Biological Risk Management Procedure

Biological Risk Management Procedure

Contents

·  1 Use of Animals

·  1.1 Purpose

·  1.2 Application

·  1.3 Legislation

·  1.4 References

·  1.5 Responsibilities

·  1.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

·  1.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

·  1.5.3 All Employees

·  1.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  1.6.1 Personal Protections for Working with Animals

·  1.6.2 Special Consideration Animals

·  1.6.3 Pregnancy and Work with Animals

·  1.6.4 New Work Requiring Immunisation

·  1.6.5 Biological Permits

·  2 Gene Technology and Bio safety Committee

·  2.1 Purpose

·  2.2 Application

·  2.3 Legislation

·  2.4 References

·  2.5 Responsibilities

·  3 Importation of Biological Materials

·  3.1 Purpose

·  3.2 Application

·  3.3 Legislation

·  3.4 References

·  3.5 Responsibilities

·  3.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

·  3.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

·  3.5.3 Staff / Students

·  3.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  3.6.1 Importation Permits

·  3.6.2 Local Authorisation

·  3.6.3 Potential Problems Associated with the Importation of Biological Material

·  4 Transport, Packaging and Disposal of Infectious and other biological Materials

·  4.1 Purpose

·  4.2 Application

·  4.3 Legislation

·  4.4 References

·  4.5 Responsibilities

·  4.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

·  4.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

·  4.5.3 All Employees

·  4.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  4.6.1 Transport of Infectious and other biological materials

·  4.6.2 Packaging of infectious and other biological materials

·  5 Laboratory Guidelines - Sterilisation

·  5.1 Purpose

·  5.2 Application

·  5.3 Legislation

·  5.4 References

·  5.5 Responsibilities

·  5.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

·  5.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

·  5.5.3 Staff / Students

·  5.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  5.6.1 Sterilisation by Steam

·  5.6.2 Disinfection and Sterilisation by Heat

·  5.6.3 Disinfection by Chemical Agent

·  6 Spill Response

·  6.1 Purpose

·  6.2 Application

·  6.3 Legislation

·  6.4 References

·  6.5 Responsibilities

·  6.5.1 Managers and Supervisors

·  6.5.2 Staff / Students

·  6.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  6.6.1 Spills in Laboratory Areas

·  6.6.2 Spills Inside Biological Safety Cabinets

·  6.6.3 Spills Inside Centrifuges

·  7 Equipment for Handling Biological Materials

·  7.1 Purpose

·  7.2 Application

·  7.3 Legislation

·  7.4 References

·  7.5 Responsibilities

·  7.5.1 Managers and Supervisors

·  7.5.2 Staff / Students

·  7.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  7.6.1 Centrifuges

·  7.6.2 Refrigerators and Freezers

·  7.6.3 Biological Safety Cabinets

·  7.6.4 Servicing Equipment

·  7.6.5 Malfunction of Equipment

·  8 Work Practices

·  8.1 Purpose

·  8.2 Application

·  8.3 Legislation

·  8.4 References

·  8.5 Responsibilities

·  8.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

·  8.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

·  8.5.3 Staff Students

·  8.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  8.6.1 Laboratory Accommodation

·  8.6.2 Safe Work Practices

·  9 Laboratory Hygiene

·  9.1 Purpose

·  9.2 Application

·  9.3 Legislation

·  9.4 References

·  9.5 Responsibilities

·  9.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

·  9.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

·  9.5.3 Staff / Students

·  9.6 Procedure and Guidelines

·  9.6.1 Handling Potential Sources of Contamination

·  9.6.2 Precautions for Laboratory Workers

·  9.6.3 First Aid

·  9.6.4 Reporting Incidents

·  10 Document Control

About this document

·  Established by: Administrative Committee on 18 August 1993

·  Review due by: 26 June 2015

·  Keywords: animals, hygiene, contamination, laboratory, waste, disposal, infectious, sharps, pregnancy, immunisation, gene technology, bio safety, biological hazard, micro-organism, importation, sterilisation, spill control, health monitoring, cytotoxic, physical containment

·  Version: 2.0

·  Approved by: Director, OHS and Injury Management on 26 June 2012

Related links

·  Advice topics: Bio Safety

1 Use of Animals

1.1 Purpose

To ensure the safety of staff and students working with animals, and to cover legal compliance with the importation, use, transport and disposal of these animals.

