Laboratories working with infectious or pathogenic microorganisms conduct important research that is needed to protect public health and the environment. This is especially true of chemical engineering research that works with biological agents, including vaccine development and translational medicine used to develop proven strategies for disease treatment and prevention. Laboratory employees regularly risk exposure to pathogens and other biohazardous infectious materials (BIM) that can cause life-threatening, even fatal health effects.
To help laboratory employers protect their personnel, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has defined four biosafety levels (BSLs) associated with increasing hazard levels, along with specific laboratory practices and safety guidelines to help employees effectively identify and mitigate risks.
This article reviews some of the most important elements of laboratory safety when working with biological hazards, and some of the key management takeaways for an operation that handles biohazards.