biosikkerhets

Biosafety, referred to as biosikkerhet in Norwegian, is the field concerned with preventing unintentional exposure to biological agents and toxins and preventing their accidental release into the environment. It covers laboratories, healthcare settings, agriculture, and public health operations, with the aim of protecting workers, communities, and ecosystems while enabling legitimate research and medical activities.

Key components of biosafety include risk assessment, containment practices, engineering controls, administrative procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment. Training, incident reporting, and a culture of safety are central to effective biosafety. A fundamental distinction is that biosafety addresses accidental exposure and release, while biosecurity focuses on preventing misuse or theft of biological materials and information.

Containment levels, commonly labeled BSL-1 through BSL-4, describe the intensity of protection required for handling various agents. They encompass facility design, operational procedures, and protective equipment appropriate to the hazard, with higher levels corresponding to greater risk. Facilities may also implement additional protective measures such as surveillance, vaccination programs, and medical monitoring where appropriate.

Guidelines and governance for biosafety are provided by international bodies and national authorities. Notable sources include the World Health Organization’s Laboratory Biosafety Manual and the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL). National regulations, biosafety committees, and accreditation schemes help ensure consistent practices across sectors.

Applications and challenges extend to basic research, clinical diagnostics, vaccine development, and agriculture. Emerging areas such as synthetic biology and gene editing raise new biosafety considerations, emphasizing risk assessment, responsible innovation, and ongoing education to address dual-use concerns and maintain public trust.