Biological Safety at UCL

Biological Safety (Biosafety) refers to the precautions required for safe work with biological agents.

“Biosafety is a strategic and integrated approach to analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health and associated risks for the environment. It is based on recognition of the critical linkages between sectors and the potential for hazards to move within and between sectors, with system-wide consequences” – World Health Organisation (WHO)

At UCL (Disruptive thinking since 1826), many of our science-based faculties are at the forefront of the research into mitigating the harm that biological agents can cause. Research on biological agents also explores innovative ways they can benefit us by investigating critical links.

UCL aims to ensure the provision of a safe and supportive environment where everyone can develop themselves and their research through:

• information on what biological agents are and the hazards that they present (see Working safely with Biological Agents)
• training on what a safe operating procedure is, and the implementation of these at UCL (see Safety training)
• supervision of the implementation of the control measures, at a departmental level
• support through the Biological and Chemical Team, Biosafety Officer and the Genetic Modification, and Biological Safety Sub-committee. 

The controls in place for working with biological agents are in addition to the procedures in place to ensure that all staff, students and visitors:

• are safe at UCL
• are safe when working in practical workspaces
• are safe when working with hazardous substances (including biological agents)