1.2 Application

These guidelines provide a uniform code of practice throughout the University of Melbourne and all its teaching areas for animal handling..

1.3 Legislation

Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004

Gene Technology Act 2000

Gene Technology Regulations 2001

Wildlife Act 1975

Fisheries Act 1968

1.4 References

University of Melbourne Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee. OHS and Zoonotic Diseases

Australian/New Zealand Standard 2243.3: Safety in Laboratories Part 3; Microbiological Safety and Containment

1.5 Responsibilities

1.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

Implement such safety measures as are approved by Council following recommendation by the Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

In association with appropriate personnel, formulate and publish specific safety rules for activities conducted within areas under their control for work with animals.

1.5.2 Managers and Supervisors

For the protection of staff working with animals (investigators and technicians), Departments must ensure immunisation with relevant vaccines is offered, and that baseline serum samples be collected for "at risk" personnel.

Ensure the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee approval is obtained to use the laboratory for experimental work with animals and biological materials.

Make women of child bearing age aware of risks to the unborn child of exposure to certain microorganisms.

Staff should be informed about the importance of hygiene, wearing appropriate protective clothing and the safe handling of animals.

Where relevant, staff should be provided with information about hazardous, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, anaesthetic drugs, or other substances with which they will be working.

Ensure that all laboratory workers have received training in handling animals.

Ensure that all wastes or by-products are transported according to relevant regulations.

1.5.3 All Employees

Segregate all wastes as non infectious, infectious, sharps commingles and radioactive material.

Use personal protective equipment where applicable. When handling animals, gloves and respiratory protection should be worn.

Report all injuries and incidents. Immediate medical action is required after exposure to human blood or body fluids.

Should you become pregnant and work with any of the animals mentioned below, you are required as a condition of employment to notify your department head or supervisor immediately once aware of pregnancy. If you wish to obtain confidential medical advice, you may contact the medical staff in the Student Health Unit.

1.6 Procedure and Guidelines

1.6.1 Personal Protections for Working with Animals

Staff should be instructed in the safe operation of any equipment to be used; made familiar with the equipment required by the provision of a written set of instructions and have the opportunity to carry out a practice run before work commences.

Staff should be encouraged to attend any relevant short courses available. It is strongly recommended by the Animal Ethics Committee that all students and staff involved in using animals for teaching or research attend the "Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Welfare" course run by the Staff Development and Training Unit.

Staff should be informed of the implicit risks of working with animals and the relevant species, particularly with regard to allergy and zoonotic disease. In case of a problem arising, staff should know where to seek advice.

Protection from contamination by animal faeces or urine should be provided. Adequate washing facilities are essential.

Penetration of organisms through the skin, particularly from self-inoculation during post-mortem examinations and from contact with ecto-parasites, is a real risk when handling or inoculating animals. Even uninoculated animals may harbour organisms dangerous to humans.

Any unusual personal reaction or allergy to animals should be reported to the supervisor so that appropriate action can be taken.

All conventionally bred animals carry a wide range or organisms some of which can cause severe diseases.

1.6.2 Special Consideration Animals

General procedures ensuring a healthy and safe workplace will provide protection in most cases. However, for certain hazards e.g. handling infectious organisms in the lab or experimental animals, there are special considerations including:

Cats - Cats may harbour and excrete in their faeces the organism Toxoplasma gondii. If infection occurs during human pregnancy, abortion or congenital malformations may result at any time during pregnancy. Congenital toxoplasmosis may develop following active infection of pregnant women though there may be no apparent symptoms of illness. Infants who survive infection are at risk of developing central nervous system symptoms.

Sheep during lambing - Pregnant sheep may harbour the organism Chlamydia psittaci which can infect humans handling infected material such as infected placental material or uterine discharge. If infection occurs during human pregnancy, it may cause abortion and severe illness in woman at any stage of pregnancy. This organism may also cause a pneumonia-like disease in healthy individuals so appropriate PPE should be worn/used.

Large Animals e.g. Sheep and Cattle - These may pose a problem to workers by causing abortion from the organism Listeria monocytogenes.

