UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS
BIOSAFETY LEVEL 1 LABORATORY SELF-AUDIT CHECKLIST
Checklist developed from the 5th Edition of Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, U.S.
Centers for Disease Control
Standard Microbiological Practices Applicable to Biosafety Level 1 Laboratories
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Access to the laboratory is limited or restricted at the discretion of the PI or laboratory
director when experiments or work with cultures and specimens are in progress.
Persons wash their hands after they handle viable materials, after removing gloves, and prior
to leaving the laboratory, even for short breaks.
Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying cosmetics, and storing food for
human use is prohibited in the work areas.
Food is stored outside the work area in cabinets or refrigerators designated and used for this
purpose only.
Mouth pipetting is prohibited and mechanical pipetting devices are available.
Needles are not bent, sheared, broken, recapped, removed from disposable syringes, or
otherwise manipulated before disposal.
Used disposable needles are carefully placed in conveniently located puncture-resistant
sharps containers prior to disposal.
Non-disposable sharps are placed in a hard-walled container for transport to the autoclave
or other decontamination area.
Broken glassware is not handled directly. Tongs, brushes, and dustpans are used to clean up
broken glass.
Procedures are performed carefully to minimize the creation of splashes or aerosols.
Work surfaces are decontaminated with an effective disinfectant on a routine basis, after
work with infectious materials is finished, and especially after overt spills, splashes, or other
contamination by infectious materials.
Laboratory equipment is decontaminated with an effective disinfectant on a routine basis,
after work with infectious materials is finished, and especially after overt spills, splashes, or
other contamination by infectious materials.
All cultures, stocks, and other regulated wastes are decontaminated before disposal by an
approved decontamination method such as autoclaving.
Materials to be decontaminated outside of the immediate laboratory are placed in a
durable, leak-proof container and closed for transport from the laboratory.
A sign incorporating the universal biohazard symbol is posted on the entrance to the
laboratory when infectious agents are present. The sign includes the name of the agent(s) in
use, the name and phone number of the PI and/or other responsible personnel.
Housekeeping and maintenance activities adequately address pest management issues.
The PI and/or Laboratory Supervisor has ensured that all laboratory personnel have received
appropriate training regarding their duties, the necessary precautions to prevent exposures,
and exposure evaluation procedures.
Personnel receive annual updates and/or additional training when procedural or policy
changes occur.
All laboratory personnel, including women of child-bearing age, are provided with
information regarding immune competence and conditions which may predispose them to
infection.
Personnel with conditions which predispose them to infection are encouraged to selfidentify to the UAF Industrial Hygienist or Biosafety Officer for guidance and assistance with
obtaining counseling from the university’s occupational health provider.
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Biosafety Level 1 Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers)
__Yes __No
Laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms are worn to prevent contamination or soiling of street
clothes.
__Yes __No __N/A Protective eyewear is worn when conducting procedures that have the potential to create
splashes of microorganisms or other hazardous materials.
__Yes __No __N/A Persons who wear contact lenses must wear protective eyewear in the lab, such as safety
glasses, splash goggles, or a face shield, depending on the work being performed.
__Yes __No
Gloves are worn if the skin on the hands is broken or if a rash is present.
__Yes __No
Alternatives to powdered latex gloves are available.
__Yes __No
Personnel remove gloves and wash hands prior to leaving the laboratory.
__Yes __No
Gloves are changed when they are contaminated or when their integrity has been
compromised, or when otherwise necessary.
__Yes __No
Disposable gloves are not washed or reused.
__Yes __No
Contaminated gloves are disposed of with other contaminated laboratory waste.
__Yes __No
An eyewash station is readily available and is flushed at least monthly.
__Yes __No
An emergency shower is readily available and is flushed at least monthly.
__Yes __No
A method for decontaminating all laboratory wastes is available in the facility (autoclave,
chemical disinfection, incineration, or other validated decontamination method).
Biosafety Level 1 Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers)
__Yes __No
The laboratory has doors for access control and the lab is locked when no one is present.
__Yes __No
The laboratory has a sink for hand washing. Foot, knee, or automatically operated sinks are
recommended.
__Yes __No
The laboratory is designed so that it can be easily cleaned (no carpets or porous surfaces).
__Yes __No
Bench tops are impervious to water and resistant to moderate heat and the organic
solvents, acids, alkalis, and other chemicals used to decontaminate work surfaces and
equipment.
__Yes __No
Laboratory furniture is capable of supporting anticipated loading and uses.
__Yes __No
Spaces between benches, cabinets, and equipment are accessible for cleaning.
__Yes __No
Chairs and other furniture used in laboratory work are covered with a non-fabric material
that can be easily decontaminated.
__Yes __No __N/A Laboratory windows that open to the exterior are fitted with fly screens.
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