ACTIVIDADES CULTURALES Y HUMANITARIAS EN MADRID

Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) is suitable for work involving agents of no known or minimal potential hazard to workplace personnel and the environment. The work area may be an integral part to general traffic patterns in the building. Work may be conducted on open bench tops. Special containment equipment is neither required

BIOHAZARD

Recognized symbol for biohazards. (Courtesy of Occupational Safety and Health Administration.)

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nor generally used. Personnel shall have specific training in procedures conducted in the facility.

11.1.2 B^IOSAFETYL^EVEL2

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) is similar to Level 1 and is suitable for work involving agents of moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment. It differs in that (1) personnel are specifically trained to handle pathogenic agents and are directed by supervisors who are experienced in working with these agents, (2) access to the actual workplace is limited when work is conducted, (3) extreme precautions are taken with contaminated sharp items, and (4) certain procedures that may result in the creation of infectious aerosols or splashes are conducted in biological safety cabinets or other physical containment equipment.

11.1.3 BIOSAFETYLEVEL3

All work to be conducted with agents assigned to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) must be approved in advance by the Chemical and Biological Safety Committee. BSL-3 work must be conducted in accordance with the facility safeguards, standard micro-biological practices, special practices, and safety equipment described in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s book entitled, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.

BSL-3 is applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production facilities in which work is done with indigenous or exotic agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease as a result of exposure by inhalation. Workplace personnel have specific training in handling pathogenic and potentially lethal agents and are supervised by experienced supervisors in working with these agents.

All procedures involving the manipulation of infectious materials are conducted within biological safety cabinets or other physical containment devices, or by personnel wearing appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment. The worksite should have special engineering and design features such as access zones, sealed penetrations, and directional airflow.

Many workplaces may not have all the facility safeguards recommended for BSL-3. In these circumstances, acceptable safety may be achieved for routine or repetitive operations (e.g., diagnostic procedures involving the propagation of an agent for identification, typing, and susceptibility testing) in BSL-2 facilities. How-ever, the recommended standard microbiological practices, special practices, and safety equipment for BSL-3 must be rigorously followed.

11.1.4 BIOSAFETYLEVEL4

Biological agents requiring Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) containment practices are an unusual occurrence. Working at BSL-4 will require special planning and approval processes since these are the most hazardous organisms that are to be handled and will at times require specially designed handling procedures, specific policies and procedures, and safety plans.

11.2 REQUIREMENTS OF BIOSAFETY LEVEL 1 11.2.1 S^TANDARDMICROBIOLOGICALPRACTICES FORBSL-1

The following are some general guidelines for facilities working with BSL-1 organisms:

. Limited access or restricted access to the worksite area while work is in progress.

. Post a biohazard sign at the entrance to the work area whenever infectious agents are present. The sign must include the name of the agent(s) in use and the name and phone number of the responsible individual.

. Work surfaces are to be decontaminated once a day and after any spill of viable material.

. All contaminated liquid or solid wastes must be decontaminated before disposal. Contaminated materials that are to be decontaminated at a site outside the work area shall be placed in a durable, leak proof, closed container before they are removed from the facility.

. The work areas shall have an established policy for the safe handling of sharps.

. Mechanical pipetting devices shall be used; mouth pipetting is prohibited.

. Eating, drinking, smoking, and applying cosmetics are not permitted in the work area. Food may be stored in cabinets and refrigerators designated and used for this purpose only. Food storage cabinets and refrigerators shall be located outside the work area.

. All personnel shall wash their hands after they handle viable materials and animals and before leaving the work area (see Figure 11.1).

. All procedures shall be performed carefully to minimize the creation of aerosols.

. An insect and rodent control program is to be in effect. At northwestern facilities, vermin control should be employed for the control of pests and should be contacted if insects or rodents are seen.

11.2.2 S^AFETYEQUIPMENT FORBSL-1

Adequate safety equipment should be available and in use:

. Special containment equipment is generally not required for manipulation of agents assigned to BSL-1.

. It is recommended that laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms be worn to prevent contamination or soiling of street clothes.

. Gloves should be worn if skin is broken or afflicted by a rash.

11.2.3 FACILITIES FORBSL-1

A work area should be constructed to provide the best conditions for the safe handling of BSL-1 organisms and should include the following:

. The laboratory shall be designed so that it can be easily cleaned.

. Bench tops shall be impervious to water and resistant to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, and moderate heat.

. Furniture shall be sturdy. Spaces between benches, cabinets, and equipment shall be accessible for cleaning.

. Each work area shall contain a sink for hand washing.

. If the facility has windows that open, they shall befitted with fly screens.