Biological Hazards

Biological Hazards

Biological Hazards are usually live organisms that can grow inside of your body. They include common things such as the influenza virus, research organisms like Esherichia coli (E.coli), and Bloodborne exposure risks such as Human Immunodeficiency virus. Sometimes toxins of biological origin are listed as biohazardous but these are more accurately managed as hazardous chemicals. Aside from Bloodborne pathogens, which pose a risk to emergency responders and medical staff, Longwood University has some Biological Safety Level 1 and 2 (BSL-1 & BSL-2) organisms in research laboratories. Biological Safety Levels go up to a highest hazard level of 4. Our research is with organisms that pose a minimal to moderate risk of causing disease.

Biosafety Manual for Laboratory Research Operations

Longwood University’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has developed this biosafety manual to assist principal investigators in limiting the exposure of Longwood University faculty, staff, and students to biohazardous agents and to better insure the university’s compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.  Activities which are specifically addressed are those involving in Biosafety Levels One and Two:

• Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic agents
• Recombinant DNA, including experiments that may be exempt under the NIH Guidelines
• Human blood, body fluid, tissues, and cell cultures
• Listed select agents and toxins
• Exposure to experimentally infected research multi celled organisms
• Infectious waste

Institutional Biosafety Committee

The mission of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) at Longwood University is to ensure that research involving recombinant DNA (rDNA), synthetic nucleotides, infectious agents (pathogens), biological toxins, or select agents is classified at the appropriate biosafety level and done in accordance with all appropriate guidelines, regulations, and good safety practices. All institutions awarded funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for recombinant DNA research are required to form institutional biosafety committees (IBCs) which function in accordance with NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecule (NIH Guidelines). All faculty members, staff employees, and students are included within the scope of these Policies and Procedures, as are collaborators and visitors from other organizations working with Longwood University faculty members, staff employees, or students. The Institutional Biosafety Committee Policies and Procedures Manual (IBCPPM) and the Biosafety Manual for Laboratory and Research Operations established by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at Longwood University provide a review of the relevant regulatory requirements and University policies. The IBCPPM should be used in conjunction with the Biosafety Manual and University policies and procedures.

This committee consists of five members.  Including two members not affiliated with the university who represent the surrounding community. The three remaining members are faculty conducting research with biosafety considerations.  The chair of the committee is Faculty member with experience in biohazards. Committee members are appointed by the Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs (PVPAA).

For more information on Biological Hazards email safety@longwood.edu.