Safety of staff and participants
Studies within the Faculty involve participants of all ages. The Faculty is responsible for the safety of these participants and for the safety of the staff. To guarantee and ensure this, a number of basic protocols and guidelines have been drawn up. Everyone involved in research with human participants must adhere to these protocols.
All researchers should know what to do in case of an emergency. Please read the calamity protocol very carefully so you are prepared. In addition, relevant phone numbers can be found on all lab doors.
When studies involve participants, the Faculty employs the four eyes principle. The purpose of the four eyes principle is to avoid situations that can provide an opportunity for intimidation, (sexual) assault or abuse. It also creates a culture of accountability between staff and participants.
Good personal hygiene is important to protect researchers and participants against infections. The Faculty has general rules on hygiene for researchers. Besides those general rules, gloves are obliged when working with electrodes, bio samples and/or food supplements. Hand-disinfectant and gloves are available in the labs and at the SOLO helpdesk.
Lab furniture, reusable electrodes and electrode-leads have to be cleaned with Incidin wipes by the researchers after use. Incidin wipes are available in the labs and at the SOLO helpdesk.
All other equipment will be cleaned by SOLO Research and labsupport during the bi-annual safety inspection. Should equipment cleaning be needed in the interim, the lab coordinator can submit a request to SOLO Research and labsupport.
High leven desinfection
If you scratch the skin before or during the attachment of reusable electrodes (like EEG electrodes), the electrodes can potentially contact the blood stream. This means high-level disinfection is needed to kill all possible viruses, fungi and bacteria.
At FSW we make use of Incidin Plus for high-level desinfection. Incidin Plus is only available in the lab kitchens in SB02A and SB12. It is not allowed to use it on different locations.
A needle stick injury is any event in which the participant's blood can come in contact with the blood or saliva of persons working for Leiden University. We use this term not only for a puncture of the skin but also for bites, cuts or blood spatters in the eye. Any incidents involving laboratory materials should also be dealt with according to this protocol.