Safelab II Basic Biological Safety

1. Safelab IIBasic Biological Safety Robert O’Connor Ph.D DCU Biological Safety Advisor Robert.oconnor@dcu.ie

2. What is biosafety? • 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

3. Causes of biological diseases All organisms (esp animals and humans) are incubators for disease-causing organisms • Viruses • HIV, Hepatitis • Bacteria • Tetanus, TB • Toxins of bacteria – Tetanus toxin • Fungi • Aspergillus, Candida • Toxins of fungi (mycotoxins –aflatoxin) • Parasites • Malaria (plasmodium) • Prions – CJD Infectious proteins • Allergies – allergies to animal products

4. Classification of biohazards • Biosafety level 1 • Environmentally common, low individual and community risk and are highly unlikely to cause disease in healthy workers or animals – E.Coli • BSL2 • Hazardous only through unusual exposure, self limiting disease, non-contagious and treatable – Anthrax, Candida, Hepatitis, HIV • BSL3 • Known to cause serious human or animal disease, or which can result in serious economic consequences but limited contagion- Avian Influenza, TB • BSL4 • Fatal human or animal disease, untreatable, and very contagious (Marburg, Ebola)

5. Additional considerations • Certain practices –e.g. cultivation, may increase biosafety requirements • Aside from safety, some organisms require extra security precautions – bioterrorism • Ethical requirements for human material • Transport • Legislative/regulatory restrictions • Disposal • Each BS level has mandated laboratory requirements • Laboratory design • Training • PPE • Security

6. How are we exposed to biohazards? • Contact with human products – inc blood, saliva, urine, tissue • Contact with Humans!! • Contact with animals and their products – zoonoses & allergies • Contact with human/animal cells/microbes

7. How can these things cause disease • 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 –esp eyes and nose

8. Protective measures • Training and knowledge • Facilities appropriate to hazard • Biosafety cabinets • Sealed centrifuge rotors • Containment • Appropriate labelled storage • Good practice • Never eating near samples/lab environment • Appropriate vaccination (e.g. tetanus, hepatitis, TB) • Avoid sharps • Appropriate waste handling (labelling, autoclaving, incineration)

10. Some standard lab points • Lab coat • Wash hands before leaving • Wear safety glasses –ALWAYS • Cover cuts/abrasions • Wear gloves where appropriate • Have an appropriate spill containment/treatment procedure • Appropriate local and national/international transport procedures • Don’t forget other hazards – chemical, physical etc.

11. Legislation I • Biological safety is covered in general and specific terms in the Health and Safety at Work acts • These ascribe individual and “corporate” responsibilities. • Transport of samples covered by certain regulations • University has general HSA authorisation for BSL1 Activities • University has BSL2 approvals but additional notification required • Faculty - Biosafety overseen by Faculty Biological Safety Committee

12. GMOs • GMOs- genetically modified organisms • Animals, cells, bacteria and viruses which are modified by some direct genetic means • Cell lines transfected or transduced • Transgenic animals • Genetically Modified Microbes (GMM)

13. Legislation II • Any generation, use or storage of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is additionally covered by separate National and EU legislation • Overseen by EPA • BSL I Activities - general notification • BSL II Require specific license • BSL III Require special license. • All GMOs must be stored in specific lab conditions, inventory and stringent reporting conditions exist • EPA frequently inspect

14. Summary Remember • Always wear PPE • Take active measures appropriate to the hazard – e.g. vaccination • Report any problems/exposure • Inactivate hazardous material • Bear in mind security, cleaners, couriers, colleagues • Caution if work with animals/animal products, humans, testing on animal/human products, cancer cells or microbes

15. Some Relevant links • Vaccination policy http://www.dcu.ie/safety/policies.shtml • Faculty H&S information http://www.dcu.ie/science_and_health/safety_info.shtml • EPA GMO info & legislation http://www.epa.ie/downloads/legislation/geneticallymodifiedorganismsgmo/ • HSA guidance on biological agents http://www.hsa.ie/eng/FAQs/Biological_Agents/