Every laboratory has its own character, procedures, and potential risks. Biology students may work with microorganisms and animal specimens, while students from other fields deal with materials, equipment, and instruments specific to their disciplines. For this reason, familiarization with the laboratory environment and safety procedures is essential preparation before students begin practicums or research.

To that end, the Integrated Laboratory of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta held a User Education program for new students of the Faculty of Science and Technology as well as the Mathematics and Science Education program under the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training. The program ran in rotating sessions from Monday (8/31) through Friday (9/4), with content and locations tailored to the characteristics of each study program's laboratory.

On Tuesday (9/1/2026), the session was attended by new students from the Biology Education Study Program (FITK) at the 3rd floor Integrated Biology Laboratory. In line with their field, participants were introduced to standard operating procedures, occupational health and safety, the use of personal protective equipment, biosafety, and related topics.

Educational Laboratory Technician (PLP) at the Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Anif Yuni Mualifah, M.Biotech., explained that User Education is designed to build students' basic understanding before they take part in practicums or research.

She said the aim is for students to become familiar with UIN Sunan Kalijaga's laboratory environment and understand how to work safely and comfortably in accordance with standard operating procedures, so that laboratory activities can run smoothly.

Anif also noted that laboratory orientation includes understanding room locations, the types and functions of equipment, and the potential hazards associated with the tools, materials, and procedures used. All of these aspects are equally important, since each laboratory activity carries a different risk profile.

Students, for example, need to know the function and proper use of personal protective equipment appropriate to the type of work being carried out. They are also introduced to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), a document containing information on the characteristics, potential hazards, handling procedures, storage, and emergency measures related to chemical substances.

She explained that when working with chemicals, students must understand the characteristics of the substances they use, and that the information in an MSDS needs to be understood so students know both the potential hazards and the correct way to handle each substance.

Beyond occupational safety, students also gained an understanding of laboratory waste management. Waste cannot simply be discarded, it must first be identified, sorted according to its characteristics, placed into properly labeled containers, and then processed according to established procedures.

For Biology Education students, safety material also covered biosafety principles, as presented by another Educational Laboratory Technician, Ethik Susiawati Purnomo, S.Si. This approach relates to efforts to prevent exposure to or the spread of biological materials that could pose risks to laboratory users and the environment.

She noted that the microbiology laboratory contains bacteria and fungi, some of which may be pathogenic, creating the possibility of exposure for laboratory users, which is why an understanding of biosafety needs to be instilled from the outset.

The PLP of the Zoology and Animal Physiology Laboratory, Sutriyono, also introduced safety procedures for practicums involving animal specimens. In zoology and animal physiology practicums, students may work with fish, frogs, lizards, birds, or rats for observation and dissection purposes.

This orientation is important because laboratory activities involve a higher level of complexity than practicums at the school level. The equipment used is more varied, the materials used are more specific, and work procedures are tailored to students' target competencies and areas of interest, conditions that also make the range of potential hazards more diverse.

Through User Education, students were also introduced to the various services offered by UIN Sunan Kalijaga's Integrated Laboratory. In addition to supporting practicums, the laboratory provides research services, equipment loans, and laboratory testing aimed at meeting quality standards, including the development of ISO-based services.

This activity is part of UIN Sunan Kalijaga's effort to build a culture of academic safety from the very start of students' university life. Students are encouraged to see occupational health and safety procedures not merely as administrative rules, but as part of scientific integrity and responsibility.

By understanding the equipment, materials, procedures, and risks present in the laboratory environment, students are expected to be able to carry out practicums and research in an orderly, safe, and responsible manner. This foundation is also expected to support the development of high-quality science learning that values both human safety and environmental protection. (humassk)