Biosafety

Biosafety

I. Policy Statement

All College research and instructional activities involving biohazardous materials must be reviewed and approved by the Biosafety Committee prior to the use of any such materials. The Biosafety Committee has the responsibility to protect faculty, staff, students, visitors, and the local community and environment in regards to all research activities.  Projects submitted for external review must be submitted for review by the Biosafety Committee prior to acceptance of funding.

Responsibilities

1. The Provost (or designee) appoints members of the Biosafety Committee as outlined in the Fort Lewis College Biosafety Program document. The Biosafety Committee has the responsibility of assessing dangers and potential environmental impacts associated with investigations involving biological agents and making recommendations for safe conduct of such studies.  The Biosafety Committee also functions on behalf of Fort Lewis College to ensure that the experimental work is performed in compliance with current laws.
2. The Biological Safety Officer represents the Environmental Health and Safety office and is primarily responsible for continuity and compliance of the biosafety program at Fort Lewis College.
3. Laboratory supervisors (Principal Investigators - PI) are expected to be familiar with relevant safety guidelines described in the Biosafety Program, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) included with the Biosafety Program and national best practices that pertain to the biological agent in use.  The PI shall personally monitor and be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the biosafety lab, and to take all necessary steps for protection of staff, students, and the general public against undesirable consequences of experimental work conducted at Fort Lewis College, and/or during field studies.
4. Department chairpersons are responsible for the general safety of faculty, staff and students working with biohazardous agents in the department.

III. Responsibilities 

For following the policy: All employees and students

For enforcement of the policy: Biosafety Committee, Biological Safety Officer

For oversight of the policy: Provost and Vice President for Finance and Administration

For notification of policy: Policy Librarian

For procedures implementing the policy: Department Chairs of Biology and Physics/Engineering

V. Procedures

Biosafety Program - Approved 06-06-18.pdf