Life Sciences Core Facilities Code of Conduct

The Life Sciences Core Facilities support a collaborative and respectful environment. All users are expected to follow the code of conduct outlined below to ensure the safety, integrity, and efficiency of our operations.

Last updated April 8, 2025. 

Download the Code of Conduct

 

General Behaviour

  1. Follow institutional policies and facilities standard operation procedures at all times.
  2. Be respectful, considerate and professional to fellow users.
  3. Address minor conflict directly and respectfully.
  4. Escalate unresolved issues to the facility manager and your principal investigator (PI).

 

Safety

  1. Complete all required safety and lab training before working in the facilities.
  2. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as required: lab coat, gloves, face shield, UV protective face shield.
  3. Do not touch computer keyboards with gloves.
  4. Do not touch door handles with gloves inside facilities and in the building hallways.
  5. Report accidents, spills, and unsafe conditions to facility staff immediately.
  6. Follow biosafety, chemical safety and waste disposal protocols strictly. Dispose of waste as appropriate (Biohazard CL2, Biohazard CL1- to be autoclaved, chemical and general).
  7. Follow decontamination protocols strictly.

 

Cleanliness and Tidiness

  1. Clean and tidy work space after use. Do not leave any litter or spills behind.
  2. Do not leave personal or individual lab items in shared area without permission.
  3. Return shared tools and equipment, accessories to their designated places after use.
  4. Clean up spills on equipment or workspace promptly and properly.

 

Use of Shared Equipment 

  1. Follow equipment booking rules strictly.
  2. Book equipment before use as required.
  3. Sign user logbook after the use of equipment.
  4. Respect your booked time slot and do not overstay.
  5. Report equipment malfunction and damage to facility staff immediately.
  6. Notify others of equipment malfunction by placing an Out of Service sign at the site.

 

Storage, Sample Labelling and Management

  1. Store samples and devices only in designated areas.
  2. Clearly label all samples, reagents, and storage items with Lab name, and date as necessary.
  3. Unlabeled items may be discarded without notice.
  4. Periodically check and remove outdated or unnecessary samples.

 

Storage of Experimental Data on Equipment Operating Computers

  1. Experimental data must be stored in a designated folder labeled with the Lab’s name.
  2. All data should be transferred to the user’s lab computer within one month of experiment completion.
  3. Users are responsible for promptly deleting any unwanted data.
  4. Data older than one month may be deleted by the core facility without prior notice.

 

Data and Research Integrity

  1. Do not tamper with or access others’ experiments or data.
  2. Respect confidentiality and intellectual property of others.

 

Consequences for Misconduct

  1. Violations of the code may result in a formal warning.
  2. Repeated or serious violations of code may result in suspension or revocation of facility access.