Biosafety

Procedures and Equipment

Containment of infectious materials requires protection from the biological agent and utilization of appropriate handling procedures. Both factors in providing biosafety are only as good as implementation in daily practice. Communication of hazards, training in safety standards, provision of safety equipment, and protective gear reduce risks of exposure to pathogens. In the clinical or hospital setting, universal precautions prevent contamination from human blood, tissue, and fluids, except perspiration. Safety equipment used includes gloves, gowns, splash shields, and face protection. In the laboratory setting, safety precautions are specific to particular pathogens. Holding each worker responsible for following guidelines, policies, and procedures on a day-to-day basis increases the level of safety.

Safety equipment provides a first barrier of defense between the biological agent and the worker and includes personal protective equipment and enclosed work areas called biological safety cabinets. Class I and class II biological safety cabinets provide good levels of protection when used with good microbiological techniques. Gas-tight class III biological safety cabinets provide the highest level of protection. The other immediate barrier is personal protective equipment worn on the person, which ranges from gloves, coats, and goggles to shoe covers, respirators, face shields, and air-supplied full-body suits.

The second barrier of defense is facility design. To prevent the spread of disease by contact, facilities separate laboratory space from public areas, install decontamination equipment areas, and provide sinks for hand washing. To prevent the spread of disease by aerosol or droplet transmission, facilities control airflow and isolate laboratory space in separate buildings or restricted areas.

Biosafety Levels

In microbiological and biomedical laboratory settings, approval to work with the four different levels of pathogens is contingent on the laboratory's ability to provide a safe environment for workers and to prevent release into the environment through appropriately engineered facilities, the installation of safety equipment, properly trained staff, and the implementation of specific practices and standards.

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