Biosafety

Biological Safety (or biosafety) has paralleled the development of the science of microbiology and its extension into new and related areas including tissue culture, recombinant DNA, animal studies, molecular biology, synthetic biology, and biotechnology. The Biosafety Program identifies practices, procedures, and operational standards for safe handling and use of biological materials, infectious agents and recombinant DNA molecules at Cal Poly State University.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Cal OSHA provide regulations and guidance in the operational standards contained in this program. For questions or more information, contact Aubrey Arain, Industrial Hygiene Specialist at 805-756-7171 or email alarain@calpoly.edu

Biological Safety Cabinets on campus are certified every year in September by Clean Room Services. The vendor contacts the BSC owner every August to set up an appointment to recertify. Vendor will request department billing information and provide applicable certification reports to each department contact. If you have questions reguarding BSC certification contact Clean Room Services at 818-701-6453 or EHS, Aubrey Arain at 805-756-7171.

Biohazardous waste including sharps, infectious laboratory wastes, waste containing infectious microbiologic specimens, animal parts, tissues and fluids, and waste containing recognizable fluid blood are defined as medical waste in section 25020.5 of the California Health and Safety Code. These wastes must managed under the Campus Medical Waste Managment Program.

For additional guidance or access to the campus biowaste lcokers, contact EHS at hazwaste@calpoly.edu