Module/Week 1
Safety Checklist
Media Piece
Safety Checklist Objective
Create your own safety checklist for use in the laboratory and field that includes basic practices as well as reducing exposure to potential pathogens.
Recitation (the 50-minute activity) attendance is not required, but you are welcome to use that class time as office hours to ask your GTA questions, or study with classmates in 127 Weniger.
Assignment (due Sunday on Canvas)
This media piece was introduced on the Integumentary Health webpage”
Safety Checklist
For this assignment you will be submitting a personalized safety checklist. This checklist will include safety protocols for the laboratory and field. You can group the procedures under different headings like “lab safety” or “outdoor safety.” You can modify the list provided.
Include in your safety checklist:
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Safety procedures for both the laboratory (indoors) and field (outdoors).
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Personalized procedures for your location and equipment available. For example, if you use electrical equipment near water in your bathroom, that probably needs a line in your checklist.
- Specific procedure(s) on reducing possible exposure to pathogens (viruses, bacteria). This can be included under its own section or under other sections (indoors, outdoors). For example, you may include wearing a mask to reduce potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 if visiting a museum, or wearing gloves if you are handling animal material.
This is Lesley’s checklist. Some of the things are personal based on past experiences.
You can adopt any procedures/ideas that seem appropriate for your use. You are designing a checklist for your own locations, situations, and personal behaviors.
Your safety checklist can have headers, or a different organization. Whatever makes it most effective for use.
- Avoid potentially hazardous situations, even if it means missing a photo or video opportunity.
- Consider the safety of other people and animals at all times, especially our cats.
- Clean up work spaces, don’t leave any potentially dangerous materials behind.
- Communicate any safety concerns to Mark or whoever else may be involved.
- Follow safety directions on signs, in activities, and on product labels.
- Carry a safety kit everywhere, all the time.
- Wasp sting? Immediately take benadryl and prednisone. Epipen if necessary.
- Seek medical assistance if at all unsure about treatment.
- Wear gloves when needed; wash hands frequently.
- Wear a mask, especially while working around potential rodent feces.
- Wear protective footwear and clothing, including sun hats and long sleeves.
- Watch loose hair and clothing around animals, chemicals, and flames.
- Wear safety goggles or other protective eyewear when working with chemicals or walking along trails with low-lying branches.
- Take breaks, avoid over-exertion and use cane even if feeling great.
- Avoid “playing” with animals to reduce chance of unintentional injury (to me and/or the animals).
- It should be obvious, but don’t taste or smell without care to reduce hazard.
- Don’t eat or drink around chemicals, animals, or waste products.
- Add new safety procedures when needed.
Add to your safety checklist specific behaviors to avoid contacting pathogens like SARS-CoV-2019 to reduce risk of developing COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. In our case, we’ve never spent this much time hand washing before.
Media Directions
Submitted to Canvas.
Upload your safety checklist to Canvas. Your list can be submitted as a PDF, a word document, a photo of the notes, or even a video. Multiple assignment formats are supported.
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