Containment Levels

Biological agents that may cause harm must be handled in a contained environment.

> Containment levels at UCL
> Containment Level requirements for facilities
> Loss of containment

Containment Levels at UCL 

At UCL activities involving biological agents are carried out in specially designed laboratories. These are described in COSHH as Containment Levels (CL). The requirements for the 4 different containment levels (CL1, CL2, CL3, CL4) are a combination of facilities design, safety equipment and working practices. As the CL number increases the level of control also increses. CL1 has minimum level of control, whilst CL4 has the highest level of controls. See Containment Level requirements for facilities, Schedule 3 part II of COSHH and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2014 part 2

Higher levels are containment are required for biological agents that are of higher hazard to people and or the environment. Hazard groups correlate to, but do not equate to the Containment Level. A risk assessment is required to confirm the CL required for work with biological agents. It is important to recognise that Hazard Group (HG) 1 organisms can be handled at any containment level, however, HG 3 microorganisms should be handled at CL3 or can be handled at CL4 but not at lower containment.  There are some exceptions where derogations or relaxation of the rules can be requested on measures, however, this will require a discussion with the BioChem team in Safety Services to apply to permission from the HSE. More information can be found in the Approved List of Biological Agents.

Genetically Modified (GM) materials are categorised by Class and the class is determined by the controls measures required which also reflects the containment level required. This is documented in the risk assessments required to be able to handle Genetically Modified Materials.

Containment Level Requirements for facilities

The table below provides the requirements for containment facilities where wild type microorganisms and genetically modified organisms are handled. The information covers Containment level 1 to 3. UCL does not have any Containment level 4 facilities.

Containment measures	CL1	CL2	CL3
Laboratory suite separate from other activities in the same building.	not required	not required	required
Laboratory sealability for fumigation	not required	not required	required
Surfaces impervious to water, resistant to alkalis, solvents, disinfectants, and decontamination agents and easy to clean	required for any bench	required for any bench	required for any bench, floor, ceiling, and walls
Entry to laboratory via an airlock /ante room separated from the restricted area by changing facilities with interlocked doors	not required	not required	required where risk assessment shows it is required
Negative pressure of the immediate surroundings	not required	not required	required except of activities where transmission doesn't occur by the airborne route.
Extract and input air from the laboratory must be HEPA filtered	not required	not required	HEPA filters required for extract air except for activities where transmission does not occur by the airborne route.
Microbiological safety cabinet /enclosure to handle infective material	not required	required where to extent risk assessment  shows it is required	Required and all procedures with infected materials required to be contained within a cabinet  enclosure
Autoclave	required on site	required in the building	required in the laboratory suite. If not in the suite a validated procedures required for safe transport
Incinerator	available	available	available
Access restricted to authorised personnel only	not required	required	required
Biohazard sign on door	not required	required	required
Specific measures to control aerosol dissemination	not required	required so as to minimise	required so as to prevent
Shower	not required	not required	required where risk assessment shows it is required
Protective clothing	suitable protective clothing required	suitable protective clothing required	suitable protective clothing required; footwear required where to extent risk assessment shows it is required
Gloves	not required	required where to extent risk assessment  shows it is required	required
Efficient control of disease vectors (e.g., rodents, insects) which could disseminate Wild type microorganisms and GMM	required where to extent risk assessment shows they are required	required	required
Inactivation of GMM in effluent from hand-washing sinks and showers and similar effluents	not required	not required	Required where and to extent risk assessment shows it is required
Specified disinfection procedures	good practice	required	required
Inactivation of GMM in contaminated material and waste	not required	required by validated means	required by validated means, with waste inactivated within the laboratory suite
Laboratory to contain its own equipment	not required	not required	Required so far as is reasonably practicable
An observation window or alternative is to be present so that occupants can be seen	required where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required	required where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required	required where and to extent the risk assessment shows it is required
Safe storage of GMMs	required where and to required o extent the risk assessment shows it is required	required	required
Written records of staff training	Not required	required where and to extent risk assessment shows it is required	required

Further information can be found in Schedule 3 part II of COSHH and Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2014 part 2.

Loss of containment 

Containment in CL2 and CL3 is maintained by the HVAC  that supplies the lab and extracts air from Microbiological Safety cabinets. If the HVAC fails there is no guarantee that containment is being maintained. Therefore work should be made safe and the area should be evacuated to minimise the risk of exposure to hazardous biological agents. 

Any loss of containment resulting in the release or escape of a biological agent likely to cause severe human infection or illness will require a notification to the HSE under Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

Severe human infection or illness is casued by biological agents in Hazard Groups 3 and 4. The list of Hazard group 3 and 4 agents can be found in the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) Approved list of biological agents.

 In this event, raise a riskNET report and contact the Safety Services as soon as possible.