Office of Risk Management

• ORM Home
• ORM & the University
  • What we do
  • Roles and Responsibilities
  • Nature of EHS Law
  • Site Map
  • Reporting and Structure (authorized access only)
• Programs
  • Biosafety
  • Projects
  • Controlled Goods
  • EHS Audit Program
  • Environmental Management
  • Fire Prevention
  • Hazardous Waste Program
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Laser Safety
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Ozone and Green House Gases
  • Radiation - Ionizing
  • Recycling
  • Risk Management
  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods
  • WHMIS
  • X-Ray Safety Program
• Specific Activities
  • Designated Substances
  • Field Work
  • Insurance
  • Laboratory Safety
  • Legionnaires Information
  • Take our kids to work
  • Visual Arts
  • Visitors & Volunteers
  • Young Workers
  • Waiver and Consent Forms
  • West Nile Virus
• Training
  • WHMIS course for Office Workers
  • New at U of O?
  • General EHS Courses
  • Job Specific Courses
  • Faculty Specific Training
  • WHMIS On Line
  • Course Registration
  • Roles and responsibilities training
• Resources
  • External Information
  • ORM Programs at other Universities
  • Online MSDS Databases
  • UO EHS Officer web sites
• Forms and Manuals
• Our Team
• Administrative (authorized access only)
• Health & Safety Committees (authorized access only)
• Reporting Data

Biorisk Assessment

A Biorisk assessment is a two part process; first the hazard must be identified then there must be an evaluation of the degree of risk.  Risks may be associated only with one hazard or may be magnified due to the interrelationship between hazards or operational practices.

Benefits of a Biorisk Assessment:

• Ensure the safety of personnel (lab, facility, public) and the environment (internal and external)
• Compliance to regulatory and University requirements
• Effective use of resources
• Identification of training and supervision needs
• Evaluation of procedural changes
• Evaluation of emergency plans
• Cost effective laboratory operations
• Justification of space and equipment needs
• Determine needs regarding renovation or construction

Frequency of Biorisk Assessment

• At least annually, more frequent depending upon nature of  risk
• Whenever changes are implemented (move, renovation, new employee,  new infectious or potentially infectious agent, new procedures or technique, new equipment )

Qualifications for a Biorisk Assessor:

• Shared responsibility of the manager and employee
• Knowledge of the risk associated with individual lab (usually those working in the lab)
• Knowledge of the hazards associated with: the material (biological, chemical), the procedure/technique, equipment, lab design
• Knowledge of modes of transmission of the agent
• Understanding of aerosol risk and means of productions and control
• Understanding of containment requirements, and activities which under mind containment.
• Knowledge of requirements
• Understanding of the relationship between personnel, operational procedures, agent specific risk and facility design and operation

Tools:   

• Reviewing of laboratory records (injury or incident, equipment maintenance, training, environmental monitoring)

• Inspecting laboratories (daily monitoring by employees, periodic walk throughs, formal inspections)
• Reviewing published materials ( MSDS, scientific journals, published safety manuals, manufacturer’s bulletins, newletters, equipment manuals )
• Observing laboratory operations (new procedures, new employees, new equipments, work-flow)

Risk Factors:

• Agent characteristics

• Personnel

• Experimental

• Environmental

• Equipment

Biorisk Assessment Form

Biorisk Assessment Resources

The Multi-Facets of a Biorisk Assessment

 

 

 

© University of Ottawa

For additional information, please contact us

Technical questions? Contact safety@uottawa.ca