Scenario 1: Biosafety Laboratory (BSL) Level 3
This particular blog post is in reference to BSL 3. The code of practice and protocols for BSL 1 and 2 is still applicable for BSL 3, but there are various modifications made due to more infectious or dangerous specimens being used in BSL 3.The following protocols are the modifications that are applicable for BSL 3.
Code of practice
1. The international biohazard warning symbol and sign displayed on access doors must identify the biosafety level and the name of the laboratory supervisor who controls access, and indicate any special conditions for entry into the area, e.g. immunization.
2. Laboratory protective clothing must be of the type with solid-front or wrap-around gowns, scrub suits, coveralls, head covering and, where appropriate, shoe covers or specified shoes. Laboratory protective clothing must not be worn outside the laboratory, and must be decontaminated before laundering. Change into specified laboratory clothing may be warranted when working with specific agents.
3. Usage of potentially infectious material must be conducted within a biological safety cabinet.
4. Respiratory protective equipment may be necessary for specific laboratory procedures or working with animals infected with certain pathogens.
Laboratory design and facilities
1. The laboratory must be isolated from other areas of the building with unrestricted human traffic flow. There should be facilities for separating clean and dirty clothing and a shower may also be necessary.
2. Anteroom doors may be self-closing and interlocking so that only one door is open at a time. A break-through panel may be provided for emergency exit use.
3. Surfaces of walls, floors and ceilings should be water-resistant and easy to clean.
4. Openings should be sealed to facilitate decontamination of the room(s).
5. The laboratory room must be sealable for decontamination. Air-ducting systems must be constructed to permit gaseous decontamination.
6. Windows must be closed, sealed and break-resistant.
7. A hand-washing station with hands-free controls should be provided near each exit door.
8. There must be a controlled ventilation system that maintains a directional airflow into the laboratory room. A visual monitoring device with or without alarm(s) should be installed so that staff can at all times ensure that proper directional airflow into the laboratory room is maintained.
9. The building ventilation system must be so constructed that air from the containment laboratory – Biosafety Level 3 is not recirculated to other areas within the building. Air may be HEPA filtered, reconditioned and recirculated within that laboratory.
10. Exhaust air from the laboratory (other than from biological safety cabinets) is HEPA filtered then discharged to the outside of the building and dispersed away from occupied buildings and air intakes. Audible or clearly visible alarms to notify personnel of air filtering system failures should be installed.
11. All HEPA filters must be installed in a manner that permits gaseous decontamination and testing.
12. Biological safety cabinets should be sited away from walking areas and out of crosscurrents from doors and ventilation systems.
13. The exhaust air from Class I or Class II biological safety cabinets, which will have been passed through HEPA filters, must be discharged in such a way as to avoid interference with the air balance of the cabinet or the building exhaust system.
14. An autoclave should be available. Infectious waste to be removed for decontamination and disposal must be transported in sealed, unbreakable and leakproof containers according to national or international regulations, as appropriate.
15. Backflow-precaution devices must be fitted to the water supply. Vacuum lines should be protected with liquid disinfectant traps and HEPA filters.
16. Alternative vacuum pumps should also be properly protected with traps and filters.
17. Facility design and operational procedures should be documented.
The following images would illustrate the design of a typical BSL3 laboratory.
Image obtained from Biological Safety: Principles and Practices (4th ed.) pg 283
Image obtained from Biological Safety: Principles and Practices (4th ed.) pg 284
Image obtained from Guidelines for Laboratory Design: Health and Safety Considerations (2nd ed.) pg 192
The following images would illustrate the design of a typical BSL3 laboratory.
In the following blog post, we'll be discussing about BSL 4.
References:
DiBerardinis, L. J., Gatwood, G. T., Baum, J. S., Groden, E. F., First, M. W. & Seth, A. K. (1993) Guidelines for Laboratory Design: Health and Safety Considerations. (2nd ed.). NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Fleming, D. O. & Hunt, D. L. (Eds.). Biological Safety: Principles and Practices. (4th ed.). Washington, DC: ASM Press.
Furr, A. K. (2000) CRC Handbook of Laboratory Safety. (5th ed.). FL: CRC Press.
IUPAC-IPCS (1992) Chemical Safety Matters. UK: Cambridge University Press
Jackson, L. (Executive Producer), & Alboum, S. (Producer, Director). (2008). The Chem Lab: Safety in Every Step. [Motion Picture]. Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities & Sciences.
Leonard, D. (n.d.). Elements of Safety: Orientation to Laboratory Safety. [VCD] Singapore:SafetyMax Corp. Pte Ltd.
Safety Sense: A Laboratory Guide. (2nd ed.). (2007) USA, NY: Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press.
Salerno, R. M. & Gaudioso, J. (2007) Laboratory Biosafety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
World Health Organization. (2004). Laboratory Biosafety Manual (3rd ed.). Retrieved from WHO, Geneva: http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/Biosafety7.pdf
Labels: biosafety laboratory, BSL 3, code of practice, laboratory design and facilities
posted by Michelle, Bernadette, Shanna, Karen, Su Wei, Shi Ting @ 16:24
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