Bio-safety

Biosecurity Biosafety

• Methods that are used to stop a disease or • The discipline addressing the safe handling and
infection from spreading from one person, containment of infectious microorganisms and
animal, or place to others. hazardous biological materials.

• The practice of safe handling of pathogenic

micro-organisms and their toxins in the
biological laboratory is accomplished through
the application of containment principles and the
risk assessment.
:
Principles of biological safety

: • Hazard identification
• Hazard assessment
• Hazard control
Biorisk Encompasses hazard identification, risk assessment and risk
Management: control both in the fields of biosafety and laboratory
biosecurity.
BSL = There are 4 accepted levels in the field of human health
Biosafety Level (containment levels 1, 2, 3 and 4) on the basis of measures
required for protection of workers from risks related to
exposure to biological agents at work and as well applying to
containment and other protective measures
BSL + = Biosafety Level “+” indications only refers to additional
Biosafety procedures and methods of handling in place (i.e. handling
Level “+” methods of materials for example for decontamination and
storage, type of personnel protective equipment used, etc…)
and any other relevant considerations for the type of work

Biosafety in Various Disciplines Biosafety in Various Disciplines

Biosafety is related to several fields Biosafety is related to several fields

• ECOLOGY: referring to imported life forms not indigenous to the • CHEMISTRY: i.e., nitrates in water, PCB levels affecting fertility
region (Reggie the alligator)
• EXOBIOLOGY: i.e., NASA's policy for containing alien microbes that
• VETERINARY: reducing the risk of alien viral or transgenic genes, or may exist on space samples - sometimes called "biosafety level 5“
prions such as BSE/"MadCow“; reducing the risk of food bacterial
contamination
• ACADEMIC RESEARCH: Promoting safe laboratory practices, and
procedures; proper use of containment equipment and facilities;
• MEDICINE: referring to organs or tissues from biological origin, or provides advice on laboratory design and risk assesment of
genetic therapy products, virus; levels of lab containment protocols experiments involving infectious agents, rDNA in-vitro and in-vivo.
BSL-1, 2, 3, 4 in rising order of danger
 Risk Groups of Microorganisms
Risk assessment of biological hazard
WHO Classification of infective microorganisms
• Work with biohazardous agents or materials suspected
of containing such agents needs to be assessed for the
• Risk Group I (no or low individual and community risk).
risk it poses to the worker, the community and the
A microorganism that is unlikely to cause human disease or
environment
animal disease
• Carried out by a knowledgeable person using
professional judgement
• Risk Group II (moderate individual risk, low community risk).
• Consider valid information about the specific agent,
A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease but is
specific procedures followed, equipments used
unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers, the
• Should be done before work begins and repeated when community, livestock, or the environment. Laboratory exposures
there is change in agent/practices/ employees or may cause serious infection, but effective treatment and
facilities preventive measures are available and the risk of spread of
infection is limited.

Risk Groups of Microorganisms

Biosafety Levels
WHO Classification of infective microorganisms
• Assignment of agent based on risk assessment
• Risk Group III (high individual risk, low community risk). • Depends on agent and conditions of use
A pathogen that usually causes serious human disease but does • Requires professional judgment
not ordinarily spread from one infected individual to another.
Effective treatment and preventive measures are available

• Risk Group IV (high individual and community risk).

A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease
and may be readily transmitted from one individual to another,
directly or indirectly.
 Biosafety Level 1 Biosafety Level 1
• Suitable for work involving agents not known to
cause disease in immunocompetent adult • Lab has doors to limit traffic
humans
• Sink for hand wash present
• minimal potential hazard to laboratory personnel
and the environment. • Work surfaces easy to
• laboratories are not necessarily separated from disinfect
the general traffic patterns in the building.
• Work is typically conducted on open bench
tops using standard microbiological practices.
• Special containment equipment is not required
• Laboratory personnel must have specific training
and must be supervised by a scientist.

Biosafety Level 2 Biosafety Level 2

• Builds upon BSL-1
• BSL-2 is suitable for work involving agents that pose • All facility of BSL 1 +
moderate hazards to personnel and environment. • Autoclave
• Laboratory personnel have specific training in • Eyewash
handling pathogenic agents
• Signage posted
• Personnel are supervised by scientists competent in
handling infectious agents and associated • Biological waste
procedures stream is separate
• Access to the laboratory is restricted
• Use of biological safety cabinets (BSCs) or other
physical containment equipment.
 Biosafety Level 3 Biosafety Level 3
• Applicable to clinical, diagnostic,research, or • A BSL-3 lab has
production facilities where work is performed with special
indigenous or exotic agents that may cause engineering and
serious or potentially lethal disease. design features.
• Laboratory personnel must receive specific • Directional air
training in handling pathogenic and potentially flow.
lethal agents • Very limited
access
• Must be supervised by scientists
• Personnel wear additional appropriate personal
protective equipment including respiratory
protection as determined by risk assessment

Biosafety Level 4 Biosafety Level 4

• Required for work with dangerous and exotic agents
that pose a high individual risk of life-threatening
disease, aerosol transmission, or related agent with
unknown risk of transmission.
• Laboratory staff must have specific training in handling
extremely hazardous infectious agents.
• All laboratory staff and supervisors must be competent
in handling agents and procedures requiring BSL-4
containment.
• Access to the laboratory is controlled by the laboratory
supervisor in accordance with institutional policies
• Two types of laboratory providing absolute separation of
the worker from the infectious agents
 Suit Laboratory and Cabinet Laboratory
 Risk Groups and Biosafety Levels Risk Groups and Biosafety Levels
Risk Biosafety Laboratory Type Laboratory Safety Risk Biosafety Level Laboratory Type Laboratory Safety
Group Level Practices Equipment Group Practices Equipment

Containment- Special Level 2 + BSC and/or

Basic – Basic teaching, Good None; open Biosafety diagnostic special clothing, other primary
Biosafety research microbiologic bench work 3 Level 3 services, access control, devices for all
1 Level 1 al techniques research directed airflow activities
(GMT)
Maximum Dangerous Level 3 + airlock Class III BSC,
Basic – Primary health GMT plus Open bench
Containment – pathogen units entry, shower or positive
Biosafety services; protective plus BSC for
Biosafety exit, special pressure suites
Level 2 diagnostic clothing, aerosols
4 Level 4 waste disposal with class II
2 services, biohazards
BSCs, double
research sign ended
autoclave