Policies & Procedures

Research

Policy on Biosafety - 1M3

1.  Applicability:
   
   

   Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recognizes the need to protect faculty, staff, students, and the community from incidents involving the use of hazardous biological materials at the University. SIUE, therefore, will comply with the most recent versions of the National Institutes of Health, "Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories," and other appropriate state and federal regulations.
   

   This policy applies to all University employees and students conducting research and/or educational activities with hazardous biological materials. Responsibility for assuring compliance with the standards for use of biohazardous material shall rest with the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The Graduate School is responsible for monitoring changes in applicable laws or regulations, for advising the IBC and the faculty of such changes and for recommending modifications to University policy concerning biosafety.
   

2. Definitions:
   
   
   1. Biohazardous materials: Any infectious agent presenting a risk or potential risk to the well-being of man or animals, either directly through infection or indirectly through disruption of the environment. These agents include bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, rickettsiae, tumor cell lines, and recombinant DNA.
      
      
   2. Incident: Any situation involving biohazardous material that may result in a danger to the public health or welfare.
      
      
   3. Project Director: The person directly responsible for the conduct of any educational or research activity involving biohazardous material. In the case of a student conducting such activity, the project director is the faculty or staff member under whose supervision the activity is conducted.
      
      
3. Institutional Biosafety Committee:
   
   
   1. Membership
      
      
      1. The IBC shall be comprised of no fewer than five members. At least two members shall not be affiliated with the University and shall represent the interest of the surrounding community with respect to health and protection of the environment.
         
         
      2. The IBC shall include members who are capable of assessing the safety of the activity and any potential risk to the public health or the environment.
         
         
      3. Members of the IBC shall be appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
         
         
      4. The Director of the Office of Research and Projects (ORP) of the Graduate School shall serve as an ex-officio member of the IBC.
         
         
   2. Responsibilities:
      
      
      1. The IBC shall review for compliance with federal regulations governing Biosafety and Recombinant DNA activities conducted at or sponsored by SIUE and shall approve those activities that it finds in compliance. This review shall include:
         
         
         1. an independent assessment of the containment level required by the federal regulations;
            
            
         2. an assessment of the facilities, procedures, and practice and training of the personnel involved in the activity.
            
            
      2. The IBC shall notify the project director of the results of its review.
         
         
      3. The IBC shall determine the containment level as specified by the federal regulations.
         
         
      4. The IBC shall periodically review all activities to assure compliance with the federal regulations.
         
         
      5. The IBC shall notify appropriate officials of any spill or contamination.
         
         
      6. The IBC shall report to NIH and to other appropriate officials any failure of compliance.
         
         
      7. The IBC may not authorize the initiation of any experiments not explicitly covered by the federal regulations.
         
         
      8. The IBC shall order the suspension or termination of any activity in violation of the federal regulations.
         
         
      9. The IBC reports to the Graduate School which is responsible for advising appropriate University and external agency officials of relevant actions.
         
         
4. Responsibilities of Project Director:
   
   
   1. The Project Director of any activity is responsible for fully complying with the federal regulations.
      
      
   2. The Project Director shall not initiate any activity with biohazardous material without the approval of the IBC.
      
      
   3. The Project Director shall not modify an activity covered by an IBC approved protocol without prior approval of the IBC.
      
      
   4. The Project Director shall immediately report any spill or contamination to the Chair of the IBC. The Project Director, in conjunction with the Chair of the IBC and other appropriate University officials, shall be responsible for directing cleanup procedures in the event of a spill or contamination.
      
      
   5. The Project Director shall provide training and be responsible for all personnel engaged in the activity.
      

Approved by Chancellor effective 10/27/89
This policy was issued on April 4, 2000, replacing the February 1, 1996 version.
Document Reference: 1M3
Origin: OP 10/27/89