Environmental Health and Safety

SDSU Biosafety Manual

San Diego State University
BIOHAZARD CONTROL PROGRAM

Executive Summary

Materials that are hazardous to humans as a result of their biological or infectious properties (as opposed to chemical or physical properties) are called biohazardous materials or simply biohazards. The management of biological hazards through the proper application of engineered containment devices and administrative controls is usually referred to as biosafety or biohazard control. An effective biohazard control program addresses the following objectives:

1. Preventing or minimizing the possibility of infection as a result of any activities involving biohazardous materials; and
   
   
2. Assuring that all biohazardous material handling, storage, and waste management activities are performed in compliance with applicable standards and regulations.

A comprehensive Biohazard Control Program has been developed and implemented at San Diego State University (SDSU). The Biohazard Control Program Manual describes the practices, procedures, facility construction and operational standards necessary to achieve the objectives listed above. The instructions and information contained in this manual are set forth and adopted by the SDSU Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

SDSU views biosafety as a team effort involving the Principal Investigator, laboratory research and support personnel, Biosafety Officer, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Physical Plant, and Environmental Health and Safety. The responsibilities of each of these entities are described in detail in the manual.