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UNE requires the proper selection, use, and maintenance of engineering controls, including Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs), to reduce the risk of exposure to biological hazards.

Biosafety Cabinets are a critical component of UNE’s biosafety and exposure control programs and are designed to protect personnel, the environment, and, where applicable, research materials from potential biological contaminants. The appropriate use of BSCs supports compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, institutional biosafety standards, and recognized best practices for laboratory safety.

All laboratory work involving biological agents, human or animal tissues, blood, or other potentially infectious materials must be evaluated to determine whether the use of a Biosafety Cabinet is required. This determination is made through risk assessment in coordination with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and in accordance with UNE’s Biosafety program and related safety policies.

Biosafety Cabinet Policy Statement

Biosafety Cabinets at UNE shall be used, maintained, and certified in accordance with institutional policies, manufacturer specifications, and applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements. Biosafety Cabinets are required when laboratory procedures may generate aerosols, splashes, or droplets that could expose personnel or contaminate the laboratory environment.

UNE recognizes Biosafety Cabinets as primary engineering controls for work conducted at Biosafety Level 1 (BL1) and Biosafety Level 2 (BL2) where there is a reasonable risk of exposure to biological materials, including potentially infectious materials (PIM).

All Biosafety Cabinets located on UNE campuses must:

• Be approved by Environmental Health and Safety prior to use
• Be installed and operated in a manner consistent with their intended design and function
• Be certified at least annually, after relocation, or following maintenance or repair
• Be used only by personnel who have completed required biosafety and laboratory safety training

Roles and Responsibilities for Biosafety Cabinet Use

Laboratory Personnel

• Use Biosafety Cabinets in accordance with established procedures and training.
• Report malfunctioning or damaged cabinets to EHS immediately.
• Refrain from using uncertified or improperly functioning cabinets.

Principal Investigators, Supervisors, and Managers

• Ensure appropriate risk assessments are conducted for biological work.
• Verify that Biosafety Cabinets are available and suitable for planned activities.
• Ensure personnel receive required training prior to BSC use.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)

• Provide guidance on Biosafety Cabinet selection and use.
• Coordinate certification, inspection, and maintenance requirements.
• Maintain records of Biosafety Cabinet certification and compliance.
• Support regulatory compliance and continuous improvement of biosafety practices.

Compliance and Enforcement

Failure to comply with UNE policies and procedures related to Biosafety Cabinet use may result in suspension of laboratory activities, corrective actions, or other administrative measures consistent with UNE policies and applicable regulations. Biosafety Cabinets that are overdue for certification or determined to be unsafe shall be removed from service until deficiencies are corrected.

• Prepare a written checklist of materials necessary for a particular activity and place only necessary materials in the Biosafety Cabinets before beginning work.
• Turn off Ultraviolet (UV) room light and BSC UV light before beginning work.
• Extra supplies (gloves, plates, media, etc.) should be stored outside a BSC; material placed inside a BSC may cause disruption to the airflow.
• Move arms in and out slowly, perpendicular to the face opening to reduce disruption of air curtain.
• Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment must be worn. Lab coats must be buttoned. Gloves should be pulled over the knitted wrists of a lab coat, not worn inside a coat.
• Manipulation of materials should be delayed one minute after placing hands/arms inside the BSC to allow air to stabilize and to "air sweep" arms.
• Do not rest arms on the front grille. This allows room air to flow directly into the work area rather than being drawn through the front grille. Work with arms raised slightly.
• Do not block the front grille with papers or materials.
• All operations should be performed at least 4 inches from the front grille on the work surface.
• Cabinet blowers should be operated at least 3–5 minutes before beginning work to allow the BSC to "purge" particulates.
• Interior walls, interior surface of the window, and the surfaces of all materials to be placed in the BSC should be wiped with 70% ethanol or other appropriate disinfectant before use.
• Plastic-backed absorbent toweling can be placed on the work surface (but not on the front grille) to aid in cleanup and spill containment.
• Place all material as far back in the BSC as practical.
• Active work should flow from the clean to contaminated area across the work surface.
• To minimize frequent in/out arm movement and maintain air barrier, do not tape biohazard collection bags to the outside of the BSC. Upright pipette collection containers should not be used in the BSC nor placed on the floor outside the BSC (use horizontal discard trays containing an appropriate chemical disinfectant within the BSC).
• Potentially contaminated materials should not be brought out of the BSC until they have been surface decontaminated.
• Use techniques to reduce splatter and aerosol generation:
  • Opened bottles or tubes should not be held in a vertical position.
  • Hold the lid above open sterile surfaces to minimize direct impact of downward air.
  • Open flames create turbulence, which disrupts the pattern of air supplied to the work surface and should not be used. If absolutely necessary, touch plate micro-burners that provide a flame on demand or electric furnaces are available. All flames must be off before disinfectants are used.
• Aspirator bottles or suction flasks should be connected to an overflow collection plastic flask containing an appropriate disinfectant and to an in-line HEPA filter.
• If spilled liquid enters through the front or rear grilles, close the drain valves and pour decontaminating solution into the drain pans. After 20–30 minutes, collect the spilled liquid and disinfectant with paper towels.
• At the end of the work shift, the BSC should be surface decontaminated with 70% ethanol or dilute bleach.

Biosafety Cabinet Certifications

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for certifying Biosafety Cabinets and does so annually. In the meantime, if there is an issue with your fume hood and it is not functioning properly, immediately place a sign on the hood warning others not to use the equipment (e.g., “Out of Service”). After you have placed the equipment out of service, you can place a Facilities work order to have the hood evaluated, or you can call the Facilities front desk at (207) 602-2368 if the matter is urgent.

All BSCs should be certified annually. If Biosafety Level 2 or higher materials are used in the BSC, the cabinet must be certified annually.

If the BSC is relocated, it must be recertified prior to use.

Close the Sash

The sash on a fume hood serves many purposes, but the most important is to protect persons working in the laboratory. When the sash is closed, it prevents any “leakage” of chemical fumes from the hood.

A closed sash also protects you from “escapes” caused by accidents. Shattered glass, chemical spills, and vapors are contained in the hood if the sash is closed and an “event” occurs.

Closing the sash improves overall hood performance for other hoods in the lab and within the building. Also, in case of a power outage or hood ventilation failure, chemical vapors will not back up into the laboratory. Closing the sash for safety is a very healthy habit to develop.