INTRODUCTION TO CONTAINMENT

The term "containment" is used to describe the primary and secondary barriers for managing hazardous materials in the laboratory environment.

The objective of containment is to reduce exposure of laboratory workers, other persons in the vicinity of the laboratory, and the outside environment, to potentially hazardous agents. 

The three elements of containment include laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment, and facility design.

The sections which follow present work practices, containment equipment, and facility design requirements that are appropriate for research with biological materials in Risk Groups 1 and 2.