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Biosafety Resources

S3: Science Safety Security

Biorisk Management 

The International Working Group on Strengthening the Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct in the Life Sciences is a forum and a community of practice comprised of representatives of governments, academia, industry, and professional and international organizations, using crowdsourcing to develop guiding principles and educational/training resources to support and promote a global culture of biosafety, biosecurity, ethical, and responsible conduct in the life sciences, based on the culture model and assessment methodology developed by IAEA for the nuclear safety and security culture. The International Working Group developed a Guide to Training and Information Resources on the Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct in the Life Sciences, a Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct in the Life Sciences -- (Self) Assessment Framework–, and an accompanying data collection tool. This framework provides a measure of the organizational culture of biosafety, biosecurity, and responsible conduct to aid in the process of enhancing such culture at the local level through baseline and periodic assessments. The Framework may be used as is or may be customized in accordance with local needs.

General Biosafety

Biosafety in Biomedical and Microbiological Laboratories: Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) has served as the cornerstone of biosafety practice in the United States since its initial release in 1984. The BMBL remains an advisory document recommending best practices for the safe conduct of work in biomedical and clinical laboratories from a biosafety perspective.

Occupational Health

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens. It has provisions for exposure control plans, engineering and work practice controls, hepatitis B vaccinations, hazard communication and training, and recordkeeping. The standard imposes requirements on employers of workers who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials such as certain tissues and body fluids.

Waste Management

Planning Guidance for Handling Category A Solid Waste: This guidance focuses on managing waste contaminated with the Category A infectious substances that affect humans.

Facility Planning and Design

Design Requirements Manual for Biomedical Laboratories and Animal Research Facilities: The NIH’s Design Requirements Manual for Biomedical Laboratories and Animal Research Facilities (DRM) contains requirements for new buildings owned, leased, or renovated by the NIH.

International Resources

Culture of Responsibility

Guide to Training and Information Resources on the Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct: This list of resources was developed by the International Working Group on Strengthening the Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct in the Life Sciences, a forum and a community of practice comprised of representatives of governments, academia, industry, and professional and international organizations, that uses crowdsourcing to develop guiding principles and educational/training resources to support and promote a global culture of biosafety, biosecurity, ethical, and responsible conduct in the life sciences, based on the culture model and assessment methodology developed by IAEA for the nuclear safety and security culture.