biosafety

Biosafety is the discipline concerned with protecting people, animals, crops, and the environment from exposure to biological agents and toxins, and preventing accidental release. It encompasses risk assessment, containment, safe handling, storage, and disposal of biological materials, along with training and oversight to ensure responsible practice.

Containment is achieved through a combination of engineering controls (facility design, ventilation, containment equipment), administrative controls (procedures, supervision, access control), and personal protective equipment. Work with infectious or genetically modified agents is assigned a biosafety level (BSL-1 through BSL-4), which dictates the required facilities and practices. Medical surveillance and vaccination may be required for certain agents or settings.

Biosafety programs are usually administered by an institutional biosafety office and an Institutional Biosafety Committee that review protocols, approve experiments, and monitor compliance. They develop standard operating procedures, provide training, manage waste and decontamination, and coordinate incident response and medical follow-up.

The scope includes clinical and research laboratories, diagnostic facilities, pharmaceutical and agricultural settings, and fieldwork in the environment. It covers laboratory waste handling, decontamination, and transport of biological materials, as well as emergency preparedness and reporting of exposures.

Biosafety interacts with biosecurity and ethics, including oversight of dual-use research of concern. International and national guidance comes from organizations such as the WHO, the CDC/NIH, and national regulations, which are complemented by institutional policies. The field continually evolves with emerging technologies, requiring ongoing assessment and updates to facilities, training, and governance.