Biosafety Assurance

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At QUT, ‘biosafety assurance’ relates to protecting the health and safety of people and the environment by identifying and minimising risks posed by QUT research, teaching or other associated activities. Fundamentally, these risks fall into two broad categories:

• transmission of infectious disease to QUT staff, students or the public as a result of QUT-related activities; and/or
• the accidental/unauthorised release of infectious agents or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from their appropriate levels of containment.

There are two principal compliance regimes to which QUT must adhere in relation to these activities:

• workplace health and safety authorities use the Australian Standards as the principal guidance document for work practices in laboratories that deal with infectious agents;
• the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) specifies and participates in a regulatory regime for dealings with GMOs.

(Naturally, genetically modified infectious agents are subject to both regimes)

Activities involving the use of GMOs and/or Biosafety materials must be submitted for the appropriate level of University review, and the proponent must receive notification of approval before it can be commenced.

The Institute Biosafety Committee (IBC) has been established to review and monitor the conduct of activities involving the use of GMOs and/or Biosafety materials. Information on the IBC can be found under the Governance Services website.

QUT has established policies in relation to the conduct of activities involving the use of GMOs (MOPP Policy D/6.5 Dealings with genetically modified organisms) and Biosafety materials (MOPP Policy 9.3.1 Biosafety/health and safety in research).

Researchers who are unclear of their obligations in these areas should consult with the Biosafety Assurance FAQs section, their supervisor/research team and/or their Faculty/Institute representative on the Institute Biosafety Committee.