Past events & courses

Hotel Serwir, Sint Niklaas, Belgium

EBSA18 Conference - Vienna

Did you ever ponder whether an activity with genetically modified organisms (GMO) would fulfil the requirements for contained use or whether you had to submit an authorisation application for deliberate release? 

This course discusses the different lab layouts for BSL-1 and BSL-2 facilities. Particular attention is given to the personnel and material flows in different settings. 

Animal by-products (ABP) are defined as entire bodies or parts of animals, products of animal origin or other products obtained from animals, which are not intended for human consumption.

The value of risk analysis and assessment and the subsequent selection of adapted and most effective safety measures should not only be appreciated after an incident already happened, but also when evaluating new facilities and activities. Its use in investigation of an incident is crucial to determine where otherwise sensible measures failed. 

Fortunately most laboratories never experience a significant incident (accident, ill-health or damage to property, equipment or the environment) but what about the less serious, apparently trivial incidents that may get ignored and/or not even reported.    Such events could potentially give rise to more significant outcomes under only slightly different circumstances, e.g. more hazardous material being handled.

A lack of competence has contributed to a number of major accidents and has been identified as a key underlying cause of incidents in biocontainment facilities.

Laboratory facilities can be rapidly evolving environments, as projects or techniques change, so do the requirements of the laboratories and equipment.