The primary goal of the Biosafety Program is to facilitate the implementation of appropriate administrative policies, work practices, safety equipment, facility design and training programs for work involving biological hazards. The purpose of these functions is to minimize the risk of laboratory-acquired exposures and to promote full compliance with applicable biological safety regulations and guidelines.
RPI's Biological Safety Program provides oversight for research involving materials classified as biosafety levels (BSL) 1, 2, and 2+, human materials, and/or recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids covered under the NIH Guidelines. The research must be reviewed, and approved by the RPI’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) prior to initiation of experiments.
Types of materials that may require IBC approval include:
- Recombinant and Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules
- Microorganisms (including bacteria, fungi, virus, etc.)
- Human Materials (including, fluids, tissues, organs, and bones)
- Animal Materials (including, fluids, tissues, organs, and bones)
- Cells and Cell Lines (including established and primary)
- CDC/APHIS Select Agents and Toxins (including exempt quantities)
A biosafety SOP is required for research involving materials classified as BSL-2+. A Biosafety SOP Template is available for use and must be submitted for approval before work can begin with the materials.
For further information regarding RPI's Biosafety Program, contact EHS at ehs@rpi.edu.
RPI supports biosafety levels (BSL) 1, 2, and 2+. For each biosafety level, standard biosafety lab practices, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and waste collection are described in the RPI Biosafety Level (BSL) 1, 2, and 2+ Requirement Guidelines.
Biological Safety is principally governed by restrictions formulated by the CDC and NIH for research entities using various hazardous agents and processes. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is using its powers of enforcement under the General Duty Clause to impose certain safety requirements on various aspects of biological safety programs.
RPI's Biosafety Manual outlines the guidelines and requirements for research involving potentially hazardous bioreagents and biosafety processes. RPI also consults the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 6th Edition for guidance on biosafety practices. Researchers are strongly encouraged to become familiar with both resources so they can successfully perform initial risk assessments on work they would like to perform in the lab. RPI uses the risk assessments to determine the engineering and work practice controls imposed for research.
EHS works with the Institute Biosafety Committee (IBC) to review research proposals that involve biological agents. The review ensures that the proposals meet the applicable requirements for safe us of biohazardous materials and/or DNA.
RPI's Biosafety Program and biosafety training are overseen by EHS. EHS advises laboratory workers on waste disposal, engineering controls, proper shipping procedures, and general ways to work safely in a BSL lab.
EHS will conduct routine laboratory safety reviews to ensure biosafety procedures are being followed and allow laboratory workers to ask questions about their work.
In accordance with New York State law, all regulated medical waste (biohazardous waste) must be segregated and placed into properly labeled containers at the point of generation.
Biohazardous waste includes, but is not limited to, the following items:
- Animal carcasses
- Blood and other body fluids
- Culture flasks, plates, and tubes
- Sharps and syringes that are biologically contaminated
- Tissue samples
- Any other item contaminated with biological materials
For more information on biohazardous waste, visit the EHS Biohazardous Waste page.
Policies and Procedures
Animal safety begins with PIs and/or lab managers/supervisors providing lab specific training related to working with animals used in research operations. PIs and/or lab managers/supervisors are required to adopt and implement safety programs and guidelines, and where necessary, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) pertaining to handling the animals and methods used in your lab. The responsibility for the welfare of the animals involved in the PIs and/or lab managers/supervisor research, falls to them.
RPI's Bioresearch Core (BRC) complies with all state and federal regulations regarding animal research and follows the recommendations of the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th ed” to ensure the health and well-being of all animals in its care. All activities are reviewed and approved by the RPI's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to ensure the research is ethical and compliant. Access to the BRC facilities is restricted to personnel who have completed online training, have been added to the PI’s IACUC protocol, and have attended BRC facility orientation.
For further information about the BRC, please visit the Bioresearch Core Facility website.
Before working with biohazardous material, specific RPI training is required. Online training is provided through Percipio and in-person training is given by EHS. Trainings include bloodborne pathogens, biosafety, and the RPI laboratory safety series.
If more specific training is needed for work with animals or other topics, please reach out to EHS or the BRC.
