Health and Safety in the Laboratory

1. Health and Safety in the Laboratory Safety in Microbiological and Biomedical Labs

2. Standard Practices – All Levels • 1. Lab access limited. • 2. Hand washing required. • 3. No eating, drinking, smoking, handling of makeup or contact lenses… • 4. No pipetting by mouth. • 5. Policies for the safe handling of sharps are instituted.

3. Standard Practices – All Levels • 6. All procedures are performed carefully to minimize the creation of splashes or aerosols. • 7. Work surfaces are decontaminated at least once a day and after any spill of viable material. • 8. 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 to be placed in a durable, leakproof container and closed for transport from the laboratory. Materials to be decontaminated outside of the immediate laboratory are packaged in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations be fore removal from the facility.

4. Standard Practices – All Levels • 9.A biohazard sign may be posted at the entrance to the laboratory whenever infectious agents are present. The sign may include the name of the agent(s) in use and the name and phone number of the investigator. • 10. An insect and rodent control program is in effect (see Appendix G).

5. Laboratory Biosafety Level Criteria • Levels 1-4 in increasing level of risk

6. Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) • Agents not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adult humans. • Standard Practices are applied (see previous) • Special Practices - none

7. Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers) • 1. Special containment devices or equipment such as a biological safety cabinet are generally not required. • 2. It is recommended that laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms be worn to prevent contamination or soiling of street clothes. • 3. Gloves should be worn if the skin on the hands is broken or if a rash is present. Alternatives to powdered latex gloves should be available. • 4. Protective eyewear should be worn for conduct of procedures in which splashes of microorganisms or other hazardous materials is anticipated.

8. Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers) • 1. Laboratories should have doors for access control. • 2. Each laboratory contains a sink for hand washing. • 3. The laboratory is designed so that it can be easily cleaned. Carpets and rugs in laboratories are not appropriate.

9. Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers)…. • 4. Bench tops are impervious to water and are resistant to moderate heat and the organic solvents, acids, alkalis, and chemicals used to decontaminate the work surface and equipment. • 5. Laboratory furniture is capable of supporting anticipated loading and uses. Spaces between benches, cabinets,and equipment are accessible for cleaning. • 6. If the laboratory has windows that open to the exterior, they are fitted with fly screens.

10. Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) …. For work involving agents of moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment…… • Standard Practices apply

11. Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)… • Special Practices 1. Access limited 2. Special requirements for entry 3. Warning signs 4. Immunizations/Tests for personnel 5. Baseline serum samples 6. Biosafety manual 7. Training of lab and support personnel

12. Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)… • 8. Sharps-syringe needles, slides, pipets, capillary tubes, scalpels, razor blades • 9. Leakproof containers for all potentially infectious waste • 10. Decontamination of Equipment and work surfaces • 11. Reporting requirements • 12. Animals

13. Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)… • Safety Equipment-Primary Barriers • 1. Class II biosafety cabinets (BSL), personal protective equipment, other containment whenever: a. Infectious aerosols or splashes from: centrifugation opening containers grinding intranasal inoculation blending harvesting tissues shaking sonication

14. Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2)… • Safety Equipment-Primary Barriers… 1… b. high concentrations or large volumes of infectious agents are used 2. Face protection, when IM used outside BSL 3. Coats, gowns, smocks, overalls 4. Gloves req’d for animals, infected mat’l, contaminated surfaces & equipment

15. Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) • “..agents which may cause serious or potentially lethal disease as a result of exposure by inhalation..” • Personnel must have specific training for handling of such agents. • All procedures must be performed in BSCs or other containment devices.

16. …Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3)… • Special Practices—like Level 2 but with further restrictions.. • Baseline serum samples collected from all lab workers. • Workers must demonstrate proficiency. • No open vessels outside of physical containment.

17. Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) • Safety Equipment-Primary Barriers • 1. BSC for manipulation of infected materials. • 2. PPE-mask, gloves, respirator, face shield. Physical containment-caging for animals, sealed centrifuge rotors. • 3. Protective clothing not allowed out of the lab. Changing rooms.

18. Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) • “..dangerous and exotic agents which carry a high risk of aerosol transmitted infections and life-threatening disease..” • 1. Specialized training for all workers. • 2. All activities confined to class III BSC or class II BSC used with 1 piece positive pressure suit that includes life support ventilation.

19. Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) • 3. Lab is physically separated from access corridors. • 4. Serological surveillance program. • 5. Enter & leave through airlocks (supplies also), employees must shower before leaving. Otherwise much like Level III. 265 page booklet from U.S. Dept of HHS http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bmbl4/bmbl4toc.htm