X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY SAFETY AND
ACCESS
DHVI SOP #036
HUMAN VACCINE INSTITUTE
Duke University Medical Center
DHVI SOP #036
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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
Safety Policy #036
Supersedes: None
Version Issue No.: 1.1
Effective Date: Sep 25, 2010
Prepared By: James Burch and Nathan Nicely
Last reviewed: Sep 25, 2010
Title:
X-Ray Crystallography Safety and Access
APPROVAL
Scott Alderman
DHVI Safety Director
Signed: _
Date:
Richard Frothingham
Associate Director, DHVI
Signed: ___________________
Date:
Thomas Denny
Signed: __
Chief Operating Officer, DHVI
Date:
Revision History:
Number Section
DHVI SOP #036
Page#
Reason
Initials/Date
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X-Ray Crystallography Safety and Access
1. INTRODUCTION
The X-Ray Crystallography Shared Resource is a Duke University facility that is
classified operationally under the Human Vaccine Institute. Before access is allowed to
the lab, training must be conducted by the following entities:



DHVI Safety Team, for general lab safety training and special precautions
since DHVI work will be ongoing in the wet lab space
Duke University Crystallography facility staff, for training on specialized
instrumentation and unique hazards
OESO Radiation Safety, in order to participate in X-ray data collection
2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this document is to outline procedures to maintain a safe working
environment in the x-ray crystallography laboratory. Paramount is the personal safety of
every person coming into the laboratory; after that, the main concern is making sure the
equipment maintains as much functional uptime as possible. Hence, in partnership with
the above named bodies, the Director has designed a series of modules designed to
provide the user with the knowledge and resources needed, first, to protect the user and
others, and second, to protect the user’s experiments, others’ experiments, and entire
pieces of equipment.
3. PLANS FOR RESEARCH
Prior to project a “Plans for Research” form must be submitted for review to the x-ray
Crystallography Director for approval (See Appendix 1). Any work using infectious
materials must also be reviewed by the DHVI Safety Director. Once approval is granted
the researcher must complete the training modules prior to beginning work.
4. POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARDS
The nature of the research conducted in the x-ray crystallography lab lends to the possible
risk of exposure of the user’s to chemical, biological, and radiation exposure. Adherence
to proper safety and operational procedures will greatly reduce these risks.
DHVI SOP #036
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5. TRAINING MODULES AND ACCESS
The training modules are designed such that you must receive basic DHVI safety training
before you can do work in our lab. The rest of the modules follow an order analogous to
the steps you will follow in crystallizing proteins, taking data, and processing that data, as
outlined in Appendix 4.
6. DOCUMENTATION
Records of training and consent to adhere to all relevant safety will be maintained by the
X-ray Crystallography facility and the DHVI Safety Team. A Certification Statement
must be signed by any researcher wishing to conduct work in the facility (See Appendix
3). These will have no expiration date but additional equipment or hazards may require
updates to the training modules. Compliance with OESO General Laboratory Safety
Training and Radiation Safety must be current and renewed on an annual basis as
required by Duke University.
Facility and equipment training records will be maintained by the X-ray Crystallography
laboratory manager (See Appendix 4).
7. OUTLINE OF TASKS
In order:
Fill out Appendix 1.
Do the online supplementary lab safety training.
Receive copies of DHVI SOPs #1 and #13.
Fill out Appendix 2.
Read and sign Appendix 3.
Read and sign the lab Chemical Hygiene Plan (in the white binder in the bookshelves by
the handwashing sink).
Read and sign the individual SOPs for hazardous chemicals in the lab (in the same white
binder).
Fill out Appendix 4 prior to and during your first crystallography lab-specific training
(typically the Phoenix robot or the x-ray generator basic training).
DHVI SOP #036
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Appendix 1.
X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY – PLANS FOR RESEARCH
Name:
PI (lab)/Sponsor:
Affiliation/School/Department:
Email(s):
Contact phone number(s):
Brief description of research plans (attach an abstract or other document if you wish):
Biological agents you will bring into the lab (eg. Proteins, ligands), noting any hazards:
Potentially hazardous chemicals* you will bring into the lab:
We realize the unpredictable nature of crystallization, so don’t try to foresee every possible chemical
hazard in every screen you may try. Instead, list any potential hazardous substances that may be in a buffer
or crystallization screen that you already have in mind (e.g. cacodylate, azide).
