Personnel working with genetically modified organisms, quarantine materials, animals, plants or material that contains biological risk group agents, must be appropriately trained before entry into a biological containment laboratory or commencement of any work.
There are three levels of training required as part of the biosafety training program at VU:
Please note this training is for VU staff and students only.
Organisational biosafety training is provided by Research Services. Training courses must be refreshed every three to five years (depending on the course). An 80% pass on the competency assessment is required for successful completion of the course.
Courses can be accessed by VU staff and postgraduate students through VU Develop's Capability Hub and VU Collaborate. Registration is not required.
Any problems, please contact the Biosafety Manager.
The following training courses cover legislations and procedures in biosafety:
Audience: Compulsory for personnel working with GMOs, or within an OGTR certified containment lab.
Topics covered:
Duration: 1 hour
Audience: Compulsory for personnel working with biological risk group agents, or within containment labs.
Topics covered:
Duration: 1 hour
Audience: Compulsory for personnel working with quarantined goods or importing, exporting or transporting biological material.
Topics covered:
Duration: 2 hours
Audience: Compulsory for personnel using a biosafety cabinet.
Topics covered:
Duration: 1 hour
Audience: Compulsory for personnel using an autoclave.
Topics covered:
Duration: 1 hour
Audience: Recommended for personnel working with biological hazards, or within a biological containment lab.
Topics covered:
Duration: 1 hour.
Lab-specific training is provided by the area lab technician and authorised trainers. A record of training is maintained by the Lab Technical Manager, and may be audited by the IBC at any time. Personnel must indicate to the certification holder that they understand their training by signing the training declaration. NB: The Biosafety Team has prepared a number of Lab Safety Guidelines & Checklists to assist in training; these can be found on VU Collaborate.
Audience: Compulsory for personal entering the lab including environmental services, engineering, security, IT and administrative personnel. Training must be arranged prior to commencing work in the lab with the area technician.
Topics covered:
A. General lab induction
B. Specific lab induction
High risk areas (e.g. tissue culture labs & animal houses) have specific induction processes where personnel are trained by an authorised trainer to use the facility.
C. Specific equipment induction
An equipment specific training program must be in place in every laboratory (e.g. centrifuge, autoclave, BSC II cabinet etc..). Personnel must be trained by an authorised trainer before they use any equipment.
It is the responsibility of the project supervisor/subject coordinator to:
Training records must be maintained by the primary investigator and may be requested by the IBC at any time.
Biosafety Manager
Phone: +61 3 9919 4199
Email: ibc@vu.edu.au