1.6.3 Pregnancy and Work with Animals

If you are planning a pregnancy and your work exposes you to risk, confidential advice may be obtained from the Occupatonal Health Service. Advice from the Environment Health and Safety Unit will be provided in conjunction with your doctor to help ensure your rights in employment, with the University acknowledging its obligations under health and safety and equal opportunity legislation. It is essential for the protection of the foetus and because of the legal requirements that the Occupational Health and Safety Act places on employers and employees, that you comply with these procedures. Depending on the nature of your work and the risks involved, modified or alternative duties may have to be provided during your pregnancy.

The Occupational Health Unit will be able to provide you and your department with advice on whether any changes to your work will be needed during your pregnancy. Every effort will be made by your department / faculty to ensure that if any changes are required they will result in the new duties or the new job being of similar status and standing with comparable prerequisites of training and experience within the University.

1.6.4 New Work Requiring Immunisation

Certain work groups should be offered immunisation against certain infections (e.g. tetanus, hepatitis B and Q-fever). Hepatitis B and Q Fever immunisations are not recommended during pregnancy.

1.6.5 Biological Permits

Departments should note that under the Wildlife Act 1975, only a few species of Australian Fauna may be kept without a Wildlife Fanciers Licence issued by the fisheries and Wildlife Division of the Ministry for Conservation and Natural Resources.

Also under the Fisheries Act 1968, Some limits are placed on the collection of marine and freshwater organisms. Departments should ensure that they have the necessary permits before undertaking collection of restricted material. Advice can be obtained from the appropriate government agencies.

2 Gene Technology and Bio safety Committee

2.1 Purpose

The Gene Technology and Biosafety Committee produces guidelines that apply to all users of materials that do or may contain potentially hazardous biological agents (bacteria, viruses, prions) and products containing biological materials of animal, human, plant or microbial origin, to ensure legal compliance with the importation, use, transport and disposal of these materials.

2.2 Application

These guidelines are not intended to replace instructions in laboratories which have specific risks but rather to provide a uniform code of practice throughout the University of Melbourne and all its teaching areas.

2.3 Legislation

Gene Technology Act 2000

Gene Technology Regulations 2001

2.4 References

Australian/New Zealand Standard 2243.3: Safety in Laboratories Part 3: Microbiological Safety and Containment

2.5 Responsibilities

Gene Technology and Biosafety Committee

The Gene Technology and Biosafety Committee is administered by the Office for Research Ethics and Integrity (Melbourne Research) and reports to Council via the Research Ethics and Integrity Strategy Committee and Academic Board.

The functions of the Gene Technology and Biosafety Committee are:

·  To assess all dealings involving the use of genetically modified organisms, as outlined in the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the Gene Technology Regulations 2001, and any related legislation or regulations. The assessment process includes consideration of the actual and potential risks involved in the dealings, the competence of the personnel and the security of the laboratory facilities.

·  To assess and approve where appropriate, work involving the use of Risk Group 3 agents, or higher (as defined in the Australian/New Zealand Standard Safety in Laboratories Part 3: Microbiological safety and containment (AS/NZS 2243.3)), or large volume (greater than 25 litres in a single vessel) work with Risk Group 2 agents, regardless of the genetically modified status of the agent being used.

·  To provide advice on all aspects of the safe handling of hazardous biological agents to the University community, including risk assessment and risk management strategies.

·  To produce and approve policies and guidelines for the use of potentially hazardous biological agents and the use of associated equipment as the need arises.

3 Importation of Biological Materials

3.1 Purpose

To ensure the safety of staff and students working with material that does or may contain potentially hazardous biological agents that have been imported to the local environment from outside Australia.

3.2 Application

These guidelines apply to all users of products containing biological material of animal, human, plant or microbiological origin.

3.3 Legislation

Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004

Gene Technology Act 2000

Gene Technology Regulations 2001

Dangerous Goods Act 1985

Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2000

Quarantine Act 1908

3.4 References

Australian/New Zealand Standard 2243.3: Safety in Laboratories Part 3: Microbiological Safety and Containment

The International Air Transportation Association (IATA) - Dangerous Goods Regulation

The Australia Post Dangerous and Prohibited Goods and Packaging Post Guide

Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail

Australian Standard 4834: Packaging for surface transport of biological material that may cause disease in humans, animals and plants

3.5 Responsibilities

3.5.1 Deans and Heads of Academic and Administrative Departments

Are required, in association with appropriate personnel, to formulate and publish specific safety rules for activities conducted within areas under their control.