Case Western Reserve University

SECTION 3

Laboratory Biosafety Level Criteria
The essential elements of the four biosafety levels for activities involving infectious microorganisms and laboratory animals are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. The levels are designated in ascending order, by degree of protection provided to personnel, the environment, and the community.

Biosafety Level 1

BIOSAFETY 1 is suitable for work involving well-characterized agents not known to cause disease in healthy adult humans, and of minimal potential hazard to laboratory personnel and the environment. The laboratory is not necessarily separated from the general traffic patterns in the building. Work is generally conducted on open bench tops using standard microbiological practices. Special containment equipment or facility design is not required nor generally used. Laboratory personnel have specific training in the procedures conducted in the laboratory and are supervised by a scientist with general training in microbiology or a related science.

The following standard and special practices, safety equipment and facilities apply to agents assigned to Biosafety Level 1:

A. Standard Microbiological Practices

1. Access to the laboratory is limited or restricted at the discretion of the laboratory director when experiments or work with cultures and specimens are in progress.

2. Persons wash their hands after they handle viable materials and animals, after removing gloves, and before leaving the laboratory.

3. Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, and applying cosmetics are not permitted in the work areas where there is reasonable likelihood of exposure to potentially infectious materials. Persons who wear contact lenses in laboratories should also wear goggles or a face shield. Food is stored outside the work area in cabinets or refrigerators designated and used for this purpose only.

4. Mouth pipetting is prohibited; mechanical pipetting devices are used.

5. All procedures are performed carefully to minimize the creation of splashes or aerosols.

6. Work surfaces are decontaminated at least once a day and after any spill of viable material.

7. All cultures, stocks, and other regulated wastes are decontaminated before disposal by an approved decontamination method, such as autoclaving. Materials to be decontaminated outside of the immediate laboratory are to be placed in a durable, leakproof container and closed for transport from the laboratory. Materials to be decontaminated at off-site from the laboratory are packaged in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations, before removal from the facility.

8. An insect and rodent control program is in effect.

B. Special Practices: None

C. Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers)

1. Special containment devices or equipment such as a biological safety cabinet are generally not required for manipulations of agents assigned to Biosafety Level 1.

2. It is recommended that laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms be worn to prevent contamination or soiling of street clothes.

3. Gloves should be worn if the skin on the hands is broken or if a rash exists.

4. Protective eyewear should be worn for anticipated splashes of microorganisms or other hazardous materials to the face.

D. Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers)

1. Each laboratory contains a sink for handwashing.

2. The laboratory is designed so that it can be easily cleaned. Rugs in laboratories are not appropriate, and should not be used because proper decontamination following a spill extremely difficult to achieve.

3. Bench tops are impervious to water and resistant to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, and moderate heat.

4. Laboratory furniture is sturdy. Spaces between benches, cabinets, and equipment are accessible for cleaning.

5. If the laboratory has windows that open, they are fitted with fly screens.

Converted and edited by Stefan Wagener at Michigan State University

DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY