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Health and Safety Directorate

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Biological

Scope: Queen Mary researchers and students who work in life sciences laboratories and related areas can be at risk from exposure to hazardous biological agents (also termed ‘hazardous micro-organisms’, ‘pathogens’, ‘infectious agents’). These can be viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or novel infectious agents such as abnormal prions. Some work with hazardous biological agents will be intentional (e.g. by culturing a pathogen) and other work non-intentional, e.g. working with human, animal or environmental material (e.g. blood, cells, tissue samples, clinical samples, soil or water samples), which is likely to contain hazardous micro-organisms although the micro-organisms are not intentionally being grown (termed in these cases as ‘adventitious agents’).

 

In addition to the general duties under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, there are provisions which apply to laboratory and related work with hazardous biological agents. The choice of biosafety control measures in laboratories (termed ‘Containment Level’ measures) is largely based on the ‘Hazard Group’ of the biological agent that is being used (or that may be present). These measures also translate to ‘infection control requirements’ applicable in clinical areas.

Biological agents are classified into one of four Hazard Groups from 1 (the lowest, e.g. an attenuated E.coli strains such as K12 derivatives) to 4 (highest, e.g. Ebola, pandemic influenza) based on their ability to infect healthy adults. The classification is set out in the Approved List of Biological Agents with a few hundred known ‘wild type’ pathogens listed. Absence of a listing for an agent does not imply the lowest hazard group, and a risk assessment based on the key principles of classification will need to be completed to identify the classification.

Hazardous biological agents which are genetically modified are covered under specific legislation, and a specific QMUL policy and procedures apply. Please see the GMO topic page for information.

Other considerations: Transport, import, export of hazardous biological agents, GMOs, biological / environmental samples and also certain animal products / by products have specified regulations and permits. Please see Dangerous Goods Transport and Animal By Products (ABP) topic pages for further information.

Key duties of Research Investigators / Head of School or Institute for work with biological agents and materials at QMUL:

1: Carrying out an assessment (using Bio-Safety template in ‘QMUL documents’ below) of the risks to human health (and where applicable, the environment) before any work with biological agents and materials begins. This will include the identification of the hazard group and containment level.

2: Notifying the Biological and GM Safety Committee (BGMSC) of ‘higher risk’ work and gaining approval. See the 'Bio-Safety risk assessment template’ document below for criteria of higher risk work, and arrangements for notification. The Biological Safety Adviser will facilitate regulatory notifications at this point for biosafety and biosecurity.

3: Ensuring effective application of the required containment measures, including those for decontamination and waste disposal. Inspections using these checklists should be conducted.  

4: Ensuring health surveillance is in place for workers, as assessed.

5: Notifying significant changes in higher risk work to the BGMSC.

6: Report accidents and incidents relating to work with biological agents via the accident and incident reporting system

7: Ensuring staff, students and others involved in the work receive the appropriate training.

Policy

Working with Biological Agents Policy

Procedures and Guidance

Procedures for working with biological agents and materials.

COVID-19 Human Samples Procedures and Guidance

COVID-19 Phlebotomy Procedures and Guidance

Working Safely with Vaccinia Virus

Laboratory Chemical Solvent Biological Spill_Emergency Protocol

CL3 Lone Working Check and Assist Procedure_Redacted Version

Sterilisation and Disinfection Part 2 - Disinfection

Biological agent health surveillance and exposure procedures

Mpox Health Surveillance and Exposure Incidents - Laboratory Workers

Blood Borne Viruses Health Surveillance Emergency Procedures

Tuberculosis Health Surveillance and Emergency Procedures

Vaccinia Virus Health Surveillance and Emergency Procedures

Forms and checklists

Bio Safety Risk Assessment - Notifiable

Bio Safety Risk Assessment - Notifiable - Guidance

Safe Handling of Coronaviruses Risk Assessment Guidance

Bio Safety Risk Assessment_Non-notifiable

Disinfection Standard Operating Procedure

CL3 LEV Ducts_HSG258 checklist [DOC 16KB]

Further information

For Advice and Assistance at QMUL, contact the H&S Manager / Advisor for your Faculty / PS or the subject lead at http://www.hsd.qmul.ac.uk/contact-us/

All H&S staff can be contacted via the help desk at hs-helpdesk@qmul.ac.uk

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