Biosafety Definitions

BSC Basics
Basic practices and operational guidance for safely working in and around a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC). This includes proper setup, airflow awareness, cleaning, material placement, and safe work techniques to help reduce contamination and exposure risks.

Disinfection
The process of using approved chemicals or procedures to reduce or eliminate harmful microorganisms from surfaces, equipment, or work areas. Proper disinfection is essential for maintaining a safe laboratory environment.

Exposure Reporting
The process of promptly notifying supervisors, Environmental Health and Safety, or other designated personnel when an individual may have been exposed to biological materials, bloodborne pathogens, hazardous substances, or other laboratory hazards.

Handwashing
The practice of thoroughly cleaning hands with soap and water to remove dirt, biological materials, and contaminants. Handwashing is one of the most effective methods for reducing the spread of infection and contamination.

Housekeeping
Routine cleaning, organization, and maintenance practices used to maintain safe, clean, and orderly laboratory and work environments. Good housekeeping helps reduce hazards, contamination, and accidental exposures.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Specialized clothing or equipment worn to reduce exposure to workplace hazards. Examples may include gloves, laboratory coats, safety glasses, face shields, and respiratory protection.

Sharps
Objects capable of puncturing, cutting, or breaking the skin, such as needles, scalpels, razor blades, broken glass, and contaminated laboratory items. Sharps must be handled and disposed of using approved safety procedures and containers.

Spill Response
Actions taken to safely contain, clean, disinfect, and report a spill involving biological materials, chemicals, or other hazardous substances. Proper spill response helps reduce exposure risks and environmental contamination.

Universal Precautions
An approach to infection control that assumes all human blood and certain bodily fluids may contain infectious agents. Universal precautions require the use of appropriate protective measures to reduce exposure risks.

Waste Segregation
The process of separating different types of waste based on hazard classification and disposal requirements. Proper segregation helps ensure biological, chemical, sharps, and general waste are handled and disposed of safely and in compliance with regulations.

Autoclaves
Devices that use high-pressure saturated steam to sterilize equipment, materials, and biological waste. Autoclaves are commonly used in laboratories to destroy microorganisms and reduce the risk of contamination and exposure.

BSCs
Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs) are ventilated laboratory workspaces designed to provide personnel, environmental, and product protection when working with biological materials. BSCs use HEPA-filtered airflow to help contain aerosols and contaminants.

BSLs
Biosafety Levels (BSLs) are classifications that describe the level of containment precautions required for working with biological agents. Biosafety levels range from BSL-1 to BSL-4 based on the hazards associated with the materials and procedures involved.

Chain of Custody
A documented process used to track the handling, transfer, storage, and possession of samples, materials, or evidence from collection through final disposition. Chain of custody helps maintain sample integrity and accountability.

Decontamination
The process of removing, neutralizing, or destroying hazardous biological materials or contaminants from surfaces, equipment, or work areas to reduce exposure risks and maintain a safe environment.

Exposure Control Plans
Written procedures and safety measures designed to reduce or prevent occupational exposure to biological hazards, bloodborne pathogens, or other regulated materials. These plans outline responsibilities, controls, training, and response procedures.

Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs)
Established laboratory practices and procedures intended to promote safety, consistency, reliability, and quality in laboratory operations, research activities, and recordkeeping.

Primary Containment
Safety measures used to directly contain biological materials at the source and reduce exposure risks to personnel and the environment. Examples include Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs), sealed containers, and safe laboratory techniques.

Recombinant DNA
DNA molecules formed by combining genetic material from multiple sources using laboratory methods. Recombinant DNA technology is commonly used in research, medicine, and biotechnology applications.

Risk Assessment
A process used to identify hazards, evaluate potential exposure risks, and determine appropriate safety controls or mitigation measures for laboratory activities, procedures, and biological materials.

Secondary Containment
Additional facility design features and safety systems used to help prevent the release of hazardous biological materials outside the laboratory environment. Examples may include controlled access, specialized ventilation, and facility design controls.

Select Agents
Biological agents and toxins regulated by federal authorities due to their potential to pose a severe threat to public health, animal health, plant health, or national security.

Transport of Biological Materials
The process of packaging, labeling, handling, and moving biological materials in accordance with applicable safety procedures and regulatory requirements to reduce the risk of exposure, spills, or contamination.

