UCL Support and Oversight

Biological agents are one of the key hazards managed by UCL’s Safety Management System.

Work with biological agents is a significant risk for departments and is one of the one of five major hazards at UCL. The other major hazards include chemicals, fire, infrastructure and radiation.

To ensure that biological agents and other major hazards are managed in accordance with the standards set by the University Management Committee (UMC), UCL Professional Services and Estates provide additional support.

Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-Committee (GMBSSC)

The Genetic Modification and Biological Safety Sub-Committee (GMBSSC) reports to the UCL Work Health and Safety Committee (WHSC). Further information on the GMBSSC can be found in this link ​​​​​​​

Safety Services

The Safety Services team provides support through:

• the BioChem Team 
• the Biosafety Hub, a repository for information and guidance for working with biological agents at UCL
• training e.g. Principle and Practice of Biosafety Training, Prinicples of laboratory safety at UCL
• support for HSE notifications
• support for HSE visits

The team also provides oversight in the form of:

• auditing Class 1 risk assessments
• auditing CL3 lab controls

 

Biological Safety Officer

The Biological Safety Officer:

The BSO is a position that is supported by more than one person to provide continuity of support for researchers working with biological agents at UCL.  

• provides legal updates to GMBSSC
• author the standards and UCL-wide procedures for working with biological agents 
• provides general advice on all biological safety matters
• provides support for the specification of equipment and CL labs of all levels

The BSO is also responsible for:

• ensuring the GMBSSC reviews risk assessments
• auditing specific procedures, e.g. the emergency plans for spills

Estates Division

Both Estates Development and Estates Operations play a key role in supporting biosafety at UCL through:

• project management for the installation and decommissioning of labs.
• maintainance of building infrastructure e.g. HVAC

Estates Operations are responsibile for:

• asset management (both regulatory examinations and pre-planned maintenance) supervision of contractors of UCL equipment for both proactive and reactive activity

• ensuring that departmental managed assets are maintained and repaired when necessary