University of Tasmania, Australia

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Biosafety

UTAS Home › Human Resources › Work Health and Safety › Key Risk Topics  › Biosafety

Biosafety covers the proper use of biologically hazardous material. Biological hazards include any biological or pathogenic agent, substance or material (living or non-living) that may pose a threat to the health and safety of the researcher, participants, community or environment, or needs special precautions to be taken in their use or storage. This biosafety section deals with institutional biosafety and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) that operates under the Gene Technology Regulations (GTR) administerd by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR). Some material may be approved by OGTR but may also require permission through Biosecurity Tasmania

  • You are required to consider biosafety, health and safety issues related to your teaching or research and comply with the legislative and regulatory requirements.
  • If your work involves pathogenic substances in Risk Group 3 or 4 (AS/NZS2243.3) you must apply for approval. Access AS/NZS2243.3 via the SAI Global online library database (UTas Library).
  • If the work is undertaken under the Australian Quarantine Act you must read the Biosecurity Tasmania website as some material and work could be approved under AQIS but still require a permit from Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • If the work involves GMO under the Gene Technology Act the IBC application flowchart  provides the process to be followed. 

Legislation

Policy current or new

Minimum Standards, Guidelines

Inspections, quality assurance best practice reports

Annual Audit report

Certified Facilities

Do you wish to have your facility certified?

Certain dealings with GMOs must be contained within physical containment facilities. The Regulator provides technical and procedural guidelines for the certification of facilities to specified containment levels. Certification of facilities ensures safety measures are adhered to preventing the release of GMOs into the environment and at the same time protecting persons outside the facility and ensuring the safety of those working with GMOs within the laboratory.

If you wish to apply for the certification of a facility contact health.safety@utas.edu.au

The certification guidelines establish four levels of containment, listed here in ascending order of the stringency of containment requirements, reflecting the level of risk:

  • Physical Containment Level 1 (PC1)
  • Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2)
  • Physical Containment Level 3 (PC3)
  • Physical Containment Level 4 (PC4)

In addition there are different types of facilities designed to contain different forms of organisms and dealings (micro organisms, plants, animals, etc).

Applicants will be required to indicate on the application form the PC level and the type of facility to be certified. The PC level and facility type will dictate which inspection report checklist, if any, should be completed and submitted with the application.

If you wish to apply for a certification of a physical containment facility, the OGTR website provides comprehensive information pertaining to the accreditation process.

Dealing with  a GMO-Application forms

Dealing with a GMO-Relevant Information

Training Resources

IBC Reports