LESSON 7 : Biorisk Management

Principles of Medical Laboratory Science Week 13-14

BIORISK STEPS IN PERFORMING RISK ASSESSMENT

− Risk associated to biological toxins or infectious agents DEFINE THE Identify:
− Source of risk may be unintentional exposure to SITUATION – Hazards and risks of biological agents
unauthorized access, accidental release or loss, theft, – At-risk hosts (humans or animals outside
misuse, diversion, or intentional unauthorized release of laboratory)
biohazards – Work activities and laboratory
environment including location
BIORISK MANAGEMENT (BRM) procedures an equipment
− Effective management of risk posed by working with DEFINE THE – Includes a review of how individuals inside
infectious pathogens, agents, and toxins in the laboratory RISKS and outside laboratory may be exposed
− Integration of biosafety and biosecurity to manage risks to the hazards
when working with biological toxins and infectious agents – Could either be through droplets,
− CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) 15793: 2011, a system inhalation, ingestion, or inoculation in
or process to control safety and security risks associated case a biological agent has been
with the handling, storage, and disposal of biological agents identified as the hazard
and toxins in laboratories and facilities CHARACTERIZE - To compare the likelihood and the
− Encompasses the identification, understanding, THE RISKS consequences of inspection either
management aspects of system in interrelated processes qualitatively or quantitatively
− Integral part in the implementation of the concept of
biosafety (unintentional) and biosecurity (intentional) DETERMINE IF - Takes into account the adequacy of any
RISKS ARE existing controls and deciding whether or
AMP MODEL ACCEPTABLE not the biorisk is acceptable
− Assessment (A), Mitigation (M), Performance (P) are OR NOT
components with equal attention
− Illustrates the balanced role among the components of BRM LABORATORY HAZARDS
− Requires that control measures be based on a robust risk TOXIC or DANGER
assessment, and a continuous evaluation of effectiveness - Lead to death if inhaled, absorbed by skin, or
and suitability of control measures ingested or swallowed
HOT SURFACE
ROBUST RISK ASSESSMENT - Gives indication of the equipment behind you as
- HEART OF BRM extremely hot and cause burning
- Ensures safety and security of the people working in the
v

ELECTRICAL HAZARD
laboratory as well as all the stakeholders in an organization - Make aware about electrical wires that can
MANAGEMENT STANDARDS cause electric shocks
1. IDENTIFY THE RISK FACTORS
2. WHO CAN BE HARMED AND HOW OXIDIZING MATERIAL
3. EVALUATE THE RISK - Can burn even without air. Provides oxygen
4. RECORD YOUR FINDINGS which allows material to burn first
5. MONITOR AND REVIEW HIGH VOLTAGE
- Cause death or harm to living organism when it
RISK ASSESSMENT comes in contact with high voltage electricity
− Fundamental process to aid in the determination, NON-IONIZING RADIATION
management, and mitigation of laboratory risks - Cause damage to body tissues if exposed to it
− Identification of hazards and characterization of risks that much
are present in laboratory
− PRIMARY PURPOSE - to inform the decision-making MITIGATION PROCEDURES
process that reduces the risks present in a laboratory MITIGATE - to cause or to become less harsh or hostile and to
− Initial step in implementing biorisk management process make less severe or painful
- Second fundamental component
HAZARD Source that has the potential for causing harm - Implemented procedures based from risk assessment and
RISK Combination of the likelihood and the aims to reduce the consequences of present risk associated
consequences of an undesirable event related to with biological agents and toxins
a specific hazard or threat
THREAT Any person or team that likely could cause
damage or danger

E.g., a sharp needle is a hazard, but if no one is using it, the

needle will not pose any risks.

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LESSON 7 : Biorisk Management
Principles of Medical Laboratory Science Week 13-14
HIERARCHY OF MITIGATION MEASURES
ELIMINATION MOST PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
DIFFICULT
- Most difficult and most effective control measure AND - LAST PILLAR
- Total decision not to work with a specific biological agent EFFECTIVE - Process of evaluating the performance of the implemented
or even not doing the intended work mitigations to measure success of such.
- HIGHEST DEGREE OF RISK REDUCTION - Involves a systematic process intended to achieve
- Total removal of the hazard and its source organizational objectives and goals
E.g., Things that may cause people to slip, trip, or fall - Ensures that implemented mitigation measures are indeed
SUBSTITUTION reducing or eliminating risks
- Highlight biorisk strategies that are not working effectively
- Second control measure
and measures that are ineffective or unnecessary
- Replacement of the procedures of biological agent with a
- CONTINUOUS PROCESS to monitor the implementation of
similar entity in order to reduce the risk
existing biosafety procedures and practices
- Changing a substance to its less hazardous form
- Provides direction for decision makers to be able to come up
E.g., Substitution of mercury in modern sphygmomanometers
EXAMPLES: with reasonable and justifiable biosafety guidelines
BACILLUS ANTHRACIS Acute fatal disease
PROCEDURES
anthrax
1. IDENTIFY THE KEY ISSUES OF CONCERN
BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS Most commonly used in
2. DEFINE OUTCOME INDICATORS AND METRICS
biological pesticides
3. DEFINE ACTIVITIES INDICATORS AND METRICS
ENGINEERING CONTROLS 4. COLLECT DATA AND REPORT INDICATOR RESULTS
- Physical changes in workstations, equipment, materials, 5. PROVIDE FINDINGS FROM PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
production facilities, or any other relevant aspects of the 6. EVALUATE AND REFINE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
work environment that can reduce or prevent exposure to
hazards BIORISK MANAGEMENT
EXAMPLES:
Installation of Ventilation Separate IDENTIFICATION OF
biosafety cabinets system buildings/modules BIORISKS
Safety equipment Airlocks Fume Hoods
Facility design Controlled Splash/radiation
access zones guard BIOSECURITY RISK
BIOSAFETY RISK
Enabling proper Air treatment Exhaust ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT
airflow systems
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
- Policies, standards, and guidelines used to control risk BIOSAFETY RISK BIOSAFETY RISK
- Proficiency and competency training for laboratory stuff MITIGATION MITIGATION
- PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES
o Processes and activities that have been shown in
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
practice to be effective in reducing risks
o Minimizing splashes, sprays, aerosols to avoid
laboratory acquired infections or following RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
EXAMPLES: What is my risk? What will I do about it? How did I do?
Displaying of biohazard Documenting written standard
RISK RISK
warning signages operating procedures PERFORMANCE
Markings and labels Controlling visitor and worker ASSESSMENT MITIGATION
access
Laboratory Schedule

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

- Last mitigation control
- Least effective measure because it only protects the
person who is wearing it and only when it is used correctly
- Devices worn by workers to protect them against
chemicals toxins and pathogenic hazards in the
LEAST
laboratory EFFECTIVE
EXAMPLES: AND
EASIEST TO
Gloves Gowns Respirators IMPLEMENT