Department of Chemistry - Health and Safety Information

Biological Safety

The Department is only set up for the most basic level of Biological Safety

 

The Departmental Biological Safety Officer (BSO) is Dr Janet Kumita, phone ext. 61083. 

Before commencing a project involving any biological material a hazardous substance risk assessment must be carried out and a copy given to the BSO. It is essential that the risk assessment is received before work starts as the project may need to be approved by the Biological Safety Committee.

It is the responsibility of the research group involved to check the safety of all biological experiments they are involved in and to register the appropriate risk assessment and GMO forms with the Biological Safety Committee.

Anyone involved in experiments using animal or human tissue, fungi, micro-organisms etc must consult with their Principal Investigator and ensure that the work is registered with the Biological Safety Committee. Similarly anyone undertaking molecular biology and expressing recombinant proteins must check that they are working within the allowed guidelines (the BSO may be able to advise on this issue). There are strict guidelines for the disposal of biological material (e.g. autoclaving used plates).  Please make sure that you are aware of these rules. 

Biological Safety - Local Information

Biological agents are classified into four Hazard Groups based on the following criteria:

  1. Is the agent pathogenic for humans?
  2. Is it a hazard to employees?
  3. Is it transmissible to the community?
  4. Is effective prophylaxis or treatment available?

Anyone intending to work with plant or animal pathogens must first consult the BSO. A DEFRA (MAFF) licence may be required and certain types of work require HSE notification.

It is important to note that handling tissues or secretions e.g. blood and urine, always carries a risk of infection. Plant or animal pathogens that are not a hazard to human health, but that pose a hazard to animals or the environment must also be correctly handled and contained.

Anyone wishing to work with potentially pathogenic organisms, or samples that may contain them, or who is working with micro-organisms or viruses for the first time, should consult the BSO.

Before starting work with any biological material you must:

  1. Carry out all necessary risk assessments or read the risk assessments that have already been carried out for your work and ask your Supervisor about anything you do not understand or are unsure about
  2. Receive all training necessary to ensure safe working (training is available through the University Safety Office - see http://www.training.cam.ac.uk/ohss/theme)
  3. Register as a user of biological materials

Risk Assessment

Each research project must be assessed with respect to the use of:

  1. Genetically Modified Micro-organisms (GMMs or GMOs)
  2. Biological Agents

Before commencing a project involving any biological material a hazardous substance risk assessment must be carried out and a copy given to the BSO. It is essential that the risk assessment is received before work starts as the project may need to be approved by the Biological Safety Committee.

If the work involves genetically modified organisms, it must also be assessed under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 using the relevant GMO form. The risk assessment must be submitted to the Departmental Biological Safety Committee for approval before work is commenced. The assessment must take account of risks to human health and risks to animals, plants and the environment. This is a legal requirement. No work may commence without the approval of the Committee.

Safety Procedures

The Department is only approved for Containment Level 1 work. It is essential that the guidelines given below are adhered to when working with Hazard Group 1 organisms.

  1. The laboratory should be easy to clean. Bench surfaces should be impervious to water and resistant to acids, alkalis, solvents and disinfectants
  2. Effective disinfectants should be available for immediate use in the event of spillage
  3. If the laboratory is mechanically ventilated, it is preferable to maintain an inward airflow while work is in progress by extracting room air to atmosphere
  4. All procedures should be performed so as to minimise the release of organisms and the production of aerosols. Flasks of cultured micro-organisms should be sealed with a foam or non-absorbent cotton wool bung where possible
  5. Cultures grown in flasks should generally not exceed 25% of their container volume
  6. The laboratory door should be closed when work is in progress
  7. Laboratory coats or gowns should be worn in the laboratory and removed when leaving the laboratory suite
  8. Personal protective equipment, including protective clothing, must be:
    1. Stored in a well-defined place
    2. Checked and cleaned at suitable intervals
    3. When discovered to be defective, repaired or replaced before further use
  9. Personal protective equipment which may be contaminated by biological agents must be:
    1. Removed on leaving the working area
    2. Kept apart from uncontaminated clothing
    3. Decontaminated and cleaned or, if necessary, destroyed
  10. Eating, chewing, drinking, taking medication, smoking, storing food and applying cosmetics is forbidden
  11. Mouth pipetting is forbidden
  12. The laboratory should contain a suitable basin or sink that can be used for hand washing
  13. Hands should be decontaminated immediately when contamination is suspected and before leaving the laboratory
  14. Bench tops should be cleaned after use
  15. Used glassware and other materials awaiting disinfection should be stored in a safe manner Pipettes, for example, if placed in disinfectant, should be totally immersed
  16. Contaminated materials whether for recycling or disposal, should be stored and transported in robust and leak-proof containers without spillage
  17. All waste material, if not to be incinerated, should be disposed of safely by other appropriate means
  18. Accidents and incidents should be immediately reported to and recorded by the person responsible for the work or other delegated person
  19. Spillages must be reported. The report should detail the location of the spillage, the organism involved, and the method of decontamination

 

All biological-safety-related forms are available for download.

Additional information can also be found in the Safety Office publications Disposal of Biological/Clinical Lab. Waste and Safe Biological Practice (SBP) for Prevention and Control of Exposure to Biological Agents in the Laboratory.

Further information on Biological Safety can be found on the University Safety Office website.