OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
Regarding Inspection of Laboratories Conducting Biotechnical Research and Development.
 OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletins - Table of Contents
- Information Date: 19860710
- Record Type: Hazard Information Bulletin
- Subject: Regarding Inspection of Laboratories Conducting Biotechnical Research and Development.
July 10, 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
| THRU: | JOHN B. MILES
Director
Directorate of Field Operations |
| |
| FROM: | EDWARD J. BAIER
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| |
| SUBJECT: | Health Hazard Information Regarding Inspection of Laboratories Conducting Biotechnical Research and Development |
The information which follows was brought to our attention by Linda Anku,
Regional Administrator, Region III. Our purpose is to alert OSHA field staff
to the hazards associated with exposure to viral, bacterial and other
pathogenic agents found in biotechnical research and development and suggest
precautions to be implemented by compliance officers when inspecting such
facilities.
In October 1985, two spills of HTLV-III virus (AIDS virus) occurred at
Bionetics Research, Inc. located in Rockville, Maryland. This laboratory
centrifuges, deactivates and ships the deactivated virus to other
laboratories that produce AIDS antibody detection kits. The laboratory is
licensed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and follows
Biosafety Level 3 practices as specified in a DCD/NIH publication entitled
"Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories," J.H. Richardson
and W.E. Barkley (eds.) GP0 #017-023-00167-1 and HHS (CDC)#84-8395 (excerpts
attached).
Both spills were caused by overpressurization of the harvesting
equipment which caused in the first instance the separation of flexible
tubing from its appropriate position. This separation caused the release of
the virus onto the lab room floor. The separation was caused by the lack of
a pressure regulator on the line and the absence of a pressure relief valve.
The second incident involved the shattering of a glass vessel. In this
instance, an employee was cut by the flying glass. A pressure regulator was
operating when this spill occurred and the investigators are not certain why
the glass vessel shattered. Following these incidents, the Maryland
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Laboratories Administration and the
State of Maryland Division of Labor and Industry Occupational Safety and
Health (MOSH) inspected this facility (reports attached). Based upon
inspections performed by these agencies, the following changes in process
were recommended.
1. Established standard operating procedures with periodic review.
2. Replace pressurized system with mechanical pump system with pressure
relief valves.
3. Replace glass vessels with stainless steel or other appropriate vessels.
4. Test run equipment before going on line.
5. Train employees.
When investigating operations involving pathogenic agents, Compliance
Officers should be aware of the modes of transmission of the particular
agents. When the mode of transmission is known, the Compliance Officer
should take appropriate precautions to minimize exposure to any pathogenic
agent. For example, if the agent is transmitted through the aerosol route,
appropriate respiratory protection is warranted. It is our recommendation
that CSHOs wear gloves and cover areas of the body that have open lesions
with appropriate barrier garments during laboratory inspections as a minimum
precaution. a As guideline, we recommend following the precautions suggested
in the CDC - NIH manual on laboratories that were cited earlier.
Additional questions concerning this topic should be directed to:
Dr. Robert W. McKinney Chief of OSH Branch Division of Safety Bldg. 13, Room 3K04A Bethesda, Maryland 20205 Telephone: (301) 496-2960 or,
Dr. Harry Mahar Chief of Technical Assistance Section OSH Branch Bldg. 13, Rm. 3K05 Bethesda, Maryland 20205 Telephone: (301)496-3353
References:
1. "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories," CDC-NIH,
March 1984, GOP #017-023--00167-1, HHS No. 84-8395.
2. Federal Register, Vol. 49, No. 201, Tuesday, October 16, 1984.
3. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), April 11, 1986, Vol. 35,
No. 14, "Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of Infection with HTLH
III/LAV during Invasive Procedures."
4. MMWR, April 18, 1986, Vol. 35, No. 15, "Recommendation Infection -
Control Practices for Denistry.
5. MMWR, November 15, 1985, Vol. 34, No. 45, "Recommendations for
Preventing Transmission of Infection with HTLV-III/LAV in the Workplace."
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