{"id":4,"date":"2014-04-21T19:43:03","date_gmt":"2014-04-21T19:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/?page_id=4"},"modified":"2026-02-12T17:58:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T17:58:25","slug":"overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/","title":{"rendered":"Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\">[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<blockquote><p><strong>The Office of Biosafety<\/strong> oversees use of biohazardous materials that may harm humans, animals, plants or the environment, and manages the compliance activities of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). It also administers the Select Agent and Toxin Program (SAP) for UGA&#8217;s main campus facilities.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<h2>Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)<\/h2>\n<p>The <a title=\"Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)\" href=\"\/biosafety\/ibc\/\">Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)<\/a> reviews and approves all research and teaching projects involving hazardous biological materials to ensure that work is conducted in a manner that does not pose significant risk to the health and safety of laboratory workers, the public, or the environment, and to ensure compliance with applicable external regulations and UGA policies.<\/p>\n<h2>Institutional Review Entity (IRE), Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (PEPP) and Dangerous Gain of Function (DGOF)<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/ire-durc-pepp\/\">Institutional Review Entity (IRE)<\/a>\u00a0was established per <a href=\"https:\/\/aspr.hhs.gov\/S3\/Documents\/USG-Policy-for-Oversight-of-DURC-and-PEPP-May2024-508.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Policies<\/a> associated with oversight of research on biological agents and toxins, which, when enhanced have the potential to pose risk to public health, agriculture, food security, economic security, or national security.<\/p>\n<h2>Biosafety Policies and Procedures<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/UGA-Institutional-Biosafety-Manual.pdf\" download=\"\">Institutional Biosafety Manual<\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/UGA-R-Exposure-Control-Plan.pdf\" download=\"\">Exposure Control Plan<\/a> outline appropriate practices, University policies and regulatory requirements for working safely in the research laboratory with biohazardous materials at UGA facilities.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1595430780483{padding-top: 1px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #faf9f7 !important;}&#8221;]\n<h3>Revised Procedure<\/h3>\n<p>See updated <a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/procedures\/safe-handling-of-sharps-in-the-biological-research-laboratory\/\">Guidance on Safe Handling of Sharps in the Biological Research Laboratory.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n<h2>Incidents or Accidents in a Biological Laboratory<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A biohazardous laboratory incident or accident involves:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Any potential or known exposure to Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) agents or higher<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Any potential or known system failure that could result in the release of a BSL-2 or higher organism from primary containment<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Any potential breach in biosecurity in containment facilities<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">Any potential exposure or incident involving recombinant material as defined by NIH Guidelines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For more detailed information please consult the <a href=\"\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/UGA-Institutional-Biosafety-Manual.pdf\" download=\"\">Institutional Biosafety Manual<\/a> or contact the Office of Biosafety.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">Response and Reporting: Incidents or Accidents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/Reporting-Biohazardous-Spill-Potential-Release.pdf\" download=\"\">Reporting: Laboratory Injury, Biohazardous Spill or Potential Release<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><a href=\"\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/Response-Biohazardous-Spill-Potential-Release.pdf\" download=\"\">Response: Laboratory Injury, Biohazardous Spill or Potential Release<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>All employees are responsible for reporting potential biohazardous incidents to their immediate supervisor. See the <a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/Biohazardous-Laboratory-Incident-response.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" download=\"\">Biohazardous Laboratory Incident\/Accident Response and Reporting Protocol.<\/a><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2>Documents<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1494271274076{padding: 10px !important;background-color: #ffeead !important;}&#8221;]PDFs function best when downloaded to your computer and opened with Adobe Acrobat.[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion section_title_tag=&#8221;h3&#8243; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; spacing=&#8221;5&#8243; gap=&#8221;5&#8243; active_section=&#8221;999&#8243; no_fill=&#8221;true&#8221; collapsible_all=&#8221;true&#8221; el_class=&#8221;accordionResearch&#8221;][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Forms &amp; Tools&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1493831764236-15dfc4c0-7e7a&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Facility Usage Form\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vet.uga.edu\/id_files\/Facility_Usage_form.pdf\" download=\"\">AHRC Request for Facility Usage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/labs\/bmbl\/index.html\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">BMBL<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Campus-Transport-of-Biohazardous-Material.pdf\" download=\"\">Campus Transport of Biohazardous Material<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Decontamination-Log.pdf\" download=\"\">Decontamination Log<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Destruction-of-Biohazardous-Agents.pdf\" download=\"\">Destruction of Biohazardous Agents<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/IBC_Modification_Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" download=\"\">IBC Modification Form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/IBC_Protocol_Form.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" download=\"\">IBC Protocol Form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ugeorgia.qualtrics.com\/SE\/?SID=SV_1MpdDxqY4y8QGBD\" download=\"\">Proficiency in Standard and Special Microbiological Practices<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/pdf\/Biosafety-Shippers-Declaration-Form.pdf\" download=\"\">Shipper\u2019s Declaration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/policies\/compliance\/biosafety\/Biosafety-Shippers-Declaration-Instructions.pdf\" download=\"\">Shipper\u2019s Declaration Instructions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Written-Plan-Acknowledgement-Document.pdf\" download=\"\">Written Plan Acknowledgement<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/UGA-Agent-Specific-Training-Form.pdf\" download=\"\">UGA Agent Specific Training Form<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Research-Compliance-Decon-Tag.pdf\">Research Compliance Decontamination Tag<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Policies &amp; Guidelines&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1493832031970-2dade941-9010&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/policies\/compliance\/biosafety\/DOT-Guide-to-Transporting-Infectious-Substances-Safely.pdf\" download=\"\">DOT Guide to Transporting Infectious Substances Safely<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/UGA-Institutional-Biosafety-Manual.pdf\" download=\"\">UGA Biosafety Manual<\/a> &#8211; Updated April 2020<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/UGA-R-Exposure-Control-Plan.pdf\" download=\"\">UGA-R Exposure Control Plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/NIH-Guidelines.pdf\">NIH Guidelines<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/units\/biosafety\/BMBL-Guidelines.pdf\">BMBL Guidelines<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Logs&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1493831764244-63ba0bed-ed87&#8243;][vc_column_text]\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Autoclave-Log.pdf\" download=\"\">Autoclave Log<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Key-Log.pdf\" download=\"\">Key Log<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Signature-Log.pdf\" download=\"\">Signature Log<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/docs\/forms\/compliance\/biosafety\/Visitor-Log.pdf\" download=\"\">Visitor Log<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The Office of Biosafety oversees use of biohazardous materials that may harm humans, animals, plants or the environment, and manages the compliance activities of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). It also administers the Select Agent and Toxin Program (SAP) for UGA&#8217;s main campus facilities. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) The Institutional Biosafety Committee [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.uga.edu\/biosafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}