Biosafety Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory and Oversight Landscape

Surveys the types of regulatory bodies and frameworks governing biological work. Learners understand compliance obligations without referencing jurisdiction-specific codes.

Lesson 2 • Ethical Responsibilities in Biological Work

Examines the moral duties of researchers and technicians handling biological materials. Links ethical conduct to institutional and public trust.

Lesson 3 • Core Biosafety Terminology

Defines essential vocabulary used throughout biosafety practice. Precise language prevents miscommunication in high-stakes environments.

Lesson 1 • Institutional Risk Assessment Process

Guides learners through a structured institutional risk assessment workflow. Outcome is a documented risk determination suitable for committee review.

Lesson 2 • Agent-Specific Risk Profiles

Applies classification criteria to bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and toxins. Builds pattern recognition for rapid risk assessment.

Lesson 3 • Biosafety Levels 1 Through 4

Details the physical, procedural, and personnel requirements at each biosafety level. Learners map risk groups to appropriate BSL designations.

Lesson 1 • Donning and Doffing Procedures

Teaches the correct sequence for putting on and removing personal protective equipment to prevent self-contamination. Sequence errors are the leading cause of personal protective equipment-related exposure.

Lesson 2 • PPE Maintenance and Disposal

Addresses inspection, decontamination, storage, and disposal of biological personal protective equipment. Proper maintenance sustains protective performance over time.

Lesson 3 • PPE Selection Principles

Establishes criteria for matching personal protective equipment type to biological hazard and exposure route. Prevents over- and under-protection errors.

Lesson 1 • Supplementary Containment Devices

Covers centrifuge safety rotors, sealed tubes, and transport containers as secondary containment. These devices extend protection beyond the cabinet.

Lesson 2 • Types of Biological Safety Cabinets

Distinguishes Class I, II, and III cabinets by airflow design and protection scope. Correct cabinet selection is foundational to containment strategy.

Lesson 3 • Cabinet Certification and Maintenance

Explains annual certification requirements, HEPA filter integrity testing, and routine maintenance. Uncertified cabinets provide false assurance of containment.

Lesson 1 • Biological Waste Management

Defines categories of biological waste and the treatment required before disposal. Proper waste management closes the containment loop.

Lesson 2 • Chemical Disinfectants and Their Applications

Surveys major disinfectant classes, their spectra of activity, and surface compatibility. Matching disinfectant to agent and surface prevents both failure and damage.

Lesson 3 • Autoclaving and Heat-Based Methods

Covers steam sterilisation parameters, cycle validation, and load configuration. Autoclave misuse is a leading cause of decontamination failure.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Microbial Inactivation

Explains the mechanisms by which physical and chemical agents destroy or inactivate microorganisms. Mechanistic understanding guides method selection.

Lesson 1 • Sharps Safety and Injury Prevention

Addresses safe handling, use, and disposal of needles, scalpels, and broken glass. Sharps injuries are the most frequent route of laboratory-acquired infection.

Lesson 2 • Standard Microbiological Practices

Establishes the baseline behaviours required in all biological laboratories regardless of risk level. These practices form the minimum acceptable standard.

Lesson 3 • Aerosol and Splash Risk Reduction

Identifies procedures that generate aerosols or splashes and the controls that mitigate them. Aerosol control is critical at BSL-2 and above.

Lesson 4 • Enhanced Practices for BSL-3 Work

Details the additional procedural controls required when working with Risk Group 3 agents. These controls supplement standard practices rather than replace them.

Lesson 1 • Biological Spill Response Procedures

Provides a step-by-step protocol for containing and decontaminating biological spills inside and outside containment. Spill response prevents secondary exposures.

Lesson 2 • Medical Surveillance and Follow-Up

Explains post-exposure medical evaluation, prophylaxis options, and monitoring timelines. Medical follow-up is a regulatory and ethical obligation.

Lesson 3 • Immediate Post-Exposure Actions

Specifies the first-response steps a worker must take within minutes of a biological exposure. Rapid action reduces infection probability.

Lesson 4 • Incident Investigation and Corrective Action

Guides root cause analysis of exposure incidents and development of corrective measures. Investigation prevents recurrence and improves institutional safety culture.

Lesson 1 • Performance Metrics and Continuous Improvement

Introduces leading and lagging indicators for measuring biosafety programme effectiveness. Data-driven improvement sustains programme relevance over time.

Lesson 2 • Designing a Biosafety Programme

Outlines the structural components of an effective institutional biosafety programme. A well-designed programme integrates policy, training, and oversight into a coherent system.

Lesson 3 • Training Programme Development

Covers adult learning principles, training needs analysis, and competency verification for biosafety education. Effective training changes behaviour, not just knowledge.

Lesson 4 • Communicating Biosafety to Stakeholders

Addresses how to present biosafety risks and programme status to leadership, researchers, and the public. Clear communication builds support and accountability.