National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
Robert O’Connor Ph.D
DCU Biological Safety Advisor
Robert.oconnor@dcu.ie

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Biosafety - safety measures taken with respect to the effects of biological research on humans, animals, plants and the environment
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Keeping you and others safe from biological hazards and meeting statutory requirements

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
All organisms (esp animals and humans) are incubators for disease-causing organisms
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Viruses
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HIV, Hepatitis
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Bacteria
 Tetanus, TB
 Toxins of bacteria – Tetanus toxin
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Fungi
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Aspergillus, Candida
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Toxins of fungi (mycotoxins –aflatoxin)
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Parasites
 Malaria (plasmodium)
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Prions – CJD Infectious proteins
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Allergies – allergies to animal products

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Biosafety level 1
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Environmentally common, low individual and community risk and are highly unlikely to cause disease in healthy workers or animals – E.Coli
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BSL2
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Hazardous only through unusual exposure, self limiting disease, non-contagious and treatable – Anthrax, Candida,
Hepatitis, HIV
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BSL3
 Known to cause serious human or animal disease, or which can result in serious economic consequences but limited contagion- Avian Influenza, TB
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BSL4
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Fatal human or animal disease, untreatable, and very contagious (Marburg, Ebola)

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Certain practices –e.g. cultivation, may increase biosafety requirements
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Aside from safety, some organisms require extra security precautions – bioterrorism
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Ethical requirements for human material
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Transport
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Legislative/regulatory restrictions
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Disposal
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Each BS level has mandated laboratory requirements
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Laboratory design
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Training
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PPE
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Security

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Contact with human products – inc blood, saliva, urine, tissue
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Contact with Humans!!
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Contact with animals and their products – zoonoses & allergies
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Contact with human/animal cells/microbes

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Organism must get onto/into body in sufficient amount and begin to grow
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Mechanisms
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Ingestion
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Inhalation - aerosol
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Puncture wounds –needles/glass ware
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Direct contact
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Mucous membranes –esp eyes and nose

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Training and knowledge
 Facilities appropriate to hazard
 Biosafety cabinets
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Sealed centrifuge rotors
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Containment
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Appropriate labelled storage
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Good practice
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Never eating near samples/lab environment
 Appropriate vaccination (e.g. tetanus, hepatitis, TB)
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Avoid sharps
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Appropriate waste handling (labelling, autoclaving, incineration)

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Lab coat
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Wash hands before leaving
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Wear safety glasses –ALWAYS
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Cover cuts/abrasions
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Wear gloves where appropriate
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Have an appropriate spill containment/treatment procedure
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Appropriate local and national/international transport procedures
 Don’t forget other hazards – chemical, physical etc.

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Biological safety is covered in general and specific terms in the Health and Safety at Work acts
 These ascribe individual and “corporate” responsibilities.
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Transport of samples covered by certain regulations
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University has general HSA authorisation for BSL1
Activities
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University has BSL2 approvals but additional notification required
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Faculty - Biosafety overseen by Faculty Biological
Safety Committee

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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GMOs- genetically modified organisms
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Animals, cells, bacteria and viruses which are modified by some direct genetic means
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Cell lines transfected or transduced
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Transgenic animals
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Genetically Modified Microbes (GMM)

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Any generation, use or storage of Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMOs) is additionally covered by separate
National and EU legislation
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Overseen by EPA
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BSL I Activities - general notification
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BSL II Require specific license
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BSL III Require special license.
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All GMOs must be stored in specific lab conditions, inventory and stringent reporting conditions exist
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EPA frequently inspect

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
Remember
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Always wear PPE
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Take active measures appropriate to the hazard – e.g. vaccination
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Report any problems/exposure
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Inactivate hazardous material
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Bear in mind security, cleaners, couriers, colleagues
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Caution if work with animals/animal products, humans, testing on animal/human products, cancer cells or microbes

National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology
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Vaccination policy http://www.dcu.ie/safety/policies.shtml
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Faculty H&S information http://www.dcu.ie/science_and_health/safety_info.shtml
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EPA GMO info & legislation http://www.epa.ie/downloads/legislation/geneticallymodifiedorga nismsgmo/
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HSA guidance on biological agents http://www.hsa.ie/eng/FAQs/Biological_Agents/