Biosafety Retraining

This course offers retraining for researchers handling biohazards in a research or clinical laboratory.

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About this Course

Biosafety Retraining addresses awareness of biohazards, risk assessment, and key risk management principles including work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls, and emergency response.

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Language Availability: English

Suggested Audiences: Researchers Working in a Laboratory

Organizational Subscription Price: Included in Biosafety and Biosecurity series, available as part of an organizational subscription package or for $675 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for government and non-profit organizations; $750 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for for-profit organizations
Independent Learner Price: $110 per person

Demo Instructions


Course Content

Risk Management: Work Practices

Describes how administrative and work practice controls reduce the risk of occupational exposure and laboratory-acquired infections and promote good work practices by laboratory personnel. The module also discusses the foundational work practice controls in biosafety and best work practices for specialized tasks, such as transporting infectious agents, pipetting biohazardous material, and handling biomedical waste.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13898 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Risk Management: Personal Protective Equipment

Describes the various types of PPE used for protection against biohazards (gloves, face protection, lab coats, and respirators). The module also addresses the responsibilities of employers and employees for the provision, use, and handling of PPE. In addition, the module discusses the appropriate work practices associated with the use of gloves, face protection, lab coats, and respirators for protection against biohazards.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13458 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Risk Management: Emergency and Spill Response

Discusses the different types of biohazardous events that may occur in a laboratory, the immediate response procedures to emergencies and incidents designed to protect laboratory personnel, and the core steps of responding to and mitigating incidents and exposures that may occur in the laboratory.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13459 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Risk Management: Engineering Controls

Provides an overview of various engineering controls in the BSL-2 biomedical research laboratory and how they can protect personnel from potentially harmful aerosols, splashes, and droplets. The module explains the limitations of engineering controls, how the improper use of engineering controls may result in an occupational exposure, and the appropriate function and limitations of biological safety cabinets (BSCs). In addition, the module explains the difference between a BSC, clean bench, and chemical fume hood.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13929 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Risk Management: Laboratory Design

Reviews the design measures for research laboratories handling biological materials and biohazards classified at BSL-1 and BSL-2 (basic laboratories). It also describes the more restrictive parameters associated with the BSL-3 laboratory (containment laboratories).

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13484 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Work Safely with Sharp Instruments

Reviews how to safely handle sharp instruments when working with biohazards. It outlines safe work practices with disposable and reusable sharps.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13899 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Disinfection and Sterilization

Discusses the decontamination of items contaminated by biohazards after an experiment, prior to reuse, or before disposal. It also provides information on methods of sterilization and disinfection, along with good decontamination work practices.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13900 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Safe Sharps Devices

Provides an overview of safe sharps devices and other engineering controls designed to minimize exposure to biohazards when handling sharp instruments.  It also supports training on a sharps safety program.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13946 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Centrifuge Precautions

Discusses risks involved in centrifugation along with the control devices and work practices that will help ensure the safe use of centrifuges.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 13945 (English)
Author(s): Benjamin Fontes, MPH, CBSP - Yale University

Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC)

Detailed training on the United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern. It is based on the 2014 United States Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern, which is required for all National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded entities. It describes the agents and types of experiments that require oversight, individual and organizational responsibilities, and risk mitigation strategies.

Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 16263 (English)
Author(s): Angela Birnbaum, MPH - Tulane University

Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs): Class I and II

Provides an overview of a BSC and its major components, summarizes best practices for the correct operation of a BSC, and describes the different classes of BSCs and the limitations of each. This module is relevant for laboratory personnel who operate a BSC. It includes an overview of the factors that can affect the inward airflow of a Class I or II BSC, which may result in loss of biocontainment of the biohazards in use and occupational exposure of laboratory personnel.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 20982 (English)
Author(s): Randy Albrecht, PhD - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai


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