Page 1 of 4
BSL-2
11/17/2010
Principal Investigator:
Winthrop University
Institutional BioSafety Committee
Biosafety Level 2 Checklist for Labs
Location of Lab:
Checklist Completed By:
Date Completed:
____________________________________
Signature of Individual Completing Checklist
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
established criteria for four levels of containment called Biosafety Levels (BSLs). This checklist contains
statements from the CDC’s and NIH’s Biosafety Level 2 section of Biosafety in Microbiological and
Biomedical Laboratories, 5th edition, 2007. This checklist is to be used to ensure compliance with federal
regulations regarding biosafety level 2 laboratories. Each question must be answered by checking the
appropriate response. Contact the Lab Manager you have any questions or require assistance.
A. Standard Microbiological Techniques - Check yes, no or not applicable (n/a)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Lab access is limited and/or restricted at the discretion of the Principal Investigator.
yes
no
n/a
Students and faculty wash their hands after they handle biohazardous materials after
removing their gloves and before leaving the lab.
yes
no
n/a
Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, and applying cosmetics are strictly
prohibited in the lab?
yes
no
n/a
Food and drinks are stored outside of the lab in a cabinet or refrigerator that is designated
for food only?
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
Work surfaces are decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after completion of
work or at the end of the day.
yes
no
n/a
Work surfaces are decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant after completion of
work and immediately after any spills or splashes of potentially biohazardous materials.
yes
no
n/a
Disposable sharps, including Pasteur pipettes, blood vials and razor blades are discarded into
puncture-resistant, red Sharps Containers.
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
Mouth pipetting is prohibited and mechanical pipetting devices are available for use.
Procedures are performed carefully in order to minimize splashes and to prevent aerosols.
10. Sharps containers are not overflowing and are replaced when needed.
11. Solid wastes and liquid wasters that are contaminated with biohazardous cultures are
discarded into red biohazardous bags and placed in special closed, leak proof containers to
Page 2 of 4
BSL-2
11/17/2010
be transported outside of the lab to be autoclaved.
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
Does the Principal Investigator ensure that personnel who work in the lab about the
potential hazards and specific entry requirements (e.g., immunization)?
yes
no
n/a
Is the Principal Investigator aware that ultimately he or she is responsible for the safety of
all lab personnel in his/her laboratory?
yes
no
n/a
Does the Principal Investigator limit or restrict access to the lab (e.g., to persons who are
immune-compromised) when work with biohazardous material is in progress?
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
Are biohazard labels placed on all equipment where biohazardous materials are used or
stored?
yes
no
n/a
Have lab personnel received appropriate immunizations and/or tests for the agents handled
or potentially present in the lab (e.g., hepatitis B or vaccinia vaccine; TB skin testing)?
yes
no
n/a
Have lab-specific biosafety procedures been developed and incorporated into either a
Biosafety Manual or Standard Operating Procedures? Are lab personnel required to read the
procedures?
yes
no
n/a
Have all lab personnel received appropriate training on the potential hazards associated with
the work, the necessary precautions to prevent exposures, and the procedures to follow if
they have an accident? Is this training documented?
yes
no
n/a
10. Do lab personnel exercise a high degree of precaution with all contaminated sharp items,
including needles and syringes, slides, pipettes, capillary tubes, and scalpels?
yes
no
n/a
11. Is the use of needles and syringes and other sharp instruments restricted to situations where
there is no alternative?
yes
no
n/a
12. An effective integrated pest management program is in place.
Comments/Notes for Standard Microbiological Techniques:
B. Special Practices - Check yes, no or not applicable (n/a)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is a BIOHAZARD sign posted on the lab entrance door?
5.
Does the BIOHAZARD sign include information on the agent(s) used, the biosafety level,
the required immunizations, the Principal Investigator’s name and telephone number, any
personal protective equipment that must be worn in the lab, and any procedures required for
exiting the lab?
6.
7.
8.
9.
12. Is plastic ware substituted for glassware whenever possible?
Page 3 of 4
BSL-2
11/17/2010
yes
no
n/a
13. When it is necessary to use a needle and syringe, are needle locking syringes or disposable
syringe-needle units (i.e., needle is integral to the syringe) used?
yes
no
n/a
14. Do lab personnel clearly understand that used disposable needles must not be bent, sheared,
broken, recapped, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated by hand
before disposal?
yes
no
n/a
15. Are re-usable sharps placed in a hard-walled container for transport to a processing area for
decontamination, preferably by autoclaving?
yes
no
n/a
16. Are re-usable sharps placed in a hard-walled container for transport to a processing area for
decontamination, preferably by autoclaving?
yes
no
n/a
17. Are safety hypodermic needles used when appropriate? Are these needles secured in a
locking drawer or cabinet when not in use?
yes
no
n/a
18. Lab personnel use the appropriate utensils such as such as a brush and dustpan, tongs, or
forceps to clean up broken glassware?
yes
no
n/a
19. Spills and accidents involving any potentially biohazardous material are immediately
reported to the Principal Investigator and to the Lab Manager.
yes
no
n/a
20. Are cultures, tissues and other potentially biohazardous materials placed in a container with
a cover that prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or
shipping?
yes
no
n/a
21. Is lab equipment decontaminated prior to removal from the lab for repair or maintenance, as
well as being routinely decontaminated?
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
Comments/Notes for Special Practices:
C. Safety Equipment (primary barriers) - Check yes, no or not applicable (n/a)
1.
A Class II biological safety cabinet is in the lab and it has been properly maintained?
2.
The Class II biological safety cabinet is certified annually. Current certification is valid.
3.
When lab personnel centrifuge potentially biohazardous samples they use sealed rotor heads
or centrifuge safety cups?
4.
Sealed heads or safety cups are opened only in a Class II biological safety cabinet.
Page 4 of 4
BSL-2
11/17/2010
5.
6.
7.
When potentially biohazardous materials must be manipulated outside a Class II biological
safety cabinet, lab personnel use face protection (goggles, mask, face shield or other splatter
guard) for anticipated splashes or sprays to the face.
yes
no
n/a
Do personnel wear lab coats whenever they are in the lab, and remove them before leaving
for non-lab areas (e.g., cafeteria, library, administrative offices)?
yes
no
n/a
Are appropriate gloves worn when handling infectious reagents or cleaning contaminated
surfaces?
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
Comments/Notes for Safety Equipment:
D. Laboratory Facilities (secondary barriers) - Check yes, no or not applicable (n/a)
1.
The lab contains a sink that is working properly and can be used for hand washing.
2.
The lab does not contain any carpet, rugs, or cloth furniture.
3.
Bench tops are made of material that is impervious to water and resistant to organic, alkali,
acids, and chemicals used to decontaminate work surfaces.
4.
Spaces between equipment and furniture are accessible for cleaning.
5.
The biological safety cabinet is located away from the door, exhaust vents, and fume hoods.
6.
Portable vacuum pumps are connected to proper disinfectant traps (flasks with appropriate
chemical disinfectant such as 10% bleach).
yes
no
n/a
The lab door remains closed when individuals are working with potentially biohazardous
materials.
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
yes
no
n/a
7.
8.
A working autoclave is available for waste treatment.
9.
An eyewash station is located in the lab and is working properly.
Comments/Notes for Laboratory Facilities: