• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Part A - Targeted Procedures
• Part B - Auditing
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The purpose of this policy is to minimise the risk of infection or harm to staff, students, researchers, co-workers, contractors, visitors and others from the use of recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), specimens of human or animal origin, cytotoxic substances (carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens), potential pathogenic organisms, whole micro-organisms and imported biological materials.

(2) This policy applies to all University staff and students, as well as researchers who use the University's laboratories. This also extends to visiting appointments and contractors who undertake work in such laboratories.

Section 2 - Definitions

(3) For the purposes of this policy:

1. biohazard - refers to specimens of human or animal or plant origin and/or potentially infectious material or work practices that can be the source of injury, harm or ill health.
2. biological safety - is a collective term for procedures and practices that are followed to minimise the risk of infection and other health effects from handling or being exposed to biological materials.
3. deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - refers to the molecule which carries the genetic information for most organisms; consists of four bases and a sugar -phosphate backbone.
4. hazardous substances - refers to any substance that has the potential to harm the health or safety of persons in the workplace or is classified as hazardous in accordance with (National Work Health and Safety Commission) NOHSC: 1008 (1999) or is listed in NOHSC: 1005 (1999) for e.g. cytotoxic substances, the design, synthesis and testing of novel, toxic or mutagenic chemicals with a bioactive risk.
5. genetically manipulated organism (GMO) means:
   (i) an organism that has been modified by gene technology; or
   (ii) an organism that has inherited particular traits from an organism (the initial organism), being traits that occurred in the initial organism because of gene technology; or
   (iii) anything declared by the Gene Technology (GT) regulations to be a genetically modified organism, or that belongs to a class of things declared by the GT regulations to be genetically modified organisms;
   but does not include:
   (iv) a human being, if the human being is covered by paragraph e (i) only because the human being has undergone somatic cell gene therapy; or
   (v) an organism declared by the GT regulations not to be a genetically modified organism, or that belongs to a class of organisms declared by the GT regulations not to be genetically modified organisms.
6. imported biological materials - refers to imported pathogenic or potentially pathogenic biological material as regulated by Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS).

7. (4) potentially infectious agents - refers to agents capable of invading a susceptible host, multiplying in it and causing a disease for e.g. plant and animal pathogens, use of animal blood products, knackery specimens, cadavers and non-food certified abattoir specimens.

8. (5) pathogenic micro-organism - refers to an organism capable of causing disease in a host e.g. pathogenic micro-organisms, namely Risk Groups 2 (ranging from moderate individual to limited community risk to high individual and community risk to High Risk) or higher as per Australian Standard AS 2243.3.

9. recombinant - the formation of new combinations of genes.
10. recombinant DNA - refers to DNA formed by joining, in vitro, segments of DNA from different organisms.

11. (6) specimen of human or animal origin - refers to use of cheek scrapings, tooth scrapings, throat swabs, nasal swabs, blood group testing, measurements of enzymes in body fluids, tears, saliva, urine, blood, other body fluids or material, body parts, cell lines of human origin.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(7) The University expects its staff, students, researchers, contractors, visitors and others to adhere to this policy and to the University's Work Health and Safety Policy to maintain a safe and healthy environment by minimising the risks from biohazardous work procedures conducted in laboratories at University campuses.

(8) The University requires that:

1. biological materials (including GMOs) are obtained, transported, stored, utilised and disposed of in an ethical and responsible manner;
2. biological materials (including GMOs) are handled and manipulated in a way that will not put at risk the health and safety of University staff, students, researchers, co-workers and contractors;
3. University staff and students comply with training requirements;
4. University staff and students are provided with sufficient information, instruction and supervision to handle biohazardous materials and GMOs safely.

Section 4 - Procedures

(9) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are written instructions that outline the safest and preferred method of undertaking a particular task, work practice, process, manipulation or technique. They should include all potential hazards associated with the task, the risks posed by these hazards and the appropriate control measures required to eliminate or reduce the risks. Their purpose is to ensure the safety, quality and uniformity of a task among different people.

(10) SOPs pertaining to biological safety and gene technology are developed, reviewed and approved by the Biosafety and Radiation Safety Committee (BRSC). These SOPs are available via the Office of Research Services Legislation and Guidelines web page.

(11) Supporting this policy are the following policies, SOPs and guidelines for the management of biohazardous materials and GMOs in laboratories, in transportation and for disposal:

(12) a. Infectious Diseases Policy;

Part A - Targeted Procedures

(13) SOPs are to be included in the front of practical notes of any unit in which students handle GMO's or biohazardous material.

(14) SOPs are to be issued to demonstrators, technicians and academic staff in charge of any practical course involving the use of GMOs or biohazardous material.

(15) SOPs are to be issued to any individual who may need to handle GMOs or biohazardous material.

(16) SOPs are to be issued to all contractors entering laboratories where GMOs or biohazardous materials are handled.

(17) Senior management, Deans and Directors are responsible for actively reviewing the adequacy of workplace safety procedures and promptly responding to and acting upon any matters brought to their attention affecting health and safety of employees, students or the public.

(18) Line management, supervisory, academic and technical staff and researchers have a duty to provide and maintain, so far as is practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to health. This entails carrying out the necessary risk assessments of all laboratory classes (responsibility of unit coordinator), risk assessments on laboratory class preparation, set up and clean up (responsibility of technical staff), risk assessment, training and supervision of researchers (responsibility of academic supervisor) to ensure potential sources of infection are identified and appropriate control measures adopted, prior to their introduction to the students. This includes the provision of resources commensurate with priorities.

(19) Academic staff are responsible for the oversight of students and for safeguarding the health, safety and well being of students in their charge. They are also responsible for ensuring that operations are undertaken in accordance with authorized work practices, consulting with technical staff on changes to the work practices or where matters of concern about the work practices have been brought to their attention. Academic staff and technical staff must work together in the implementation of any policies.

(20) Employees, students, researchers, contractors and visitors are required to observe all safety rules and work practices and have a 'duty of care' for health and safety of people in the workplace.

Part B - Auditing

(21) Safety audits as part of a regulatory enforcement and internal good practice. This will occur during the course of scheduled inspections of PC2 facilities by the BRSC and by the local laboratory managers.

(22) Accident /Incident reports. A review of these reports will occur during the course of scheduled inspections of PC2 facilities by the BRSC as well as from reports forwarded by the WHS Committee to the BRSC.

(23) Familiarity of personnel with work practices. Training sessions undertaken by the local laboratory managers. Signed records of training undertaken will provide evidence of personnel certifying their understanding of work practice requirements/SOPs for the facility.

(24) Evidence that risk assessments have been undertaken. Evidence of risk assessments will be in the applications submitted to the BRSC for review and approval.

(25) Annual progress/final reports for projects approved by the BRSC. The reports monitor compliance with the approval conditions and are assessed by the BRSC.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(26) Nil.