Biosafety

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The University of Toronto Biosafety Program is designed to protect lab personnel and the public from potential exposure to infectious agents. The program includes a number of components such as determining laboratory containment requirements (physical and operational controls); medical surveillance (including immunization where appropriate); classroom and online training; and compliance with regulatory requirements for importing and shipping biological agents.

Overall control of the program is through the University's Institutional Biosafety Committee with administrative and technical support provided by the Biosafety Team in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

The UofT Biosafety Policies and Procedures Manual describes the requirements and procedures established by the University for work with biological agents. All work conducted by University members with biological agents on University premises or under the control of the University is to be performed in accordance with the requirements of the Manual.

Lab Decommissioning

If you are vacating a lab room, you are responsible for leaving it in a state suitable for re-occupancy or renovation.

    Laboratory Decommissioning
    Decommissioning Form for Biological Agents
    Safe to Remove Tag

Importing/Shipping

** Note: A copy of all applications for import permits must be provided to the Biosafety Office.**
If you wish to import a biological agent that is not listed on your biosafety certificate, an amendment to your certificate must be approved before applying to import.

     Importing Human Pathogens (PHAC)
     Importing Animal Pathogens (CFIA)
     Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Canada)
         Basic competency checklist for transporting dangerous goods
         List of vendors for type 1A and 1B containers for infectious substances
     Other trade/transport links

Lab Protocols and Resources

     Minimizing Aerosols
     Biological Spill Kit
     Vacuum line set-up
     Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants
     Pathogen Safety Data Sheets
     Ethidium Bromide
     Biosafety Considerations for Research with Lentiviral Vectors (NIH)
     Additional resources

Human Pathogens and Toxins Act

FACS Flow Cytometry Facility

Senior Biosafety Officer

Ayoob Ghalami
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
215 Huron St 7th floor room 702
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A2
Tel: (416) 978-3981
Email: mailto:ayoob.ghalami@utoronto.ca

Biosafety Officers

Susan Gropp
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
215 Huron St 7th floor
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A2
Tel: (416) 946-0069
Email: mailto:susan.gropp@utoronto.ca

Cynthia Thomas
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
215 Huron St 7th floor
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A2
Tel: (416) 978-6612
Email: mailto:c.thomas@utoronto.ca

Administrative Assistant / Course Coordinator

Anna Mozharova
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
215 Huron Street, room 702
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A2
Tel: 416-978-4467
Fax: 416-971-1361
Email: mailto:anna.mozharova@utoronto.ca

Biosafety

Applying for a permit to work with biological agents

Training Courses

Laboratory Guidelines

Lab Inspection Checklists