1. Safelab Module 2
Biosafety
Barry Byrne

2. Safety is an important consideration!

3. Biosafety: an introduction

4. Biosafety: definition
Biosafety – “safety measures taken with respect to the effects of biological research on humans, animals, plants and the environment”
Keeping you and others safe from biological hazards and meeting statutory requirements.

5. Causes of biological diseases.
All organisms (especially animals and humans) are incubators for disease-causing organisms.
Virus
Bacteria /
Toxins
Fungi
Parasites
Prions

6. Exposure to biohazards
Contact with human products, e.g. blood, saliva, urine, tissue.
Contact with humans.
Contact with human/animal cells/microbes.

7. Mechanisms of introduction
Organism must get onto/into body in sufficient amount and begin to grow.
Mechanisms
Ingestion.
Inhalation – aerosol.
Puncture wounds –needles/glass ware.
Direct contact.
Mucous membranes – especially eyes and nose.

8. Hazard Groups (HG) HG / Class 1: HG / Class 2: HG / Class 3:
A biological agent unlikely to cause human disease to employees
HG / Class 1:
Environmentally-Common
A biological agent that can cause human disease and might be a hazard to employees
HG / Class 2:
Hazardous through unusual exposure
A biological agent that can cause severe human disease and presents a serious hazard to employees and which may present a risk of spreading to the community
HG / Class 3:
Known to cause serious human or animal disease
A biological agent that causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to employees and which may present a high risk of spreading to the community
HG / Class 4:
Known to cause fatal human or animal disease

9. Working with Pathogens
Hazard Group 1 2 3 4
Pathogenic to humans
Unlikely
Can be
Yes, can be severe
Severe
Hazard to workers
n/a
May be
Yes, may be serious
Serious
Transmission to the community
Likely
Effective prophylaxis/
treatment available
Usually
Not Usually
Classification Guideline:

10. Risk Management (Biosafety).

11. Biosafety: risk reduction
PPE
GLP
Housekeeping
Engineering
Controls
Vaccination

12. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

13. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Laboratory coats are to be worn in the laboratory ONLY.
Do not wear around office or eating areas.
Laboratory reagents can spill onto toes.

14. Good laboratory practice

15. Universal precautions
Never eat or drink near samples/laboratory environment.
Wash your hands thoroughly before and after laboratory procedures.
Ensure you have appropriate vaccination (e.g. tetanus, hepatitis, TB).
Manage the use of sharps.
Appropriate waste handling (labelling, autoclaving, incineration).
Be aware of the location of your nearest first-aid box.

16. Housekeeping

17. Housekeeping
All labs/areas where, for example, blood or blood products are used will be identified with Biological Hazard Sign(s) and/or the floor area will be identified with tape.
Ensure that bags are stored appropriately.
Please hang coats in the correct places!
Ensure all material is correctly labelled.

18. Engineering controls

19. Engineering controls
Special waste containers are provided in the relevant laboratories to dispose of any biologically contaminated material.
Sharps contaminated.
Sharps uncontaminated.
Normal waste containers.

20. Vaccination policy

21. Blood-borne pathogens.
Major risk – hepatitis B (1/4 world population infected).
Main pathogen of interest.
Highly infections (infections with very low pathogen numbers).
Can produce self-limiting disease but also can be fatal.

22. Blood-borne pathogens.
Hepatitis A- generally self limiting disease.
Hep C, D, E, F and G.
Impact varies patient to patient and dependent on underlying health status
Virus
Bacteria /
Toxins
Fungi
Parasites
Prions

23. Biological Safety Cabinets
Not to be confused with Fume Hoods

24. Class I Biological Safety Cabinets.
Protects the operator
No protection for contents
Class I cabinets are not fantastic!!
Quite robust
Watch out for positive-pressure cabinets !
These are NOT Biosafety Cabinets !

25. Class I Biological Safety Cabinets.
A Biological Safety Cabinet with a working front aperture through which the user can carry out manipulations inside the cabinet. It offers operator protection via inward airflow allowing the escape of airborne particles generated within the cabinet with the aid of HEPA filtration of the exhaust air.
HEPA
Air
Fan
HEPA
High-Efficiency Particulate Air/Arrestance

26. Class II Biological Safety Cabinets.
Protects the operator and the environment
Slight net inflow of air
Depends for its efficacy on laminar air flow within the cabinet and a protective “curtain” of air at the front
Not very robust
Laminar air flow is easily disrupted
Protective air curtain is easily breached

27. Class II Biological Safety Cabinets.
Class II Biological Safety Cabinets are the most in use bio-containment devices protecting worker, product and environment from potentially dangerous microbiological agents.
They are designed to control airborne contamination of the work and reduce risks of exposure of the operator to any airborne particles dispersed within the cabinet from the work procedures.
HEPA
HEPA
Fan
HEPA
High-Efficiency Particulate Air/Arrestance

28. Class II Biological Safety Cabinets.

29. Class II Biological Safety Cabinets.

30. Class III Biological Safety Cabinets.
Very robust
Completely enclosed
Provides total protection for the operator, the environment and the contents
Cumbersome to use

31. Class III Biological Safety Cabinets.
Class III Safety Cabinets provide total barrier protection for the operator and are suitable for extreme bio-hazard work.
Inflow air is HEPA filtered before entering via a side-mounted inlet filter chamber. Exhaust air is HEPA filtered before leaving the safety cabinet via a single or double HEPA filter, dependant on the customer’s specific technical requirements.
Total enclosure of the working area
User separated from the work by a physical barrier
Filtered air continuously supplied to the safety cabinet
Exhaust air treated to prevent contamination
Creates total protection for user and materials
HEPA
HEPA
Glove Port

32. Tips When Using BSCs. DO:
Allow air flow to stabilise prior to commencing work.
Prepare thoroughly for your work.
Reduce the risk of contamination by bringing all materials into the cabinet prior to disinfection/stabilisation.
Have appropriate disinfectants.
Ethanol/IMS
Ensure the laboratory door is closed.
Work as close to the centre of the hood as possible.

33. Tips When Using BSCs. DO NOT: Overcrowd or obstruct air flow.
Mix sterile and non-sterile materials.
Use safety cabinets for storage.
Rely on the cabinet to compensate for poor practice!

34. DCU Process: Biological Agents

35. Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (2005).
“It is the duty of every employer to ensure the safety, health and welfare of his or her employees”
And requires the employer to:
Identify hazards.
Assess risks.
Eliminate or control exposure to risks.
Protect human health and safety.

36. Legislation.
Biological safety is covered in general and specific terms in the Health and Safety at Work acts.
Faculty - Biosafety overseen by Faculty Biological Safety Committee
Primary Contact: Dr. Rosaleen Devery, School of Biotechnology.

37. DCU Process: Biological Agents
1. Visit the DCU Faculty of Science & Health webpage Click on Safety Information

38. DCU Process: Biological Agents
1. View the section entitled: GMO & Biological Hazards.
Primary Recommendation: FAQ Section

39. Submissions to: grace.hickey@dcu.ie
Demonstrations
FAQ Section.
Process Flow Charts
Your Project
Biological Safety Committee (BSC) Approval?
Bio-Resource Advisory Group (BRAG) Approval?
Research Ethics Committee (REC)
Approval?
Submissions to:

40. In summary: How do have a safe system for work?