Biosafety Committee
&
Safety and Risk Services
Biosafety Module
Directions:
Read through information, complete competency assessment at end of module.
Remove competency assessment and return to:
Safety and Risk Services
MSC07 4100, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Keep the rest of the module for your reference. At the end of module, there is a list of
references and telephone numbers so you may contact any of the departments and
services noted.
If you have any questions about Biosafety, contact Judi Pointer (272-8001)
You may obtain documentation of your training at the following email address
http://shea.unm.edu/
Introduction
What is the Biosafety Committee?
A UNM committee
Reviews protocols using Level 3 biohazardous agents and certain R-DNA
experiments
Develops policies to enhance biosafety
Evaluates suspected violations of protocols, external regulations or UNM policies
Where can I get more information about biosafety?
The Principal Investigator of the laboratory
BioSafety Committee
Part 1
What is Biosafety
What is the purpose of Biosafety?
To protect lab employees from hazards associated with
biohazardous agents
To ensure biohazardous activities are conducted according to
nationally accepted standards.
What are biohazardous agents?
Infectious/pathogenic agents with potential for causing disease in healthy people,
animals or plants
Agents are classified as Class 2,3,4, and 5 in the following categories:
- bacterial
- fungal
- parasitic
- viral
- rickettsial
- chlamydial
Is special training needed to work in a biosafety lab?
Every employee who handles biohazardous materials will receive:
- A basic orientation of the UNM Biosafety program (this module)
- Bloodborne Pathogens training (if occupational exposure to blood or body fluids
exist)
- Training on specific protocols used in the laboratory, e.g. animal use
- Employees also need an initial medical history and/or physical through
Employee Occupational Health Services
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What other terms should I know about?
Aerosols: liquid or solid particles suspended in air
Bloodborne Pathogens: pathogenic microrganisms present in human or animal
blood capable of causing disease in humans
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Decontamination: to remove, inactivate or destroy living organisms so they are
incapable of transmitting infectious particles
Disinfection: a process by which viable biohazardous agents are reduced to a level
unlikely to produce disease in healthy people, plants or animals
Sharps: any object with rigid corners, edges or protuberances capable of cutting or
piercing including needles/syringes, blades, broken glass and plastic items
Sterilize: the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all microbial life
Part 2
General Biosafety Practices
What preventive measures can we take to protect ourselves?
Microbiological practices
Standard precautions
Warning signs and labels
Engineering controls
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
What are microbiological practices?
Practices that apply to all laboratories using infectious agents
Access to lab is limited or restricted
Employees wash hands after removing gloves following handling infectious materials
Eating, drinking or smoking is not allowed
Food is stored outside the work area
Mouth pipetting is not allowed
Procedures are used to minimize aerosols or inhalation hazards
Appropriate PPE is used
Work surfaces are decontaminated at least once a day or after any spill
Use of sharps is minimized
Only needle-locking or disposable needles are used
Broken glassware is not handled directly by hand
Blood or infectious material specimens are handled as infectious
Warning labels and signs are used
The universal biohazard symbol is displayed
An insect and rodent control program is in effect
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When and how are warning signs used?
A hazard warning sign must be posted on the access door for:
- All Biosafety Level 2 labs
- All Biosafety Level 3 labs
Hazard warning sign must include universal biohazard symbol (see left)
Are warning labels also used?
Warning labels are used on all containers of:
- infectious waste
- refrigerators and freezers containing or contaminated with infectious agents
- any other object containing or contaminated with infectious agents
Labels must display the universal biohazard symbol
What is meant by engineering controls?
Measures used to eliminate or minimize employee risk
Biological Safety Cabinets and splash guards serve as containment devices
Mechanical pipettes are used in place of mouth pipetting
How is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used?
To provide a protective barrier between employee and infectious agent
To help maintain a sterile environment in laboratory
PPE will be provided to all employees at risk
Employees will receive training on how to wear PPE
PPE is removed prior to leaving work area and put in appropriate container
PPE includes:
- gloves
- lab coats, coveralls or scrub suits
- eye protection with, at a minimum, side shields
- closed-toe or covered shoes
- respiratory protection
Part 3
Biosafety Level
What is a biosafety level?
A number assigned to a lab or area with potential hazards for
persons working with biohazardous agents
The higher the biosafety level, the higher the hazard
Protective measures correspond with level of hazard
How many biolevels are there?
Five biosafety levels exist
Levels are described/ identified according to hazard
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Biosafety Level 1 (BL1 )
Involves minimal or no known hazard to lab personnel or environment
Wear lab coat, gloves, closed-toe shoes and safety glasses with side shields if there is
splash potential
No special hood or cabinet requirements
Examples of agents involved include: bacillus cereus, canine distemper, Newcastle
virus, influenza virus or lactobacillus acidophilus
Biosafety Level 2 (BL2)
Involves agents of moderate potential hazard to personnel or environment
Wear long sleeved lab coat, gloves, safety glasses w/ side shields, closed-toe shoes
Use Class I or II Biological Safety Cabinet for procedures with high aerosol potential
Examples of agents include: bacillus anthracis, salmonella, streptpcoccus pyogenes,
penicillium marneffei, toxascaris or hepatitis
Biosafety Level 3 (BL3)
Involves indigenous or exotic agents which may cause serious or potentially lethal
disease as a result of the inhalation route
Wear front or wrap around gowns, coveralls or scrub suits, gloves, safety glasses
with side shields, covered shoes and appropriate respirator
Use Class I or II Bilogical Safety Cabinets for all procedures
Examples of agents include: Mycobacterium bovis or tuberculosis, sheep pox virus,
arboviruses, hanta or rabies street virus
Biosafety Level 4 (BL4 )
The use of these agents is not allowed at UNM
Involves agents extremely hazardous or have potential to cause serious epidemic
Use Class III Biological Safety Cabinets
Examples of agents include: ebola fever, tick borne encephalitis or herpesvirus
simiae
Biosafety Level 5 (BL5)
The use of these agents is not allowed at UNM
Involves foreign animal pathogens excluded/restricted from the United States by law
Use Class III Biological Safety Cabinets
Examples of agents include: African swine fever, pox viruses or rhinoviruses
Part 4
R-DNA
What is R-DNA?
