Principal Investigator's Risk AssessmentA risk assessment should always be conducted prior to initiating any work in a laboratory. Show
The Principal Investigator/Laboratory Director is responsible for
Qualitative biological risk assessment is a subjective process that involves professional judgments. Because of uncertainties or insufficient scientific data, risk assessments sometimes are based on incomplete knowledge or information. Inherent limitations of and assumptions made in the process also exist, and the perception of acceptable risk differs for everyone. The risk is never zero, and potential for human error always exists. A comprehensive approach for identifying hazards in the laboratory will include information from a variety of sources. No one standard approach or correct method exists for conducting a risk assessment; However, several strategies are available, such as using a risk prioritization matrix, conducting a job hazard analysis; or listing potential scenarios of problems during a procedure, task, or activity. The process involves the following six steps:
Step 1. Identify the hazards associated with an infectious or biohazardous agent or material. (Agent-specific hazards)--What is being worked on?
Step 2. Identify activities that might cause exposure to the agent or material. (Procedure-based hazards): What is being done?The facility (e.g., BSL-2, BSL-3, open floor plan [more risk] versus separate areas or rooms for specific activities [less risk], sufficient space versus crowded space, workflow, equipment present); The equipment (e.g., uncertified Biological Safety Cabinets [BSCs], cracked centrifuge tubes, improperly maintained autoclaves, overfilled sharps containers, Bunsen burners); Potential for generating aerosols and droplets. Aerosols can be generated from most routine laboratory procedures but often are undetectable. The following procedures have been associated with generation of infectious aerosols. Aerosol Generating procedures:
Additional Hazards
Step 3. Consider the competencies and experience of laboratory personnel.
Step 4. Evaluate and prioritize risks.Risks are evaluated according to the likelihood of occurrence and severity of consequences.
Consequences may depend on duration and frequency of exposure and on availability of vaccine and appropriate treatment. Following are examples of consequences for individual workers:
Step 5. Determine your level of risk and acceptable level of risk.Use the risk matrix to determine your level of risk, and decide what your acceptable level of risk is. Not all risk can be eliminated, the goal is to minimize risk to acceptable levels.
Step 6. Develop, implement, and evaluate controls to minimize the risk for exposure.Engineering controls:If possible, first isolate and contain the hazard at its source.
Administrative and work practice controls
PPE (as a last resort in providing a barrier to the hazard)
Job safety analysisOne way to initiate a risk assessment is to conduct a job safety analysis for procedures, tasks, or activities performed at each workstation or specific laboratory by listing the steps involved in a specific protocol and the hazards associated with them and then determining the necessary controls, on the basis of the agent/organism. Precautions beyond the standard and special practices for BSL-2 may be indicated in the following circumstances:
Monitoring effectiveness of controlsRisk assessment is an ongoing process that requires at least an annual review because of changes in new and emerging pathogens and in technologies and personnel.
The Principal Investigator must conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to:
Risk GroupsThere are four risk groups:Risk Group 1: Agents are not associated with disease in healthy adult humans. Risk Group 2: Agents are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventative or therapeutic interventions are often available. Risk Group 3: Agents are associated with serious or lethal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic interventions may be available. Risk Group 4: Agents are likely to cause serious or lethal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic interventions are usually not available. Risk Group 1Agents are not associated with disease in healthy adult humans. Examples
Animal Viral Etiologic Agents in Common Use (Risk Group 1) Animal Viral Etiologic Agents in Common Use Not associated with disease in healthy human adults Examples
Risk Group 2Agents are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventative or therapeutic interventions are often available. Examples
Risk Group 3Agents are associated with serious or lethal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic interventions may be available. Examples
Risk Group 4Agents are likely to cause serious or lethal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic interventions are usually not available. Examples
What are the steps for risk assessment?You can do it yourself or appoint a competent person to help you.. Identify hazards.. Assess the risks.. Control the risks.. Record your findings.. Review the controls.. Which of the following factors must be taken into consideration when performing a biohazard risk assessment?Risk assessment factors include the agent's pathogenicity (ability to cause infection) and virulence (the severity of disease), the infectious dose, the availability of prophylaxis, communicability, and stability within the environment.
What is the 5 step risk assessment process?Identify the hazards. Decide who might be harmed and how. Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures. Record your findings and implement them.
What are the 4 elements of a risk assessment?The risk assessment process consists of four parts: hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment, and risk characterization.
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