Biological Laboratory Safety

Additional Information
Where to start

 Before looking at
this presentation,
ensure that you
have watched the
one on General
Laboratory Safety
What are the additional hazards from
using Biological Materials?

 Infectious agents
 Toxins
 Prions
 Bacteria
 Viruses
What legislation applies?
 The main pieces of
legislation are:
 Genetically Modified
Organisms (Contained
Use) Regulations 2000
 Control of Substances
Hazardous to Health
Regs 2004

Each will be summarised

separately
Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health Regs 2004

 Four Hazard Groups

 No hazard group 4 (highest
risk) work in Sheffield
 Work on hazard group 3
requires special training and
Level 3 containment facilities
 Risk assessments to be
submitted to local LGMSC for
scrutiny for all GM work and
work with dangerous
pathogens
 Appropriate waste segregation
required
Genetically Modified Organisms
(Contained Use) Regulations 2000
 All work to be risk assessed
using the HSE risk assessment
form and be submitted to the
Local Genetic Modification Safety
Committee before work starts
 Approval & notification
procedures
 Workers to submit health
declarations to Occupational
Health
 Appropriate waste segregation
 Protective Clothing

 An appropriate laboratory coat

must always be worn, fastened
up and covering all normal
clothing
 Lab coats must be
decontaminated before
laundering
 Appropriate eye protection must
be worn
 Gloves must be worn for work
and must be removed when
handling taps, note books etc and
before leaving the laboratory
 Blood & bodily fluids

 Use screened animal blood,

rather than human blood if
possible
 Failing this use only screened
human blood
 All blood and bodily fluids should
be considered potentially
infectious and treated with due
care
 Injuries involving body fluids
must be reported to your
supervisor IMMEDIATELY
Spillages
 Report
 Wear protective clothing
 Clean up
 Decontaminate – ensure
that you always have
material available to do so
 Ensure waste is disposed
of properly

You spill = you clean up!

Laminar Flow Cabinets

 Laminar flow
cabinets are
designed to provide a
clean-air
environment to
protect the work
 They DO NOT provide
protection for the
operator
 Biological Safety Cabinets
 Class 1
 Some protection to user &
environment
 No protection to work
 Class 2
 Good protection to user, the
environment and the work
 Class 3
 Total enclosure

 You must choose the correct

safety cabinet for the job you
are doing. Seek advice from
your Biological Safety Officer
Autoclaves
 Potentially dangerous
equipment
 Require regular
maintenance and an
annual statutory
examination
 Discard autoclaves
must be calibrated
every 6 months
 You must be trained to
use them
Disposal of Waste
 Make sure you follow
the University policy
carefully
 Ask your supervisor or
a senior member of
technical staff if you
do not know the
correct disposal
method for the
materials with which
you are working
When in doubt – ASK!!!
 Do not carry out a
new or unfamiliar
procedure until
you have been
fully trained &
understand the
precautions
necessary for safe
working
 DO NOT GUESS!!!!