Biohazard Waste
Waste containing or potentially contaminated with biological materials that may pose a risk to human health or the environment. Biohazard waste may include contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE), cultures, sharps, tissues, or other regulated biological materials.

Disinfection Logs
Records used to document cleaning and disinfection activities for laboratory equipment, work surfaces, or controlled areas. Disinfection logs help verify that required cleaning procedures are being performed consistently and appropriately.

Emergency Eyewash
A safety device designed to immediately flush the eyes with water following exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals, or biological contaminants. Emergency eyewash equipment should remain accessible and unobstructed at all times.

Exposure Response
Actions taken following a suspected or confirmed exposure to biological materials, bloodborne pathogens, hazardous substances, or other laboratory hazards. Exposure response may include first aid, medical evaluation, reporting, and corrective actions.

Floor Decontamination
The process of cleaning and disinfecting floors in laboratory or controlled areas to remove biological contamination and reduce exposure risks. Proper floor decontamination helps maintain a safe and sanitary work environment.

Housekeeping
Routine cleaning, organization, and maintenance practices used to maintain safe, clean, and orderly laboratory and work environments. Good housekeeping helps reduce hazards, contamination, and accidental exposures.

Laundry and Cleanup Concerns
Potential hazards associated with handling, cleaning, transporting, or laundering contaminated materials, garments, or reusable protective equipment. Proper procedures help reduce the risk of exposure and cross-contamination.

Red Bag Waste
Biohazardous waste placed into approved red bags for collection, handling, treatment, or disposal in accordance with applicable safety procedures and regulatory requirements.

Regulated Waste
Waste materials subject to specific handling, storage, treatment, or disposal requirements due to potential biological, chemical, or physical hazards. Examples may include biohazard waste, sharps, contaminated materials, and certain laboratory wastes.

Sharps Containers
Approved puncture-resistant containers designed for the safe collection and disposal of needles, blades, broken glass, and other sharps. Sharps containers help reduce the risk of cuts, punctures, and exposure incidents.

Spill Kits
Supplies and materials used to safely contain, clean, disinfect, and dispose of spills involving biological materials, chemicals, or other hazardous substances. Spill kits may include absorbent materials, disinfectants, PPE, and disposal bags.

Biosafety Program
A coordinated system of policies, procedures, training, and safety practices designed to help protect personnel, the public, and the environment from exposure to biological hazards associated with laboratory and research activities.

Compliance
Adherence to applicable laws, regulations, standards, policies, procedures, and safety requirements related to laboratory operations, biosafety practices, and occupational health and safety.

Corrective Actions
Measures implemented to eliminate hazards, address deficiencies, reduce risks, or prevent the recurrence of unsafe conditions, incidents, or non-compliance issues.

Exposure Control Plans
Written procedures and safety measures designed to reduce or prevent occupational exposure to biological hazards, bloodborne pathogens, or other regulated materials. These plans outline responsibilities, controls, training, and response procedures.

Exposure Investigations
The process of reviewing and evaluating suspected or confirmed exposure incidents to determine causes, contributing factors, potential risks, and appropriate corrective actions.

Hazard Assessments
Systematic evaluations used to identify workplace hazards, analyze potential exposure risks, and determine appropriate safety controls or protective measures.

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
A committee responsible for reviewing, approving, and overseeing research activities involving biological materials, recombinant DNA, infectious agents, or other biohazards to help ensure compliance with applicable regulations and biosafety standards.

Laboratory Surveys
Inspections or evaluations conducted to assess laboratory conditions, safety practices, equipment, procedures, and compliance with biosafety and occupational safety requirements.

Occupational Exposure
Reasonably anticipated contact with biological materials, bloodborne pathogens, hazardous substances, or other harmful agents that may occur during the performance of work duties or laboratory activities.

Recordkeeping
The process of creating, maintaining, and retaining required documentation related to training, inspections, incidents, exposure records, laboratory activities, and regulatory compliance.

SOPs
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are written instructions that describe how to safely and consistently perform specific laboratory tasks, activities, or processes.

Training Requirements
Required education, instruction, or competency-based activities designed to help ensure personnel understand workplace hazards, safety procedures, regulatory obligations, and proper laboratory practices.