HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT

Biosafety

When handling biological materials, certain safety measures must be followed to avoid infecting yourself, others or the environment. The Biosafety Program at MacEwan University describes these measures in the MacEwan University Biosafety Manual.

Read the manual

Some aspects of the teaching, learning and research activities that take place at MacEwan University require the use of regulated materials. These materials may include risk agents up to group 2, which require biosafety containment level 2. All work with regulated materials on MacEwan property is governed by the Pathogen and Toxin License issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Biological materials vs. regulated materials

Biological material refers to pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms, proteins and nucleic acids, as well as any biological matter that may contain microorganisms, proteins, nucleic acids and other infectious agents or parts thereof that could be a health hazard to humans or animals or that poses an environmental risk. Biological materials that are risk group 2 materials or higher or that pose an unknown risk are treated as biohazards.

Biohazardous materials include, but are not limited to the following:

  • human clinical specimens including blood, other bodily fluids (e.g., saliva, urine) or primary culture of human cells
  • viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites or eukaryotic cell lines
  • environmental specimens suspected to contain microbes
  • large-scale, single-volume culture more than 10 litres for any microbe or eukaryotic cell line
  • microbial toxins
  • genetic manipulation involving the use of recombinant DNA

Regulated materials are outlined in the Canadian Biosafety Standards and are defined as follows:

  • human pathogens and toxins (under the HPTA and HPTR)
  • terrestrial animal pathogens (under the HAA and HAR)
  • terrestrial animal pathogens in animals, animal products, animal by-products or other organisms (under the HAA or HAR)

Working with regulated materials

The following tasks must be completed before conducting activites or undertaking research that uses regulated materials:

  1. Complete the HSE Regulated Materials Permit Application.
  2. Complete the HSE Hazard Assessment and Control Report for controlling hazards during the work with the biological material.
  3. Prepare for annual inspections. (See more information on the Inspections page.)

Transfer of biological materials

Laboratory personnel who are transferring biological material are required to consider the following:

  • the safety of personnel, the public and the environment in the event of a spill of the material
  • public perception of the safety of the materials being transported

The transfer of biohazardous materials off MacEwan property is governed by the federally regulated Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act, and transportation must be arranged with a TDG certified carrier. All individuals who are involved in packaging and transferring hazardous materials off campus must have valid TDG certification and complete the Regulated Material Transfer Notification form.

Biosecurity

Laboratory biosecurity refers to institutional and personal security measures designed to prevent the loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release of pathogens and toxins and other related materials or assets (personnel, equipment, non-infectious materials or animals). Effective biosafety practices form the basis for laboratory biosecurity activities. The Biosecurity Risk Plan addresses biosecurity risks and mitigation strategies.

Forms & resources