The BL1 laboratory
is suitable for experiments involving:
Microorganisms classified as Risk Group I. These organisms
present minimal or no biohazard risk to healthy workers under
ordinary handling conditions.
Recombinant DNA activity that requires BL1 containment including
animal studies that involve the construction of transgenic animals.
(If you wish to review the Guidelines developed by NIH for RDNA
click here.
Non-recombinant cell or tissue culture studies that do not
involve infectious plant or animal virus.
Management of animal populations that are free of zoonotic
organisms or are not part of a study which involves organisms
or chemical substances which may require higher containment
considerations.
Microorganisms in this class include Escherichia
coli K12, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis,
Neurospora crassa and non primate cells.
The control of potential biohazards at the BL1 level is provided
by use of standard microbiological practices. The following
are procedures to be used with BL1 containment requirements.
The following requirements are basic for any laboratory using
infectious or toxic agents.
All laboratory personnel and others whose work requires them
to enter the laboratory must understand the biological and other
hazards with which they will come in contact through their normal
work in the laboratory, and be trained in appropriate safety
precautions and procedures.
A laboratory safety manual must be prepared and adopted. And
it is the responsibility of the laboratory director/ principal
investigator to ensure it identifies known and potential biohazards
and specifies practices and procedures to eliminate or minimize
such risks.
The manual must also contain an emergency response plan. Personnel
must be required to know, understand, and follow standard practices
and procedures. Training in laboratory safety must be provided
and competence in safe technique demonstrated before work is
allowed with hazardous agents or toxins.
The laboratory must be kept neat, orderly and clean, and storage
of materials not pertinent to the work should be minimized.
Protective laboratory clothing (uniforms, coats, gowns) must
be available and worn properly fastened by all personnel, including
visitors, trainees and others entering or working in the laboratory.
Protective laboratory clothing must not be worn in non-laboratory
areas. Suitable footwear with closed toes and heels and preferably
with non-slip soles must be worn in all laboratory areas.
