Biological Material

• Purpose
• Scope
• Definitions
• Responsibilities
• Duties
• Internal documents
• Eksternal resources

Purpose

OsloMet will store and handle biological material responsibly and ensure that no employee or student is exposed to risk of infection.  

Scope

These guidelines apply to all entities that purchase, store or use biological material; both students and staff

Definitions

Biological material includes biological agents and hazardous biological material.

Biological agents are live or dead microorganisms, cell cultures, and prions that can provoke infection, allergy or toxic effects in humans.

Hazardous biological materials are biological agents that can cause health risks. Biological agents are divided into four infection risk groups according to their ability to cause disease, the severity of the disease and the risk of further spreading.

Senior Lecturer / Course Supervisor / laboratory supervisor is the person or group of persons responsible for the preparation of student assignments and/or guidance in the laboratory.

Responsibilities

The line manager is responsible for establishing procedures that meet with the requirements of the authorities and the college. He also has make sure it can be documented that the procedures are followed

The Senior Lecturer / Course Supervisor / laboratory supervisor should plan the work in order to limit the health risks are as much as possible.

Duties

Purchase and registration

The purchasing procedures should ensure that:

• the purchase is assessed in the light of possible health risks
• no quantities larger than necessary are bought
• the number of suppliers is limited
• the products are registered

If no information on the biological material is entered in the chemical database, a different register must be created for such substances. The register should contain information on

• name; if possible also supplier and article number
• quantity
• repository

Storage

Biological materials should be stored so that:

• no one accidentally comes into contact with them
• access is denied for unauthorised

Use and Training

All staff and students who handle biological material should receive training in safe use

Use of biological agents and hazardous biological material should be risk assessed. Biological agents can be harmful even though they do not cause infectious diseases. Under certain conditions, some form toxins that can be very powerful (ex .: botulisme-, tetanus, diphtheria, dysentery bacteria (type 1) and toxic E.coli strains)

Certain employees should not work with biological agents.

The risk assessment should be especially careful when assessing the risks of handling biological materials whilst pregnant.

Required safety equipment must be available.

Safety equipment must be checked regularly.

Disposal and remediation

Biological materials must be disposed as infectious / hazardous waste. The units must have procedures that ensure annual remediation.

Internal documents