Biological Safety

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Last Updated: Oct 22, 2024, 02:38 PM

The national guidelines for best practices for working safely with biological agents are listed in the CDC publication “Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories,” or BMBL. Biosafety risk assessment is the process by which a researcher determines appropriate biosafety level one through four (BSL1 to BSL4) or vertebrate animal biosafety level one through four (ABSL1 to ABSL4). This publication also contains a brief discussion of NIH oversight of work with recombinant DNA (rDNA). 

Work at BSL1 through 4, ABSL1 through 4, and work with rDNA must be preapproved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee. Please fill out a Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MUA) and submit it to the IBC before beginning work with pathogenic microorganisms or rDNA. The MUA forms can be found in the forms links; one form is for work with recombinant DNA, and one form is for work with pathogens. Completed MUA forms should be submitted to Dr. Andrew Wood, Institutional Biosafety Officer, at wood@plant.siu.edu. 

Do you have any questions about biological management issues? Please e-mail biological@cehs.siu.edu or call 618-453-7180.

Biological Safety Information

Plans and Guides

Occupational Exposure Control To Bloodborne Pathogens

Those employees which may have reasonably anticipated skin, eye, mucous membrane or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that may result from the performance of any job duties without regard to the use of personal protective equipment are covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 U.S.C 653, 655 and 29 C.R.F. 1910.1030 et seq.; IDOL 56 Ill. Admin. Code 350).

Center for Environmental Health and Safety (CEHS) has an Occupational Exposure Control plan which may be used in developing individual programs. Copies are available free of charge from CEHS for SIU Departments only. You may also use the on-line version located here. Please send e-mail requesting a copy to biological@cehs.siu.edu or call CEHS at at 453-7180. As requirements change, updates will be posted.

Download the Occupational Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens (pdf)

Forms

Fillable PDF forms are designed to work with Adobe Acrobat. 

Get help opening the eform

Eforms are available or to consult your information technology associate for assistance with your browser. 

**Biological waste pick-ups will be on Tuesday mornings. 

Training

Laboratory personnel who work with human cell lines, unreserved human tissue, human blood, or other potenitally infectious material must complete bloodborne pathogens training annually. This training can be done online through the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration's (OSPA) website: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative, CITI.

View Instructor-Led Biological Safety Training

Biological Pickup Request Instructions

Biological waste is collected on Tuesdays of each week.  Your biological waste will be collected within one week from the date we receive notification.  If CEHS has not responded within one week, please contact us.

The Laboratory and Hazardous Waste Section can be contacted at (618) 453-7180.  Biological waste that is ready to be disposed of can be done so by completing a Biological Pickup Request Form which will be submitted electronically to CEHS.

Regulated Waste is liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials; contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials that are capable of releasing these materials during handling; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially infectious materials.

General Regulated Waste Containment and Disposal 

All boxes containing biohazardous waste should be closed upon our arrival.  Please ensure that the red biohazard bag(s) are tied closed and that the cardboard box is taped shut.  This effort will help minimize the possibility of CEHS staff from being exposed to any airborne infectious agents.  Petri plates and any other items that could potentially leak, should be double bagged.  Please contact us if you are in need of additional bags, boxes or have any questions.  CEHS will only accept biohazardous waste containers that are clean and free from spills or moisture.

Regulated waste shall be placed in containers which are:

  • Closable;

  • Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

  • Properly labeled or color-coded;

  • Closed prior to removal to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

  • Disposal of all regulated waste shall be in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, States and Territories, and political subdivisions of States and Territories.

  • Regulated waste shall be disposed of by the CEHS.

If outside contamination of the regulated waste container occurs, it shall be placed in a second container. 

Contaminated Sharps Containment and Disposal

Contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately or as soon as possible in containers that are:

  • Closable;

  • Puncture-resistant;

  • Leakproof; Sharps containers should be leakproof all over and not just the sides and bottom.

  • Properly labeled or color-coded.

During use, containers for contaminated sharps shall be easily accessible to personnel and located as close as feasible to the immediate area where sharps are used or can be reasonably anticipated to be found:

  • Maintained upright throughout use;

  • Replaced when container is full.

When moving containers of contaminated sharps from the area of use, the containers shall be:

  • Closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

  • Placed in a secondary container if leakage is possible.

The second container shall be:

  • Closable;

  • Constructed to contain all contents and prevent leakage during handling, storage, transport, or shipping;

  • Properly labeled or color-coded.

  • Reusable disposal containers shall not be opened, emptied, or cleaned manually or in any other manner which exposes employees to the risk of percutaneous injury.

  • Disposal of all regulated waste shall be in accordance with applicable regulations of the United States, States and Territories, and political subdivisions of States and Territories.

Fact Sheets

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