PMTP 1: Biosafety, Biorisk, Biosecurity III

• Other acceptable disinfectants for surface decontamination

  • Quaternary ammonium detergents
  • Phenolics
  • Iodophores
  • Chlorine compounds
  • Alcohols
• Minimum strength of cleaners

  • Tuberculocidal (kills M. tuberculosis var. bovis and all vegetative bacteria, fungi, and most viruses)
• Exposure time for disinfectants

  • Minimum 20 minutes
• Emergency response to exposures

  1. Thoroughly wash affected area

  2. Do not wash with bleach or other strong cleaners

  3. If eyes/face exposed, flush in eyewash immediately

  4. Report incident to supervisor
• What goes into SHARPS container

  • Hypodermic needles, with syringe
  • IV tubing with needles attached
  • Contaminated Pasteur pipettes
  • Razors and microtome blades
  • Scalpels
  • Lancets
• NEVER dispose of SHARPS in glass waste boxes or in the trash!
• What goes into Biological Waste (Red) Bins


  • Items contaminated with human or animal blood, body fluids or tissue
  • Cultures/stocks of infectious agents: including waste from production of biologicals, discarded vaccines, and culture dishes
  • Materials/microorganisms used in recombinant DNA research
• NO SHARPS (needles, razor blades, etc!) in Biological Waste (Red) Bins
• Procedure for full Biological Waste (Red) Bins

  1. Close & tie liner bag shut

  2. Place lid on securely

  3. Do not overfill bins. They shouldn't weigh more than 35 lbs.
• Requirements for secondary containment of biohazard waste

  • Closeable
  • Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids
  • Puncture resistant
  • Labeled with biohazard symbol
• Procedure for disposing of waste glass & plastic

  1. Decontaminate items with bleach or autoclave before putting into box

  2. Use a sturdy, durable box

  3. Label the box "broken glass" or "glass waste"

  4. Line the box with plastic bag

  5. Keep weight reasonable – 25 lbs. or less!

  6. When box is full, tape shut securely

  7. Place box in an area for the custodial staff to dispose
• Autoclave decontamination


  • Place items in secondary containers: stainless steel or autoclavable plastic bins
  • Temps of 121 degrees C for 20 minutes for most recombinant organisms and pathogens
  • Larger loads require more time
  • Do not cap or plug vessels
  • Do not add excessive amounts of liquid to load
  • Wear eye and face protection
  • Stand behind door when opening it – keep face away from door
  • Slowly open door only a crack to allow residual steam to escape
• Liquid Biological Waste Disposal

  1. Autoclave or chemically disinfect (treat with bleach)

  2. 1 part bleach to 9 parts contaminated liquid – let stand for 30 minutes

  3. After treating, dispose down drain with lots of H2O

  4. Do not autoclave bleach treated waste
• Symptoms of allergic reactions to research animals

  • Itchy/watery eyes
  • runny nose
  • skin rash/itchy skin
  • nasal congestion
  • cough
• PPE for working with research animals

  • Gloves
  • Lab Coat
  • N-95 Mask for your nose/mouth (requires a fit-test)
• Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3)


  • Emphasis on primary and secondary barriers in the protection of personnel, community, and environment from infectious aerosol exposure
  • Work with indigenous or exotic agents with potential for respiratory transmission and serious/lethal infection
  • Examples: St. Louis encephalitis virus, Coxiella
  • Performed in a BSC or other gas-tight aerosol generation chamber
  • Highly required secondary barriers: controlled access, ventilation requirements to minimize release of infectious aerosols
• Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4)


  • Dangerous and exotic agents that pose high individual risks of life-threatening diseases transmitted via aerosol
  • No available vaccines or treatment
  • Specific practices, safety equipment, and appropriate facility design and construction required
  • Examples: Marburg, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
  • Laboratory worker's complete isolation from aerosolized infectious materials accomplished by Class III BSC or full-body air-supplied positive-pressure suit
  • Generally a separate building or completely isolated zone with specialized ventilation and waste management
• Biorisk Management (BRM)


  • Integration of biosafety and biosecurity to manage risk when working with biological toxins and infectious agents
  • A system/process to control safety and security risks associated with handling/storage and disposal of biological agents and toxins in laboratories and facilities
• Biosafety


  Containment principles, technologies and practices implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins or their unintentional release
• Biosecurity


  Institutional and personal security measures designed to prevent the loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release of pathogens and toxins
• Primary components of Biorisk Management

  • Assessment
  • Mitigation
  • Performance
• Hazard


  Anything in the environment that has the potential to cause harm
• Risk


  The combination of the likelihood and the consequence of an undesirable event related to a specific hazard or threat
• Major areas of Biorisk Mitigation controls/measures

  • Engineering controls
  • Administrative controls
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Security Upgrades
• Engineering controls

  • Equipment, materials or any other aspect of work environment that reduce or prevent exposure to hazards
  • Facility ventilation and air-flow to ensure directional airflow and air treatment
  • Installation of biosafety cabinets, centrifuge with cover, autoclave and machines with indicators
  • Controlled access zones, airlocks as laboratory entrances
  • Separate buildings, barrier walls and shields for separation of incompatible activities
• Administrative controls

  • Policies, standard operating procedures, guidelines to control risks
  • Proficiency and competency training for laboratory staff
  • Displaying of biohazard or warning signages, markings, labels
  • Controlling visitor and worker access
  • Documenting written SOPs
  • Good practices and procedures to avoid laboratory acquired infection (LAI)
• Personal Protective Equipment

  • Eye protection (safety glasses, face shields)
  • Respiratory protection (face masks, N95 respirators, face shields, hoods, Powered Air Purifying Respirators System (PAPRS)
• Biorisk Performance Evaluation


  • The result of all the efforts of an organization or a facility
  • Ensures that a system works, is reduced, sustainable and that the risk is acceptable
  • Managed by control of procedures, processes, structures and responsibilities
  • Assured by checking the system through audits and inspections
  • Improved by setting and achieving (new) goals based on internal and external feedback
• Components of a Laboratory Biorisk Management System

  • Biohazard identification
  • Biorisk assessment
  • Biorisk management
  • Biorisk communication
• Biorisk Identification


  • Identify the biologic agent or toxin, including amount, procedures, storage and archive volumes
  • Identify the possible biological agent risks, including characteristics of the agent, available laboratory infrastructure and resources, health and economic consequences of an exposure or release
  • Identify the likelihood and potential consequences (severity of harm) associated with exposure to or release of the agent
  • Decide if the risk of handling the agent in the laboratory can be controlled and is the cost justifiable
• Laboratory Biorisk Management System


  • The process requires documentation of timelines for action, assignment of responsible persons, and completion of the associated local/national reporting and approval requirements
  • The laboratory manager works with a biorisk management advisor to identify appropriate and feasible risk control measures
• Biorisk Management Approach


  • Identify appropriate control measures for the agent
  • Identify appropriate control measures for the laboratory
• Verification and Continuous Improvement


  • Specific laboratory biorisk control measures are regularly monitored
  • Control measures are corrected when warranted to ensure they are working as expected
• Biorisk Communication


  • The interactive transmission and exchange of information and opinions throughout the risk analysis process about risk, risk-related factors and risk perceptions among risk managers, risk communicators, the general public, and other impacted parties
  • The information is provided in clear and understandable manner, including identification of the biohazard, the benefits to stakeholders, that a biorisk analysis was performed, and that control measures are in place to mitigate against accidental or intentional release
• Animal Health and Public Health Coordination