfaces before you begin.
   
2.  Always place special wastes in one of the three specially designated waster containers: hazardous wastes, biological wastes, and glassware. Do not place general wastes (paper, non-hazardous tubes) in any of these designed containers--use the general trash container.
   
3. Dispose of trace contaminated ethidium bromide* wastes (including agarose gels) and any other potentially hazardous materials (except broken glass and sharp objects) in the hazardous wastes container.
4. Contact the instructor immediately if there is a spill of ethidium bromide* or any other potentially hazardous material.
5. Always extract ethidium bromide* from the gel staining solution using the appropriate filter apparatus.
6. Place used E-gels (plastic encased gels) of in the hazardous waste container.
   
7. Clean up non-hazardous spills immediately using alcohol or bleach.
8. Dispose of all biological wastes (including LB agar plates and LB broth tubes) in the biological wastes container.
9. Dispose of broken glassware in the glassware waste box.
   
10. Dispose of used sharp objects (razor blades, pins, needles, etc.) in the sharps waste box.
11. Always use a mechanical pipetting devices for pipetting. Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited.
12. Eating, drinking, smoking, and storage of foods are not permitted in the laboratory.
13. Wash your hands after handling all biological or hazardous materials and before leaving the laboratory.
14. Wear gloves whenever handling biological or hazardous materials (or when necessary to prevent contamination of samples or reagents).
    
15. Do not use hypodermic needles and syringes.
16. Keep the laboratory neat and clean.
1. At the end of every lab period, throw all trash in the appropriate container. Empty used pipette container into regular trash.
   
2. At the end of every lab period, return all supplies to their designated places (most go on the table by the windows). Return microscopes to the microscope cabinet. Your table top should be completely cleared.
3. Place fruit fly cultures on designated illuminated work desk in your tray.
   
4. At the end of every lab period, wipe down the tabletop with 70% ethanol.
5. If you make up your own instant fruit fly food, wipe the counter top  and sink area down when you are finished.
6. If you use glassware, wash it with detergent, rinse thoroughly, and rinse once with deionized water, then hang it on the rack above the sink (if it will hang).
   

*Ethidium bromide is a potent mutagen and carcinogen (an intercalating agent) used to stain electrophoresis gels. For most of our electrophoresis runs, we will use E-gel cartridges and not be handling ethidium bromide. Some of the E-gels have ethidium bromide in the cartridge, thus they are disposed of as hazardous waste.