October 12, 2023 - K. Bullard
EHS's Biosafety Principles and Biosafety Refresher training courses will soon be replaced with three concise, new courses focused on biosafety risks in specific workplace settings. Personnel currently assigned biosafety training will see changes in their learning tracks in Ability LMS. (preview image)
Titles of the three new courses are:
These focused new courses will ensure personnel have been provided with the appropriate training for their work. While credit is given for biosafety training completed in the past year, a small percentage will be required to complete training immediately, depending on current track assignments.
Pre-Requisite: The Animals and Invertebrate and Plants and Soil courses require a general initial biosafety course (either one of the legacy Biosafety course in the past year or the new Biological Safety and Security - General course) (pre-req link image)
Information on biohazardous waste handling, including sharps, will now be presented separately, rather than included in the biosafety courses. To fulfill regulatory and safety requirements for waste handling, any learning track containing biosafety training will also contain one of the following brief courses:
Work Environment/Risk | New Training Course Requirements |
---|---|
BSL-1 or higher, without animals, invertebrates, plants, or soil Example: researcher working with E. coli |
Initial Training:
Annual Refresher Training:
|
BSL-1 or higher, with animals or invertebrates Examples: researcher working with rodents, Vet Med clinician, farm worker |
Initial Training:
Annual Refresher Training:
|
BSL-1 or higher, with plants or soil Examples: researcher working with soil samples |
Initial Training:
Annual Refresher Training:
|
Because the new courses are significantly shorter than the previous versions, overall time spent on training should remain the same or decrease, even if multiple courses are required.
Personnel who have completed the Biosafety Principles or Biosafety Refresher should complete the new initial training requirements before their current training expires.
New hires should follow the updated requirements and complete only the new courses.