Biological safety 

Risk-Grouping of Micro-organisms by type

• Bacteria, Chlamydiae, Rickettsiae and MycoplasmasThese and all other "pathogenic" microorganisms are Risk Group 2 unless proved otherwise. A list of risk grouping of micro-organisms according to type can be obtained from the Laboratory Safety Officer (Biological).
  ‍Risk Group 2 microorganisms
  Risk Group 2 microorganisms that require special precautions
  Risk Group 3 microorganisms
• Parasites: All parasites are regarded as Risk-Group 2, with respect to their ineffective stages. Preparations known to be non-infectious (or free of infectious stages) may not require the associated containment level. A list of risk grouping of micro-organisms according to type can be obtained from the Laboratory Safety Officer (Biological). 
• Fungi: This classification is restricted to fungi that may pose a hazard to healthy persons. Ones which infect following injury, together with a large number of fungi normally saprophytic but which cause infections in the compromised host are excluded. Unless otherwise known, all fungi from clinical specimens should be handled at containment Level 2. A list of risk grouping of micro-organisms according to type can be obtained from the Laboratory Safety Officer (Biological).
• Viruses: Lists of viruses according to Risk Group are available from the USO. All viruses found in humans not on these lists are assigned to Risk Group 2. A list of risk grouping of micro-organisms according to type can be obtained from the Laboratory Safety Officer (Biological)

• To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
  

N.B. Inventory records of biological agents (not limited to the above classification of microorganisms)

The Principal Investigator should keep records of purchasing order / inventory of all biological agents (including the original species, its derivatives, and recombinant products) for purpose of laboratory safety audit.

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).

The basic accountability for safety is with the Chairman / Head of the department "owning" the laboratory. The Department "Head" may delegate responsibilities and to be borne in mind is that safety is in fact everybody's responsibility. The Department must therefore: 

1. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, students, contractors and visitors.
2. To take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure no action(or inaction) of staff or students at work causes harm to staff, students, contractors (and contractor employees) and visitors.
3. To have in place a system to identify hazards, assess their potential risk and to control these in their areas of responsibility.
4. To ensure staff are qualified and knowledgeable in practices for which they are employed and have reasonable resources and authority to perform the duties for which they are accountable.
5. To ensure staff are aware of and are trained to handle hazards in their work area.
6. To ensure ongoing programs are in place in safety and staff are of their responsibilities.
7. To provide opportunity for staff to be involved with development of aware safety procedures.

8. To advise the USEO as soon as practical of serious accidents or near-misses.
   

Note: There is a legal responsibility on employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that his/her employees do not suffer "harm" while at their place of work, and the actions or inactions of those employees do not cause "harm" to any-one.

This is safety law in a nutshell.

"All reasonably practicable steps" means steps that can be taken with regard to current knowledge, taking into consideration, the cost of taking those steps and the severity of the harm that could arise if they were not taken (Please refer to the Safety Policy).