Biological Laboratory SafetyBiological Laboratory Safety

Additional Information

Where to start

Before looking at this presentation, ensure that you have watched the one on General Laboratory Safety

What are the additional hazards from using Biological Materials?

Infectious agents Toxins Prions Bacteria Viruses

What legislation applies?

The main pieces of legislation are: Genetically Modified

Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regs 2004

Each will be summarised separately

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regs 2004

Four Hazard Groups No hazard group 4 (highest

risk) work in Sheffield Work on hazard group 3

requires special training and Level 3 containment facilities

Risk assessments to be submitted to local LGMSC for scrutiny for all GM work and work with dangerous pathogens

Appropriate waste segregation required

Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000

All work to be risk assessed using the HSE risk assessment form and be submitted to the Local Genetic Modification Safety Committee before work starts

Approval & notification procedures

Workers to submit health declarations to Occupational Health

Appropriate waste segregation

Protective Clothing

An appropriate laboratory coat must always be worn, fastened up and covering all normal clothing

Lab coats must be decontaminated before laundering

Appropriate eye protection must be worn

Gloves must be worn for work and must be removed when handling taps, note books etc and before leaving the laboratory

Blood & bodily fluids

Use screened animal blood, rather than human blood if possible

Failing this use only screened human blood

All blood and bodily fluids should be considered potentially infectious and treated with due care

Injuries involving body fluids must be reported to your supervisor IMMEDIATELYIMMEDIATELY

Spillages

Report Wear protective clothing Clean up Decontaminate – ensure

that you always have material available to do so

Ensure waste is disposed of properly

You spill = you clean up!You spill = you clean up!

Laminar Flow Cabinets

Laminar flow cabinets are designed to provide a clean-air environment to protect the work

They DO NOT provide They DO NOT provide protection for the protection for the operatoroperator

Biological Safety Cabinets

Class 1 Some protection to user &

environment No protection to work

Class 2 Good protection to user, the

environment and the work Class 3

Total enclosure

You must choose the correct safety cabinet for the job you are doing. Seek advice from your Biological Safety Officer

Autoclaves

Potentially dangerous equipment

Require regular maintenance and an annual statutory examination

Discard autoclaves must be calibrated every 6 months

You must be trained to use them

Disposal of Waste

Make sure you follow the University policy carefully

Ask your supervisor or a senior member of technical staff if you do not know the correct disposal method for the materials with which you are working

When in doubt – ASK!!!

Do not carry out a new or unfamiliar procedure until you have been fully trained & understand the precautions necessary for safe working

DO NOT GUESS!!!!DO NOT GUESS!!!!