Good Microbiological Practice

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF GOOD MICROBIOLOGICAL PRACTICE AND OF GOOD OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HYGIENE

Regulation 17(2) and (3) SCHEDULE 7

The general principles of good microbiological practice and of good occupational safety and hygiene are as follows-

(a) keeping workplace and environmental exposure to any genetically modified micro-organism to the lowest reasonably practicable level;

(b) exercising engineering control measures at source and supplementing these with appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment where necessary;

(c) testing adequately and maintaining control measures and equipment;

(d) testing, where necessary, for the presence of viable process organisms outside the primary physical containment;

(e) providing appropriate training of personnel;

(f) formulating and implementing local codes of practice for the safety of personnel, as required;

(g) displaying biohazard signs where appropriate;

(h) providing washing and decontamination facilities for personnel;

(i) keeping adequate records;

(j) prohibiting in the work area eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics or the storing of food for human consumption;

(k) prohibiting mouth pipetting;

(l) providing written standard operating procedures where appropriate to ensure safety;

(m) having effective disinfectants and specified disinfection procedures available in case of spillage of genetically modified micro-organisms; and

(n) providing safe storage for contaminated laboratory equipment and materials where appropriate.