Theme: Biological Safety

An annual event for Biological Safety Officers (BSOs).

This is a CAA approved 3-day training course and open book examination, covering the requirements of the IATA Dangerous Goods by Air Regulations. Someone possessing this qualification will be an asset to their department as carriers ask for more assurances about the packaging and labelling of cargoes.

Note that each participant will need the use of an up to date IATA manual (changes annually) for this course. A few copies will be available on loan but others will have to purchase or borrow one independently.

There will be a 0930 start on the first day but subsequent start, finish and break times will be a matter of negotiation with the trainer.

There is unlikely to be another full IATA course organised centrally until 2021.

Principal Investigators, research group heads and supervisors have duties and responsibilities both in law and under University Policy where the health and safety of group members (and others that may be influenced by their research activities) are concerned. It is mandatory that all PIs, group heads and supervisors attend this course which will quickly inform you of what you must do to comply with the law, keep your staff and students safe and reduce the possibility of litigation, thus reducing the overall risk to the University.

A prior risk assessment of all work with genetically modified organisms, from bacteria to animals, is a requirement by law. This course will cover the legal background and your duties, provide guidance on the Hazard Groups and containment levels, explain the notification system and guide you through an example GM risk assessment. At least a basic understanding of biology and genetic techniques is assumed, which will allow you to get the full benefit of this course.

A microbiological safety cabinet (MSC) is a vital piece of equipment that helps to prevent exposure to biological hazards. All containment laboratory users and their supervisors should know how to use MSCs effectively, what the standards are for the different levels of containment, and how the facilities are managed. This course will help both users and managers understand their responsibilities in creating a safe working area and provide both theory and practical knowledge on the safe and effective use of tissue culture (Class II) cabinets.

This is a one-day specialised CAA approved training course aimed at those departments shipping biological materials by air (IATA). It will use the 2020 IATA Regulations and will cover the full classification, packaging, labelling and documentation required to ship the following goods:

• Infectious Substances (Category A)
• Biological substances (Category B) (e.g. samples, vaccines, bloods, etc)
• Exempted goods – (e.g. cell lines, DNA)
• Genetically Modified Organisms

It will also cover the requirements for the supplementary materials encountered, such as dry-ice, dry-shippers and samples that are in small amounts of potentially flammable, or toxic, preservative fluids.

Successful candidates will receive a training certificate valid for two years, restricted only to the materials described above.

For completeness, transport by road and rail etc will also be covered.

The course will provide an overview of the Human Tissue Act and will be delivered by Dr Rachel Smith from the MRC Regulatory Support Centre. The Centre provides training, support and guidance to those whose research involves human participants, their tissue, cells or data.