*
Email copies of these completed forms to facility staff at
crystallography@notes.duke.edu.
DHVI SOP #036
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Appendix 2.
Safety Checklist for Research Studies Conducted in the X-ray Crystallography Lab
September 2008
Name:
Training Topic
Completed?
1. Human Specimens and Bloodborne Pathogens
a. Examples of BBP
b. Universal Precautions
c. Routes of Exposure
Yes
No
2. Hand washing procedures
Yes
No
3. Personal Protective Equipment Requirements
a. Proper choice and use of PPE
Yes
No
4. Proper Handling of Biohazardous Waste
Yes
No
5. Proper Use of Biological Safety Cabinets and Yes
Chemical Fume Hoods
No
6. Exposure Procedures
Yes
No
7. Spill Procedures
Yes
No
8. Prohibited Activities in Laboratory
Yes
No
9. Biohazard Containment Status Requirements
a. Biomedical Research Lab
b. Human Specimen Lab
Yes
No
DHVI SOP #036
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Appendix 3.
Duke University
X-ray Crystallography Laboratory Safety Consent Form
Certification Statement
 I understand that certain hazards are inherent to the operation of the xray crystallography laboratory including chemical, biological, and
radiation exposure.
 I understand the risk of exposure to these hazards are minimized by
the proper adherence to standard operating procedures developed by
the principal investigator and the DHVI Safety team regarding the use
of equipment, proper handling of human specimens, and proper use of
chemicals.
 I am in compliance with all OESO safety requirements.
 I have been properly informed to recognize the “Human Specimen”
(Red Room) signage and the “Radiation in Use” display and will not
enter the laboratory when these warnings are in place.
 I have had an opportunity to have any questions answered by the
laboratory staff or the DHVI Safety Team.
 I will adhere to all laboratory safety policies and site specific standard
operating procedures when conducting research in this facility.
Name (please print)
________________________________________
Signature
________________________________________
Facility representative
________________________________________
DHVI Safety Director
________________________________________
DHVI SOP #036
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Appendix 4.
X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHY LAB ACCESS AND TRAINING RECORDS
All users of the Duke University X-ray Crystallography facility located in LSRC A06 must be adequately
trained in the appropriate safety protocols as well as proper use of specific equipment and software.
Name:
PI (lab)/Sponsor:
Affiliation/School/Department:
Email:
Contact phone number(s):
Username in CrystalTrak:
Training Record:
COMPLETED (DATE)
Initial training modules
Submitted plans to DHVI Safety
DHVI safety1 (Including red/green zone training)
CHP and lab SOPs
Crystallography-specific2
Phoenix robot
CrystalTrak software
Minstrel robot
Alchemist robot
Liquid nitrogen handling3
X-rays4
Radiation safety – Non-med X-ray workers5
X-ray generator (basic use)4
StructureStudio software
Dosimeter issued (advanced user)6
X-ray generator (advanced user)
Scheduling and data retrieval
FACMAN
BioTrue CDMS [optional]
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
[Attach confirmation]
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Note 1: Basic DHVI lab safety training is required before you can do any work in the lab.
Note 2: You are limited to working only with the equipment on which you have been trained. Don’t work with
anything on which you haven’t been trained or on which you feel uncomfortable.
Note 3: There is an explicit SOP for liquid nitrogen attached to the lab’s Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Note 4: It is critical for the user to have completed the Non-medical X-ray worker safety training and to have a
dosimeter before doing any X-ray work.
Note 5: Attach confirmation of current radiation safety training confirmation from the Duke OESO Safety training
website.
Note 6: Contact Duke OESO Radiation Safety Division.
If signed and dated below, the user is given card access to the door of LSRC A06. As we are essentially
granting unlimited access to the equipment and supplies in the lab, the named is duly reminded to bear
responsibility for themselves and everyone they bring into the lab and to ensure good lab safety practices
both by leading through example and staying aware of the lab environment. The user accepts responsibility
by signing below.
UniqueID:
Dukecard ID:
User sign and date:
Staff sign and date:
DHVI SOP #036
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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