Biological Laboratory Safety

1
Biological Laboratory Safety

• Additional Information

2
Where to start

• Before looking at this presentation, ensure that
  you have watched the one on General Laboratory
  Safety

3
What are the additional hazards from using
Biological Materials?

• Infectious agents
• Toxins
• Prions
• Bacteria
• Viruses

4
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

5
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

6
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

7
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

8
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

9
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!

10
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

11
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

12
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

13
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

14
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!!!!