PROGRAM
ALL PRECONFERENCE COURSES
Preconference Courses
Friday, October 19, 2012
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
1. Infectious Substance Shipping Certification
Eric Cook, MPH, CBSP, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
This course is appropriate for those who have some experience with infectious substance handling or shipping but
may not have been certified within the past 3 years. The course utilizes several facilitated and class learning activities
such as group discussions and interactive exercises focused on the essential areas of infectious substance shipping.
Participants will have the opportunity to mark, label, package, and complete documentation for a variety of infectious
substances shipments (Category A, Category B, and Exempt Patient Specimens). Participants will review applicable
regulations with a focus on IATA. This course is appropriate for those responsible for packaging, marking, and labeling
shipments of all categories of infectious substances, dry ice, and liquid nitrogen. A final written certification exam will
be administered. Participants must score at least 70% in order to be certified.
Objectives:
- Recall information about U.S. and international regulations that affect shippers of infectious substances
- Practice the proper way to package, mark, label, and prepare shipments of infectious substances, Category A, Category B, and exempt including over packs, dry ice, and liquid nitrogen
- Accurately complete relevant paperwork associated with infectious substance shipping (shipper's declaration, airway bill, etc.)
- Recognize program management issues such as who needs to be trained on what and how often, import and export requirements, authorizing shipments, select agent rules, MOUs, etc.
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, New Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
2. Fundamentals of Biosafety
Raymond W. Hackney, DrPH, CBSP, Duke University, Durham, NC
Janice Flesher, SM(NRCM), CBSP, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Marietta, PA
This course will teach the basic principles of biosafety and biotechnology. Although specific biohazards will be
discussed, emphasis will be directed toward the development of risk assessment skills whereby the participant
develops the ability to recognize, evaluate, and control occupational biohazards. Relevant regulatory requirements are
addressed to the extent that the participant is introduced to new and existing mandates. An in-depth discussion of
methods used to control biohazard exposure will be presented including work practices and engineering controls.
Handling of biohazardous materials will be discussed including disinfection, spill cleanup, and waste management. A
basic introduction to biotechnology with emphasis on molecular biology, recombinant DNA, and viral vectors will also
be provided.
Objectives:
- Describe the classes and basic characteristics of microorganisms
- Identify five routes of transmission that can occur in laboratories
- Describe the work practices, safety equipment, and facility requirements for biosafety levels 1 through 4
- Describe through risk assessment what biosafety levels are appropriate for specific infectious agents
- Identify the appropriate type of Class II biological safety cabinets for specific applications
- Verify appropriate disinfectants for specific applications
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: New Biosafety Professionals, Laboratory Workers, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
3. Introduction to Biological Risk Assessment
Elizabeth Weirich, CBSP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Patrick Condreay, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Research Triangle Park, NC
Anne-Sophie Brocard, PhD, RBP, CBSP, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
Rapid scientific and technological advances continue to challenge the biosafety community in determining and
establishing the appropriate practices and containment necessary to avoid exposure to the wide array of hazardous
biological agents and materials found in the laboratory today. This introductory course will provide an opportunity to
incorporate the basic knowledge and skills necessary in order to perform risk assessments for working safely with
pathogens (human, animal, or plant) and rDNA (genetically modified organisms or viral vectors). Using case studies,
participants will work together to conduct risk assessments by determining the hazards involved; the appropriate
questions to ask to address the potential risks associated with the intended activities; and then make
recommendations on appropriate containment and practices required to work safely. The conclusions of the groups
will be presented. Participants are expected to have a basic knowledge of microbiology and biosafety (containment
facilities and practices).
Objectives:
- Identify and list determinants for assessing risk (host, environment, agent)
- Complete the steps of a risk assessment
- Determine steps to manage risk (mitigation)
- Identify resources and references for risk assessment/management
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety
Target Audience: New Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
4. Biosafety Management Techniques for Improving Organization Program Understanding and Support
Robert Emery, DrPH, RBP, CBSP, University of Texas—Houston, Houston, TX
Bruce Brown, MPH, CBSP, University of Texas—Houston, Houston, TX
A recurrent challenge for biosafety professionals is the ability to garner necessary program resources. This difficulty
lies in the fact that, on a good day in the world of biosafety, nothing happens, so upper management may not fully
appreciate or understand all of the effort that went into making nothing happen. Biosafety professionals in particular
experience difficulty in this regard because many in the profession have received intensive training in the biological
sciences, but little or no training in the area of program management. This course will focus on key management
techniques that can be used within biosafety programs to help improve stakeholder understanding of the program
and its activities. Real-world examples of successful applications will be discussed.
Objectives:
- Identify various biosafety programmatic measures and metrics that can be easily captured and communicated
- Define the techniques that can be used for displaying biosafety data in ways that others can readily understand and appreciate it
- Describe how biosafety programs can assist with other basic safety program needs to help avoid program duplication of efforts and improve safety and client satisfaction levels
- Employ various commonly used methods to improve the visibly and support for their biosafety programs
Suggested Background: None
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Experienced Biosafety Professionals, New Biosafety Professionals
Audience Level: Basic/Intermediate
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
5. Fundamentals of the Class III Biosafety Cabinet
David Bressler, CBSP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Robert Hawley, PhD, RBP, CBSP, Frederick, MD
This course is designed to provide an overview of the history, function, design, maintenance, and operational safety
considerations of Class III biosafety cabinets. Class III cabinets have found new relevance as a tool for public health
and other microbiological laboratories in an era of all hazards preparedness, bioterrorism, and pharmaceutical
production capacity. This type of biological safety cabinet provides a controlled environment for working with high
hazard chemical and biological materials as well as the maximum amount of personnel and environmental protection,
if they are used and maintained properly. This course will be held offsite at a local manufacturer of Class III cabinets to
facilitate interactive learning sessions. Transportation will be provided.
Objectives:
- Describe the basic function and purpose of a Class III biosafety cabinet
- Discuss at least two components of a Class III biosafety cabinet and the advantages and disadvantages of working with this type of equipment
- Interact with manufacturers of this type of equipment and be able to discuss the considerations for their own institutional usage
Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Risk Assessment, Biosafety Level 3 Operations
Target Audience: Laboratory Workers, Experienced Biosafety Professionals, High- and Maximumcontainment
Facility Engineers
Audience Level: Intermediate
1:00 - 5:00 pm
6. Physical Security for Bioscience Laboratories
Lora Grainger, PhD, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Jennifer Gaudioso, PhD, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Thamer Imran, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
This course will focus on implementing physical security as an aspect of a laboratory biosecurity program. It is
designed to introduce biosafety officers, Responsible Officials, and laboratorians to physical security concepts. At the
end of the class, participants will have basic knowledge and vocabulary to enable them to communicate more
effectively with physical security specialists. Topics that will be addressed include protection strategies, access
controls, intrusion detection, alarm communication and assessment, and alarm response. This course will include case
studies and exercises, and discuss general physical protection strategies (not U.S. select agent regulations).
Objectives:
- Recognize basic physical security concepts enabling participants to communicate more effectively with physical security specialists
- Demonstrate how to protect assets of different risks through graded protection strategies
- Discuss physical security technologies, emphasizing pros and cons of specific technologies for bioscience laboratories
Suggested Background: Overview of Principals of Laboratory Security or familiarity with basic concepts of
laboratory biosecurity
Target Audience: All Safety Professionals, Laboratory Workers
Audience Level: Basic