FAQ Tag: Biological Health and Safety

• Annually
• After relocation

EHS coordinates the certification and you will be notified to ensure it does not interfere with your schedule.

• Biological Safety for BSL-2 Laboratories, One-Time*
• Laboratory Safety Orientation, One-Time
• BSL-2 Biosafety Refresher, Annually thereafter*

* Biological Safety for BSL-2 Laboratories and BSL-2 Biosafety Refresher fulfill a BSL-2 laboratory worker’s annual Bloodborne Pathogens training requirement.

For more information or to register for training, click here.

• Any waste perceived to contain materials that may be infectious to humans.
• Human materials such as:
  • Blood,
  • Body fluids,
  • Tissues,
  • Organs,
  • Body parts.
• Items contaminated with human materials.
• Discarded materials such as cultures, stocks, specimens, or vaccines.
• Discarded infectious agents.
• Sharps (including needles, syringes, etc.)
• Animal materials intentionally infected with pathogens or potentially infectious human materials.
  • Carcasses,
  • Body parts,
  • Bedding,
  • Waste contaminated by these materials.
• Any contaminated materials used to clean up RMW, such as a spill.

Any waste that has come in contact with potentially-infectious materials should be placed in a red bag with the biohazard symbol.

Regulated medical waste should be autoclaved. If the waste cannot be autoclaved (e.g., mixed with a chemical, is an animal carcass, or is from a clinical space), it should be placed in a burn box for incineration offsite.

• Autoclave
  • Use an autoclave meant to treat waste (will have a sticker on it that says “waste autoclave only”)
  • Autoclave material for 2 hours at 121oC at 15psi.
  • Fill in the logbook with date, time, your name, type of material treated, and approximate weight of treated waste.
  • Place autoclaved waste in an orange bag.
  • Affix a label indicating the waste has been treated and write the date on it.
  • Take the waste to the dumpster.
• Burn box
  • Tape bottom and side seams of box.
  • Line with 2 red bags with the biohazard symbol.
  • When 75% full, seal both bags.
  • Do not fill more than 40 pounds.
  • Close box and tape shut at seams.
  • Contact EHS for pickup.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is offered at no cost to employees determined to be at risk for occupational exposure to human blood, blood products, tissues, cells or other potentially infectious material. The vaccination series must be started within ten working days of initial assignment to a position involving potential exposure.

To obtain the Hepatitis B vaccine, contact EHS. EHS will arrange for eligible employees to receive the vaccination series.

Biological waste that is non-infectious should be autoclaved. If the waste cannot be autoclaved (e.g., mixed with a chemical or is an animal carcass), it should be placed in a burn box for incineration offsite.

• Autoclave
  • Place waste in a clear autoclave bag
  • Run the autoclave cycle.
  • Fill in the logbook with date, time, your name, type of material treated, and approximate weight of treated waste.
  • Take the waste to the dumpster.
• Burn box
  • Tape bottom and side seams of box.
  • Line with 2 black bags.
  • When 75% full, seal both bags.
  • Do not fill more than 40 pounds.
  • Close box and tape shut at seams.
  • Contact EHS for pickup.

The transport of biological materials may be regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). If you would like to transport any biological material, please contact EHS to ensure that your transport complies with DOT regulation.

The IBC:

• Provides oversight of recombinant DNA research.
• Ensures research is in compliance with NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines).
• Reviews and approves all research subject to the NIH Guidelines.
• Also reviews all projects that involve:
  • Biological materials
  • Infectious materials
  • Other potentially infectious materials
  • Biologically-derived toxins

In order to conduct work with a biological material, an IBC Registration form must be completed.  For more information on recombinant DNA, see the Office of Biotechnology Activities Frequently Asked Questions website.