Biosafety and Biosecurity
Welcome to the Biosafety and Biosecurity website.
Deakin staff members and students who plan to carry out research and teaching involving the use of microorganisms or biological materials (eg human blood) should consult this site for information regarding the safety aspects of their work as well as the legislative requirements governing the use of these materials.
To ensure compliance with the various legislative bodies and the requirements for laboratory safety, initial applications (refer to links below) must be made to the Deakin University Laboratory and Biosafety Committee (LBC) for oversight and approval. Where required, the LBC will forward these submissions to external legislative organisations for their approval.
Each application to the LBC must be accompanied by a cover sheet (Application Lodgement ). Once lodged you will be given a unique identifying number for your project/work.
There is also a requirement that each project has a completed Project Safety Plan form (see link under Forms ) and Biosafety supplement, to ensure that the hazards of the proposed work have been identified and appropriate controls implemented.
It is the primary responsibility of the LBC to ensure that all institutional activities are conducted in compliance with relevant legislation. The LBC also provides support and advice on all aspects of biosafety and biosecurity and is responsible for monitoring the safety of laboratory work in research and teaching at Deakin University.
Using the links on the left of the screen, or by clicking on the headings below, you can obtain information on the safety and administrative requirements for the following:
News from Laboratory and Biosafety Committee (LBC)
The Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2011 (Commonwealth) will commence on 1 September 2011 and can be accessed via the OGTR website at http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/gtr-review
The new Guidelines for the transport, storage and disposal of GMOs also commence on 1 September 2011 and can be accessed via the OGTR website at http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/transport-guide-1
Microbiological safety - laboratory safety guidelines for work with microorganisms & biological materials
You should access this link if you conduct any research or teaching work with microorganisms in laboratories, handle human body fluids and tissues or work with animals, plants or invertebrates. These guidelines are based on the Australian Standard for safety in microbiological laboratories, AS/NZS 2243.3.
Manipulation of genetic material (OGTR)
You should access this link if you conduct any research or teaching involving the modification of the genetic material of microorganisms, which will fall under the auspices of the OGTR.
Biological materials that need to be quarantined (AQIS)
You should access this link if you conduct any research or teaching using biological materials that need to be housed in Quarantine Approved Premises or QAPs and hence fall under the auspices of AQIS. Note: if you require an AQIS permit for import of any biological material, please arrange this through your own school or institute.
Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBAs)
You should access this link if you conduct any research or teaching involving microorganisms that are listed as Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBAs) by the Department of Health and Ageing, which will fall under SSBA legislation.
Other links that will assist you:
Forms, guidelines and legislation
Here you will find all the forms you require to fulfil administrative requirements for OGTR, AQIS and other legislation. It also provides links to Project Safety Plan forms that must be completed prior to the start of any new research project. Guidelines provide information on microbiological safety, OGTR, AQIS and SSBA legislation.
Laboratory and Biosafety Committee (LBC)
This link provides you with information on Deakin's Laboratory and Biosafety Committee; its Terms of Reference, committee members and functions. It includes the dates of the committee meetings for the year and deadlines for applications for these meetings (see below).
Deadlines for LBC meetings
This link provides the dates of the Laboratory and Biosafety Committee (LBC) meetings for the year and deadlines for applications for these meetings.
Application lodgement
Here you will find the form that must be completed and submitted with every application to the LBC.
Induction and Training
This link provides details of initial induction and ongoing training that must be undertaken to fulfil Deakin's responsibilities and legislative requirements. It also contains training presentations on various aspects of biosafety and biosecurity.
References and resources
This link will provide you with a list of Australian Standards relevant to biosafety as well as other biosafety references and a DVD on the correct use of a Class II Biological Safety Cabinet.
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