October is Biosafety Month

2018 is the 5th anniversary of Biosafety Month. The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Office of Science Policy (OSP) initially created National Biosafety Month to encourage institutions to highlight the importance of biosafety and undertake activities to strengthen their biosafety programs. The 2018 Biosafety Month theme is “Promoting a Culture of Biosafety and Responsibility” with the social media hashtag #getyourcultureon.

At Emory University, Biosafety is a critical component of Research Safety. Rarely a research laboratory uses biological materials only. Thus, we encourage our investigators to take a holistic approach to laboratory safety by promoting the safe use of biological, chemical and radioactive materials. Emory University’s Research Safety office team encourages all investigators to:

• Review standard operating procedures, submit them to the biosafety office for feedback and share with research personnel.
• Be up to date with safety trainings. The Research Lab Safety, Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) and Biosafety training modules are accessible through the electronic managing system in BioRAFT.
• Review vaccination requirements and occupational health recommendations with research personnel.
• Update the use of biological, chemical and radioactive materials in the research laboratory.
• Use appropriate PPE for the job activity to be conducted by completing the PPE Hazard Assessment.
• Report all laboratory incidents and near misses to your supervisor

What is Emory EHSO doing?

We have heard your comments regarding accessibility to documents on our website. The Research Safety/Biosafety Office will be posting related educational resources as a Toolbox Collection on our website. Stay tuned.

Emory University thanks ABSA International for supporting the 2018 Biosafety Month.

Please contact the biosafety office if you have any questions at biosafe@emory.edu. You can also follow our Twitter account @EmoryEHSO, we will be posting daily biosafety tips.

Let’s continue to work together to keep the Emory Community safe.