B I O S A F E T Y L E V E L 2 A W A R E N E S S T R A I N I N G
UW Stout Laboratory Safety

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This training provides a basic understanding of biosafety hazards and practices required to enter
UW-Stout’s designated biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory spaces
It does not provide all required training (e.g., bloodborne pathogens, use of biosafety cabinets, standard microbiological practices) for work with agents in BSL-2 containment
It is a supplement to, not a replacement for, the
Laboratory Safety Training modules on D2L

 The biosafety level (BSL) defines the laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment and laboratory facilities recommended for work with biohazardous materials. UW-Stout has facilities for working with materials that require BSL-1 or BSL-2 containment:
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BSL-1: For work with defined and characterized strains of viable microorganisms not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adult humans
BSL-2: For work with moderate-risk agents that are associated with human disease of varying severity

 Biohazardous materials are infectious agents or hazardous biological materials that present a potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment. They include:
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Recombinant DNA
Organisms that can affect health (e.g., parasites, bacteria, fungi, viruses)
Biologically active agents (e.g., toxins, allergens, venoms)

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All doors to laboratory or classroom spaces that contain materials being worked with using BSL-2 criteria will have the sign shown on the right
The sign advises of entry and exit requirements that must be followed by everyone who enters the space, not just people working with the materials
Current BSL-2 Labs in
Jarvis are 247, 249, 257 and 267

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Multi-use labs may contain areas that are not to be used for BSL-2 work; these areas are designated with blue washable tape placed along the perimeter of the work surfaces
These blue-labeled areas must not be used for BSL-2 work, and will not require decontamination specific to
BSL-2 areas
Equipment from blue-labeled areas can be moved to and from non-BSL-2 areas without decontamination
Everyone entering the lab should familiarize themselves with the location of the non-BSL-2 spaces

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Biohazardous materials that require BSL-2 containment have a moderate risk of causing human disease
Exposure could occur from:
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Accidental needle stick or other skin puncture
Splash into eyes, nose, mouth
Accidental ingestion
The risk of being exposed by being in the same room is extremely low.
If handled carefully (using standard microbiological practices) these materials can be used safely on open benches
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Procedures that may create infectious aerosols or splashes should be performed in a biological safety cabinet

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Lab coats are mandatory
No open-toed shoes
Safety glasses must be worn by everyone if someone in the lab is working with a liquid chemical or biohazardous material
Chemical splash goggles (indirectly vented or un-vented; NOT vented impact goggles) must be worn by people working with a biohazardous material if there is a possibility of creating a splash
Lab doors must not be propped open
Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying cosmetics and storing food for human consumption are not allowed at any time
Hands must be washed with soap and water before leaving the room

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Lab coats should always be left in the lab
Lab coats will be laundered for you at the end of each semester, at a minimum
Do not take personal lab coats home until after they have been laundered (talk to your instructor or lab manager for confirmation)
If your lab coat is visibly contaminated with biological materials, it should be autoclaved and laundered immediately

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This concludes the BSL-2 Awareness Training
Module
Please complete the BSL-2 Entry Quiz Requirement,
Quiz 12 – BSL-2 Entry