Biosafety Frequently Asked Questions

Before making any arrangements to either import or transfer a human or animal pathogen or toxin, the BSO must be notified.  This is to ensure that sufficient safety precautions for handling the human or animal pathogen or toxin are in place.

Before making any arrangements to either export or transfer a human or animal pathogen or toxin within Canada, the BSO must be notified.  In addition, persons transferring human pathogens or toxins within Canada must take reasonable care to ensure that the intended recipient is licensed to work with the agent or otherwise exempted from the requirement to hold a licence.  In order to export pathogens or toxins, reasonable care must be taken to ensure that the intended recipient will follow applicable biosafety and biosecurity standards and policies in the foreign jurisdiction.  To that end, prior to exporting or transferring the pathogen or toxin, a Biohazardous Agent Transfer Notification form must be filled out and submitted to the BSO.  The BSO will then provide further advice and instruction.   

No.  Nipissing University has a single site licence that covers all laboratory space for work with RG2 human or animal pathogens and toxins.  However, before any work with human or animal pathogens or toxins can begin, approval for that work must be granted by the Biosafety Committee.  To obtain approval a Biohazard Permit Application form must be filled out and submitted to the Biosafety Committee through the BSO.

Before beginning any work the BSO must be notified and a Biohazard Permit Application form must be filled out and submitted to the Biosafety Committee through the BSO.  The Biosafety Committee will assess the hazards and risks associated with the proposed work and determine the appropriate safety measures that need to be incorporated into the work.  A permit or letter will be issued, depending on the containment level required to do the work.

The laboratory must first be assessed by the BSO to ensure that the space is suitable for working with RG2 material.  If the BSO is satisfied that RG2 work can be safely accommodated in the laboratory space, the licence holder (Provost and Vice President, Academic and Research) will be notified and the license will be updated to include the new RG2 work space.  Once the licence update has been approved by PHAC, a Biohazard Permit Application form must be filled out and submitted to the Biosafety Committee through the BSO.  The Biosafety Committee will assess the hazards and risks associated with the proposed work and determine the appropriate safety measures that need to be incorporated into the work. A permit or letter will be issued, depending on the containment level required to do the work.

Contact the BSO to ensure that the risk group of the pathogen will allow the organism to be cultured under the terms of our PHAC licence.

You must immediately notify the BSO and ensure that the organism is handled and stored appropriately.  Within 30 days it must either be transferred to a licenced laboratory authorized to conduct controlled activities with that organism or it must be destroyed.

The training required depends on what you will be working with. Please contact the Laboratory Safety Coordinator to arrange for your training (training requirements outlined below).

1. RG1 material:  WHMIS 2015, Basic Laboratory Safety Training and CL1 Biosafety Training.
2. RG2 material: WHMIS 2015, Basic Laboratory Safety Training and CL2 Research Biosafety Training.
3. Human blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM) including saliva: WHMIS 2015, Basic Laboratory Safety Training, CL1 Biosafety Training and Blood Borne Pathogen Safety Training.
4. Animals: you will also require Animal Care Training.

While RG1 organisms are not specifically covered by the Canadian Biosafety Guidelines, Nipissing University policy requires any research involving a human or animal pathogen or toxin to be approved by the Biosafety Committee.  To obtain approval a Biohazard Permit Application form must be filled out and submitted to the Biosafety Committee through the BSO. ​ 

For more information please contact the HR Generalist: Health, Safety & Wellness Ext. 4811