Recombinant DNA: Molecules constructed outside living cells
Done by joining natural or synthetic DNA segments to DNA molecules
Can replicate in living cells
Includes DNA molecules resulting from process described above
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Do we need special authority to work with R-DNA?
Approval from the Biosafety Committee is sometimes needed
Required for any R-DNA project using:
- pathogenic agents
- human subjects
- plants
- live animals
- release of R-DNA organisms into the environment
Part 5
Select Agents
What are select agents?
Certain or “select” biological agents/toxins whose release may
have severe and adverse public health consequences
More stringent controls required by CDC
UNM must monitor and register all acquisition, use, transfer and
disposal
All work with select agents at UNM must be registered with the
Biosafety Committee prior to possession and use
What are some examples of select agents?
Viruses include Ebola, Yellow Fever, Equine Morbillivirus
Rickettsiae includes Coxiellaburnetii, Rickettsia rickettsii
Bacteria include Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum, Yersinia pestis
Toxins include Ricin, Tetrodoxin, Staphylococcal enterotoxins
Also includes genetically modified organisms or genetic elements from the above
organisms which are shown to produce or encode a factor associated with disease
Part 6
Emergency Procedures
What do we do in a spill situation?
Procedures depend on the specific biosafety level
Also depend on the location of the spill
Spill in a Biological Safety Cabinet
Keep the cabinet running!
Put on protective clothing
Put paper towels (or absorbent material ) over spill area
Apply disinfectant along walls, work surfaces and trough
Do not clean the HEPA filter or internal parts
Allow disinfectant to set for 15-20 minutes
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Wipe or absorb all excess disinfectant
Dispose of all paper towels into a red bag
Apply detergent solution to all exposed surfaces
Disinfect all materials used in cabinet by wiping surfaces with disinfectant
Do not try to disinfect cardboard or items which absorb liquid (dispose of in red bag)
If cabinet was exposed to extremely excessive amounts of contaminants: Stop and
call Judi Pointer at 272-8001
Spill in a BL1 Laboratory
Wear disposable gloves, lab coat and water resistant shoes
Use paper towels to contain spill
Pour disinfectant over spill area
Put paper towels in red bag for disposal
Reapply disinfectant
Put down more paper towels
Dispose of paper towels in red bag
Spill in a BL2 Laboratory
Evacuate laboratory
Close laboratory doors
Account for all personnel
Wait for potential aerosols to settle
Put on protective clothing
Enter laboratory and place paper towels (or absorbent material) over spill area
Pour disinfectant around edges and then onto spill
Allow disinfectant to set for 20 minutes
Use more paper towels to wipe up spill
Clean area with fresh soaked in disinfectant
Put all used paper towels into a red bag
Remove protective clothing and segregate for disposal or cleaning
Wash hands prior to leaving the area
Spill in a BL3 Laboratory
Evacuate laboratory
Close laboratory doors
Account for all personnel
Call BioSafety Office at 272-8001
The BioSafety Office will evaluate spill and determine actions needed
How do we disinfect?
Use appropriate chemical disinfectant (e.g. 10% bleach )
Wear personal protective equipment
Allow sufficient contact time after applying disinfectant
Allow extra time for concentrated materials or uneven surfaces
Rinse cleaned area with distilled water to remove disinfectant residue
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When should we seek medical attention?
When you develop signs/ symptoms associated with exposure to a biohazardous
agent
When you are involved in a needlestick, cut, spill, animal bite or other occurrence
resulting in possible exposure to biohazardous agents
What do we do if we are exposed?
Wash area with soap and water
Do not use abrasive soap
Notify your Principal Investigator
Report to EOHS during regular working hours 272-8043
Report to University Hospital Emergency Department after hours
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BioSafety Evaluation
Date:__________________________
1. Name: ______________________________
2. Department: __________________________________________________________
3. Building and lab number:________________________________________________
4. Laboratory Principal Investigator or Supervisor:______________________________
5. I work in a Biosafety Level ___________ laboratory.
6. I work with the following agents: _________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7. I use the following PPE: ________________________________________________
8. If there is a spill in my lab, the first steps I should take are:
Step one: ____________________________________________________________
Step two: ____________________________________________________________
Step three: ___________________________________________________________
Step four: ____________________________________________________________
Step five: ____________________________________________________________
9. I should seek medical attention if:_________________________________________
Upon completion return your assessment to:
Safety and Risk Services
MSC07 4100, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
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