UW Stout Laboratory Safety

BIOSAFETY LEVEL 2 AWARENESS TRAINING

Biological Safety

Introduction

This training provides a basic understanding of biosafety hazards and practices required to enter UW-Stout’s designated biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory spaces

It does not provide all required training (e.g., bloodborne pathogens, use of biosafety cabinets, standard microbiological practices) for work with agents in BSL-2 containment

It is a supplement to, not a replacement for, the Laboratory Safety Training modules on D2L

What Does “Biosafety Level 2” Mean?

The biosafety level (BSL) defines the laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment and laboratory facilities recommended for work with biohazardous materials. UW-Stout has facilities for working with materials that require BSL-1 or BSL-2 containment: BSL-1: For work with defined and characterized

strains of viable microorganisms not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adult humans

BSL-2: For work with moderate-risk agents that are associated with human disease of varying severity

What are “Biohazardous Materials”?

Biohazardous materials are infectious agents or hazardous biological materials that present a potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment. They include: Recombinant DNA Organisms that can affect health (e.g., parasites,

bacteria, fungi, viruses) Biologically active agents (e.g., toxins, allergens,

venoms)

How Do I Know Which are BSL-2 Labs?

All doors to laboratory or classroom spaces that contain materials being worked with using BSL-2 criteria will have the sign shown on the right

The sign advises of entry and exit requirements that must be followed by everyone who enters the space, not just people working with the materials

Current BSL-2 Labs in Jarvis are 247, 249, 257 and 267

Can I Do Other Work in a BSL-2 Lab?

Multi-use labs may contain areas that are not to be used for BSL-2 work; these areas are designated with blue washable tape placed along the perimeter of the work surfaces

These blue-labeled areas must not be used for BSL-2 work, and will not require decontamination specific to BSL-2 areas

Equipment from blue-labeled areas can be moved to and from non-BSL-2 areas without decontamination

Everyone entering the lab should familiarize themselves with the location of the non-BSL-2 spaces

What are the Hazards?

Biohazardous materials that require BSL-2 containment have a moderate risk of causing human disease

Exposure could occur from: Accidental needle stick or other skin puncture Splash into eyes, nose, mouth Accidental ingestion

If handled carefully (using standard microbiological practices) these materials can be used safely on open benches Procedures that may create infectious aerosols or splashes

should be performed in a biological safety cabinet

The risk of being exposed by being in the same room is extremely low.

What are the Rules?

Lab coats are mandatoryNo open-toed shoesSafety glasses must be worn by everyone if someone in the lab

is working with a liquid chemical or biohazardous materialChemical splash goggles (indirectly vented or un-vented; NOT

vented impact goggles) must be worn by people working with a biohazardous material if there is a possibility of creating a splash

Lab doors must not be propped openEating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying

cosmetics and storing food for human consumption are not allowed at any time

Hands must be washed with soap and water before leaving the room

What Do I Do With My Lab Coat?

Lab coats should always be left in the labLab coats will be laundered for you at the end

of each semester, at a minimumDo not take personal lab coats home until

after they have been laundered (talk to your instructor or lab manager for confirmation)

If your lab coat is visibly contaminated with biological materials, it should be autoclaved and laundered immediately

This concludes the BSL-2 Awareness Training Module

Please complete the BSL-2 Entry Quiz Requirement, Quiz 12 – BSL-2 Entry

Conclusion