Biological Safety
Biological safety is the use of various controls present in the laboratory to contain dangerous pathogens to protect laboratory workers, and the environment both inside and outside of the laboratory. To successfully provide the most protection possible, each facility must do a risk assessment, where staffs consider the pathogens that may be present; the procedures that may lead to exposure; laboratory design; training and experience; and laboratory policies and procedures. Risk can never be eliminated but can be mitigated to the lowest degree possible with a safety culture that involves all employees.
When processing cultures, laboratorians should be aware of trigger points (i.e. slow-growing organisms, especially from a sterile source) and move work to a biological safety cabinet (BSC). Pathogen-specific information, including characteristics, laboratorian-specific risks, and disinfection can be found on the Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (Government of Canada, Public Health)
Below are several documents available, free of charge, to assist laboratories with Biorisk management.
For questions concerning biosafety and (after notification to local public health) to report an accidental exposure or release of a pathogen, please email Crystal Fortune or call 406-444-0930.
Biosafety Guidance Documents
The Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th edition was published in 2020 and is considered the "gold standard" in the United States. Not only does it thoroughly explain the concepts of biosafety and biosecurity; but it also breaks down pathogen risks, laboratory design and biological safety cabinets (BSC), and includes (Appendix N) for clinical laboratories.
Risk Assessments
The Association of Public Health Laboratories Best Practices in Risk Assessment outlines key components of a risk assessment and provides links to templates that are available for use.
Training and Competency
The CDC's MMWR Guidelines for Biosafety Laboratory Competency outlines the skills, knowledge, and abilities required for staff working in a biosafety level 2 through biosafety level 4 laboratory. The competencies are broken down into their respective biosafety skill domains (potential hazards, hazard controls, administrative controls, and emergency preparedness and response) and are tiered to entry level, midelevel, and senior level staffs.
