TOPIC 2

Introduction to Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Define Biosafety and Biosecurity.
2. Understand the importance of Biosafety and Biosecurity.
3. Articulate on the procedures and practices regarding Biosafety and Biosecurity.

INTRODUCTION
Disease diagnosis, human sample analysis is carried out in laboratories. Laboratory personnel are
expected to act responsibly and not to expose the community to biorisks, to follow safe working practices
(biosafety) associated with practices that will help keep their work and materials safe and secure
(biosecurity).

Time allotment/Duration: 2 hours

Core-Related Values and Biblical Reflection:

Excellence: Competence
Matthew 7:24: Therefore, everyone who hears this voice of mine and puts them into practice is
likewise a man who built his house on the rock.

LEARNING CONTENT
TOPIC CONTENT:

I. Definition:
 Biosafety - describes the containment principles, technologies and practices that are
implemented to prevent the unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins, or their
accidental release.
 Biosecurity – describes the protection, control and accountability for valuable biological
material (VBM) within the laboratory, in order to prevent their unauthorized access, loss,
theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release.
 Valuable Biological Material VBM – materials that require administrative, control,
accountability and specific protective and monitoring measures to protect their value, and
the population from their potential to cause harm.

II. Biosafety management

 the person who has immediate responsibility for the laboratory ensures the development and
adoption of a biosafety management plan and a safety or operations manual
 the laboratory supervisor should ensure that regular training in laboratory safety is provided
 personnel should be advised of special hazards, and required to read the safety or operations
manual and follow standard practices and procedures. A copy of the safety or operations
manual should be available in the laboratory.
 there should be an arthropod and rodent control programme
 appropriate medical evaluation, surveillance and treatment should be provided for all
personnel in case of need, and adequate medical records should be maintained

III. Biosecurity guidance

 regularly updated inventories with storage locations
  identification and selection of personnel with access
 plans of use of VBM (Valuable Biological Material)
 clearance and approval processes
 documentation of internal and external transfers within and between facilities
inactivation and/or disposal of the material

IV. Access
 the international biohazard warning symbol and sign must be displayed on the doors of the
rooms
 only authorized persons should be allowed to enter the laboratory working areas
 laboratory doors should be kept closed
 children should not be authorized or allowed to enter laboratory working areas

V. Personal Protection
 wear Laboratory gowns at all times
 wear gloves for all procedures
 remove gloves after used and wash hands
 wash hands after handling infectious materials and before leaving
 wear safety glasses, face shields (visors) or other protective devices when it is
necessary to protect the eyes and face from splashes
 do not wear protective laboratory clothing outside the laboratory
 do not wear open-toed footwear
 eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics and handling contact lenses is
prohibited
 do not store foods or drinks
 do not store protective laboratory clothing that has been used in the same lockers

VI. Procedures
 pipetting by mouth must be strictly forbidden
 all technical procedures should be performed in a way that minimizes the formation of
aerosols and droplets
 all spills, accidents and or potential exposures to infectious materials must be reported to the
laboratory supervisor. A written record of such accidents and incidents should be maintained
 a written procedure for the clean-up of all spills must be developed and followed
 contaminated liquids must be decontaminated (chemically or physically)

Laboratory-acquired infection are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, human blood, unfixed tissue,
human cell lines and recombinant DNA. Adherence with safety regulations will reduce the risk of
potential harm to the worker and the environment.

Levels of containment:
 Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) - microorganisms that don’t cause disease in healthy adults and
present minimal potential hazard to laboratorians and the environment. Basic laboratory
procedures and standard microbiological practices are followed. Example: E. coli
In BSL-1, Laboratories have doors, sinks, surfaces are easy to clean and tables are water
resistant.
 Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) - agents associated with human disease, moderate hazards to
laboratorians and the environment. Agents include measles virus, salmonella species,
hepatitis B virus
All items listed in BSL-1 with the addition of autoclave, eyewash, access is restricted when
work is being conducted, doors that lock, BSC as needed and air flows into the lab without
recirculation to non-lab areas.
 Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) - Microorganisms that cause serious disease, transmitted by
 inhalation. Example: M. tuberculosis
All items listed in BSL-2, double door entry, separated building or isolated zone, directional
inward flow, enclosures for aerosols generating equipment, walls, floors and ceilings are
water resistant.
 Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) - microorganisms that cause lethal disease, with no known
treatment or virus. Example: Ebola virus
Maximum containment lab: positive pressure ventilated suits (moon suits)
All items listed in BSL-3, double door autoclaves, rooms are sealed, inner and outer doors are
interlocked to prevent doors being opened at the same time and liquids are decontaminated

VII. Waste handling

 all infectious materials should be decontaminated, autoclaved or incinerated within the
laboratory
 glassware, instruments and laboratory clothing will be reused or recycled

VIII. Decontamination
 steam autoclaving is the preferred method for all decontamination processes
 materials for decontamination and disposal should be placed in containers, e.g. autoclavable
plastic bags, that are colour-coded according to whether the contents are to be autoclaved
and/or incinerated

IX. Handling and disposal procedures for contaminated materials and wastes
 non-contaminated (non-infectious) waste that can be reused or recycled or disposed of as
general, “household” waste
 contaminated (infectious) “sharps” – hypodermic needles, scalpels, knives and broken glass;
these should always be collected in puncture-proof containers fitted with covers and treated
as infectious
 contaminated material for decontamination by autoclaving and thereafter washing and reuse
or recycling
 contaminated material for autoclaving and disposal

X. Practice 5s
 1S – Sort – remove what is not needed and keep what is needed
 2S – Set in Order – arrange essential items in order for easy access
 3s – Shine – keep things clean and tidy; no dirt or trash in the workplace
 4S – Standardize – establish standards and guidelines to maintain a clean workplace
 5S – Sustain – make 5S a habit and teach others to adhere to established standards.

XI. Additional laboratory hazards

 Fire hazards
o the assistance of local fire prevention officers in the training of laboratory staff in fire
prevention
o fire warnings, instructions and escape routes should be displayed prominently in each room
and in corridors and hallways
o fire-fighting equipment should be placed near room doors and in corridors and hallways
 Electrical hazards
o circuit-breakers and earth-fault-interrupters should be installed in appropriate laboratory
electrical circuits
o all laboratory electrical equipment should be earthed/grounded
o all laboratory electrical equipment and wiring should conform to national electrical safety
standards and codes

XII. Health and medical surveillance

  provision of active or passive immunization
 facilitation of the early detection of laboratory-acquired infections
 exclusion of highly susceptible individuals (e.g. pregnant women or immunocompromised
individuals) from highly hazardous laboratory
 work provision of effective personal protective equipment and procedures

XIII. Training
 continuous in-service training in safety measures
 training in safety measures should be an integral part of new employee’s introduction to the
laboratory
 employees should be introduced to the code of practice and to local guidelines, including the
safety or operations manual