A/9.3 Biosafety policy

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9.3.1 Biosafety policy
9.3.2 Definitions
9.3.3 Biosafety application
9.3.4 Biosafety assurance
Related Documents
Modification History

9.3.1 Biosafety policy

QUT is committed to biological safety (’biosafety’) a system of safe handling of biological materials and maintenance of safe conditions to prevent harm to people or the environment. Biological materials are used in research, teaching and health care. Aspects of biosafety with potential for harm to people or the environment are

• Working with microorganisms and/or biological material
• Providing health care or diagnostic services to students, staff, or members of the public
• Importing biological material
• Dealing with genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• Working with security sensitive biological agents (SSBA).

For each of these aspects, there are legislative requirements that the University must meet. Meeting these requirements will help

• avoid ill health to individuals caused by microorganisms or biological material with which they are working
• ensure relevant research projects and teaching activities pass scrutiny by the regulator
• avoid reputational damage to QUT through adverse publicity on biosafety matters
• avoid serious environmental damage.

The four principal compliance regimes to which QUT must adhere in relation to these activities are

• Queensland workplace health and safety and public health legislation and relevant Australian Standards, which specify work practices for dealing with infectious agents
• The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), which specifies and participates in a regulatory regime to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country and to help retain Australia's animal, plant and human health
• The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), which specifies and participates in a regulatory regime for dealings with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
• National Health Security legislation, which provides a regulatory scheme to improve the security of biological agents of security concern and is implemented through the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

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9.3.2 Definitions

"Biological material" is material originating in living organisms and includes animal, human or plant cells, tissues, organs and fluids, including blood, serum, urine and saliva. This broad definition also includes pathogens and dead biological matter as well as DNA, RNA and protein chemically synthesised or derived from biological material.

"Biosafety assurance" is the minimisation of biological risks posed by University research, teaching or other associated activities. In particular, these risks are:

• transmission of infectious disease to staff, students or the public as a result of QUT-related activities; and/or

• the accidental / unauthorised release of infectious agents, quarantine material or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from their appropriate levels of containment.

"Gene technology" is defined as any technique for the modification of genes or other genetic material, but does not include sexual reproduction, homologous recombination or other techniques as specified in the Gene Technology Regulations.

"Genetically modified organisms" (GMOs) are organisms that have been modified by gene technology or offspring derived from such organisms, or anything declared as a GMO in the Gene Technology Regulations. This does not include a human being or any organism declared by the Gene Technology Regulations not to be a GMO.

"Microorganism" is a minute living organism, usually of microscopic or submicroscopic size, such as a bacterium, mould, yeast, or fungus. Some authorities include viruses in this definition.

"Organism" is an organised individual living system, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, or fungus; a body made up of organs, organelles, or other parts that work together to carry on the various processes of life. It is also defined to mean a biological entity that is viable, capable of reproduction or capable of transferring genetic material.

"Security-sensitive biological agent" means a biological agent that is included in the List of Security-sensitive Biological Agents.

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9.3.3 Biosafety application

Organisational areas using or intending to use biological materials or gene technology must comply with this policy and accordingly, establish, maintain and monitor effective systems for:

• Working with micro-organisms and/or biological material in the laboratory in a safe manner as specified by agreed and approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
• Providing health care or diagnostic services with due regard to compliance with relevant aspects of health legislation including the minimisation of infection risks;
• Acquiring quarantine material in accordance with a Permit to Import and carrying out practices as an Approved Person (AP) under conditions of a registered Quarantine Approved Premises (QAP);
• Dealing with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in certified bio-containment facilities using approved work processes; and
• Preventing deliberate release of harmful biological agents through compliance with national legislation regulating secure storage, possession, use and transport of biological agents.

Guidance for establishing, maintaining and monitoring these systems is available on the Human Resources Health and Safety website.

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9.3.4 Biosafety assurance

QUT's biosafety assurance model seeks to ensure a consistent approach to the management of biosafety risks across QUT through risk assessed SOPs approved by faculty/institute in consultation with the faculty/institute manager where the work is to be conducted. Responsibility for coordinating the formulation of SOPs rests with the respective principal project investigator (for research) or the unit coordinator (for teaching). Guidelines to assist with applications relating to biosafety assurance are available on the Research Ethics website. The University's policy on research ethics (D/6.1) should also be consulted for general guidance on the conduct of projects.

Activities involving the use of GMOs or other biosafety-related materials must be subjected to the appropriate level of University review, and the applicant must receive notification of approval before the project can be commenced. QUT Institute Biosafety Committee is established under national legislation primarily to review and monitor QUT activities involving GMOs  and is responsible for ensuring that QUT has quality assurance systems in place to comply with the legislation. These systems include internal checking of applications, systems of record keeping and reporting, and procedures for training of staff dealing with GMOs. Applications for work with GMOs must be submitted to the IBC for approval.

Applications for work with other biosafety materials (ie non-GMO) must be submitted and approved at the faculty or institute level, usually through the faculty / institute Health and Safety Committee and the relevant faculty /institute management committee. These Committees must also consider quarantine implications of the work and ensure appropriate resources are available for security, handling, storage and disposal of materials.

Researchers who are unclear of their obligations in relation to biosafety should consult the Research Ethics website, their supervisor / research team, the IBC and/or Health and Safety Advisory Services in the Human Resources Department.

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Related Documents

MOPP D/6.1 University research ethics
MOPP D/6.6 QUT Institute Biosafety Committee
Human Resources Health and Safety website

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Modification History

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