Laboratory Research Conduct & Safety: Biohazards and Biosafety. Environmental Health & Safety

Transcription

1 Laboratory Research Conduct & Safety: Biohazards and Biosafety

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3 Regulations Human Pathogens Public Health Agency of Canada Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Pathogens To be merged into Canadian Biosafety Standards & Guidelines in 2012

4 CFIA Containment Standards Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Plant Pests Containment Standards for Laboratories, Animal Facilities & Post Mortem Rooms Handling Prion Disease Agents To be included in CBSG in 2012 Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens (2010)

5 Reporting mandatory for manufactured/imported microorganisms if: Not on Domestic Substances List Research & development exemption unless: Introduced into experimental field study without containment

6 WHMIS* CLASS AND SYMBOL CHARACTERISTICS PRECAUTIONS Class D Poisonous and Infectious Material Division 3: Biohazardous Infectious Materials Microbiological agents (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi and their toxins) that may cause illness or death Wear the recommended protective equipment and clothing Work with these materials in designated areas Disinfect area after handling Wash hands after handling *Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

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8 Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) MSDS for Infectious Substances Recommended Precautions Containment Protective clothing Other precautions (e.g. animal biosafety level) Handling Info Spills Disposal Storage Miscellaneous Preparation date Preparer s name

9 Definition: Biohazards

10 Biohazards Parasites Fungi Viruses Bacteria Microbial toxins e.g., Anthrax edema factor, Botulinum toxin, Pertussis toxin Tetrotodotoxin

11 Biohazards Any material that could contain biohazardous material, for example: Human tissues, blood, body fluids Animal tissues, carcasses Cell lines Cultures from soil samples Waste water

12 Routes of Disease Transmission Direct contact (splash) Inoculation Ingestion Indirect contact Inhalation

13 Safe Work Practices Understand hazards Restrict lab access Avoid clutter Use personal protective equipment Lab coat Gloves Eye protection

14 McGill PPE Policy

15 Safe Work Practices (cont d) No shorts, sandals, etc. Universal Precautions with human blood No food, drinks, etc. No mouth pipetting Work carefully, deliberately

16 Safe Work Practices (cont d) Use needles, syringes only if necessary Decontaminate work surfaces, hands Report accidents Cuts, needlesticks, scrapes Contamination of broken skin Splash of infectious material Incidents and near accidents

17 Risk Groups Categorization of relative hazards of infective organisms (4 levels) Risk classification: Pathogenicity Infectious dose Mode of transmission Host range Effective prevention (e.g vaccine) Effective treatment (e.g., antibiotic, antiviral PEP)

18 Risk Group 1 Low individual risk Low community risk Unlikely to infect healthy humans & animals

19 Risk Group 2 Moderate individual risk Low community risk Treatment/preventive measures available

20 Risk Group 3 High individual risk Low community risk Cause serious disease, treatment/prevention usually available Hantavirus, Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Histoplasma capsulatum, cultures of Hepatitis B, HIV or Mycobacterium tuberculosis

21 Risk Group 4 High individual risk High community risk Cause serious or lethal disease by casual contact Effective treatment/preventive measures not usually available Marburg virus, Ebola virus, Herpesvirus simiae, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

22 Containment Level Minimum requirements for safe handling (4 levels) Operational practices Safe work practices Engineering, technical, physical: Location & access Surface finishes & casework HVAC Containment perimeter (windows, autoclave location, etc.) Services (water, drains, gas, electricity, equipment)

23 Containment Level 1 No special design features Biological safety cabinet not required, may be used for sterility Work may be done on open benchtop Good aseptic/microbiological technique

24 Containment Level 2 Additional physical requirements, e.g. Limited access, signage, lockable doors Resistant, non-absorptive surfaces (for disinfection) Containment of aerosols: Biological safety cabinets Centrifuges with sealed rotors or safety cups Minimize environmental contamination: Handwashing sinks Decontamination facilities (autoclaves)

25 Containment Levels 3 and 4 Level 3 Respiratory protection HEPA filtration of lab exhaust Strictly controlled access Level 4 Isolated facility with sealed perimeter Positive pressure suits or Class 3 BSC Effluent sterilization system

26 Biohazards Policy* Prior to beginning work with biohazardous material, responsible users must complete and submit an Application to Use Biohazardous Materials to Environmental Health & Safety for review and approval *University Laboratory Safety Committee September 24, 2007

27 Biohazards Applications Completed by PI/lab supervisor prior to starting project Required for research, teaching, diagnostic activities using biohazards Required for all activities, including Level 1 Submit to EHS for approval (~1 week) Yearly renewal not required

28 If the research for the thesis involved... microorganisms, living cells, other biohazards... the appropriate compliance certificates must be included *Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies:

29 Lab Safety Training Courses WHMIS Training for Lab Personnel Principles of Laboratory Radiation Safety Introduction to Biosafety Safe Use of Biological Safety Cabinets Hazardous Waste Management & Disposal Training for Lab Personnel

30 Contact information: Telephone: Fax: Website: Address: 3610 McTavish, 4 th floor