JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

NAME: ODERO BRIAN OMONDI

REG NO: SCB223-0151/2019
COURSE: BSC ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
UNIT CODE: SZL
UNIT: BIOSAFETY
ASSIGNMENT: Practical Report 1
Objectives/Aims
The objectives of this report are;
1. To identify and evaluate the effectiveness of biosafety practices in the Zoology
laboratory at JKUAT.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the biosafety practices implemented in the laboratory.

INTRODUCTION
Laboratory biosafety practices are essential to protect laboratory personnel, the environment,
and the wider community from the potential risks associated with biological agents . Common
biosafety practices include the use of personal protective equipment such as gloves, lab coats,
and face shields, proper waste disposal, decontamination of equipment and surfaces, and the
implementation of standard operating procedures and emergency response plans. The
Zoology lab at JKUAT is a vital facility used for research and teaching. Biosafety practices
are necessary to ensure the safety of personnel, students, and the environment, particularly
when handling live animals. Due to the potential risks associated with handling live animals,
it is essential to implement biosafety practices to ensure the safety of laboratory personnel,
students, and the environment. Laboratories must comply with local and national regulations,
obtain necessary permits and approvals, and conduct regular training and awareness programs
for laboratory personnel to maintain a safe and secure working environment. This report
describes the biosafety practices observed during a walkthrough in the Zoology laboratory.
METHODOLOGY
A walk was taken in the Zoology laboratory at JKUAT to observe the biosafety practices
implemented. During the walk, the following biosafety practices were noted:
1.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- Laboratory personnel were required to wear PPE,
including lab coats, gloves, and eye protection, when handling live animals and specimens.
2.Animal handling- Laboratory personnel were trained in proper animal handling techniques
to minimize the risk of injury or transmission of zoonotic diseases.
3.Disinfection- The laboratory was equipped with disinfectants for cleaning surfaces and
equipment after use to prevent the spread of infections.
4.Waste disposal- Waste generated during animal dissection and experimentation was
disposed of properly in designated containers to prevent contamination and exposure.
5.Emergency response-The laboratory had emergency response plans in place in case of
accidents, such as animal bites or spills of hazardous substances.
RESULTS
The implementation of these biosafety practices in the Zoology laboratory was observed to
be effective in ensuring the safety of personnel, students, and the environment.
DISCUSSION
The Zoology laboratory at JKUAT is an essential facility for conducting research and
teaching activities in the field of Zoology. Due to the nature of work conducted in the lab,
biosafety practices are critical to ensure the safety of personnel, students, and the
environment. This report provides an overview of the biosafety practices observed during a
walkthrough of the Zoology laboratory and evaluates their effectiveness.
Proper animal handling techniques are one of the most critical biosafety practices in the
Zoology laboratory. Handling of live animals carries the risk of injury to both the animals and
the handlers, as well as the potential transmission of diseases from the animals to the
handlers. During the walkthrough, it was observed that laboratory personnel followed proper
animal handling techniques to minimize the risk of injuries and infections. For instance,
personnel used gloves, lab coats, and eye protection to protect themselves from animal fluids
and to minimize the risk of pathogen transmission. Moreover, animal cages and equipment
were cleaned and disinfected regularly to maintain a hygienic environment for both the
animals and handlers.
The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is another critical biosafety practice in the
Zoology laboratory. PPE is designed to protect laboratory personnel from exposure to
hazardous materials and to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries. During the
walkthrough, it was observed that laboratory personnel wore appropriate PPE such as lab
coats, gloves, and eye protection when working with animals or handling potentially
hazardous materials. Additionally, laboratory personnel were trained on the proper use and
disposal of PPE to ensure that they were using the equipment effectively.
Disinfection and waste disposal protocols are also essential biosafety practices in the Zoology
laboratory. Proper disinfection protocols help prevent the spread of infections and diseases by
eliminating pathogens on surfaces and equipment. The laboratory personnel regularly cleaned
and disinfected all surfaces and equipment in the laboratory using appropriate disinfectants.
Moreover, laboratory personnel followed proper waste disposal protocols to dispose of all
laboratory waste safely. Hazardous waste was separated from non-hazardous waste and
disposed of appropriately to minimize the risk of environmental contamination.
The availability of emergency response plans is another essential biosafety practice in the
Zoology laboratory. The laboratory personnel had access to well-defined emergency response
plans to deal with any accidents or incidents that may occur during laboratory work. These
emergency response plans included procedures for dealing with spills, fires, and injuries.
Additionally, laboratory personnel were trained to respond to emergency situations to ensure
a rapid and effective response.
Overall, the implementation of these biosafety practices in the Zoology laboratory at JKUAT
was observed to be effective in ensuring the safety of laboratory personnel, students, and the
environment. The use of PPE such as gloves and lab coats reduce the risk of exposure to
animal fluids and pathogens during handling and experimentation. Proper animal handling
techniques reduce the risk of injuries and infections, and disinfection and waste disposal
protocols help prevent the spread of infections. The availability of emergency response plans
ensures rapid and effective response to any potential accidents.
CONCLUSION
Biosafety practices are critical in ensuring the safety of personnel, students, and the
environment in the Zoology laboratory at JKUAT. The use of PPE, proper animal handling
techniques, disinfection, waste disposal, and emergency response plans are all essential to
minimize the risk of accidents, injury, and transmission of diseases.
In conclusion, biosafety practices are critical in ensuring the safety of personnel, students,
and the environment in the Zoology laboratory at JKUAT. The use of PPE, proper animal
handling techniques, disinfection, waste disposal, and emergency response plans are all
essential to minimize the risk of accidents, injury, and transmission of diseases. The
implementation of these biosafety practices contributes to the effectiveness of the Zoology
laboratory at JKUAT in terms of safety and productivity. By minimizing the risk of accidents,
injury, and disease transmission, laboratory personnel can work with confidence, students can
learn in a safe environment, and research can be conducted with minimal risk to the
environment.

REFERENCES
1. World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory biosafety manual. 4th edition, 2021.
Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240028134
2. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Biosafety in Microbiological and
Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th edition, 2021. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
3. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Guidelines for research involving recombinant or
synthetic nucleic acid molecules. 2021. Available at:
https://osp.od.nih.gov/biotechnology/recombinant-dna/rdna-guidelines/
4. European Union (EU) Directive 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks
related to exposure to biological agents at work. Available at: https://eur-
lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32000L0054
5. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Bloodborne pathogens
standard 29 CFR 1910.1030. Available at:
https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1030