Occupational and Environmental Safety puts a high priority on supporting research in the life sciences. This support includes ensuring that the research labs maintain a safe working environment and follow all the applicable standards, regulations and guidelines. Biohazardous material on campus includes (but is not limited to) rDNA, bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, vectors, human materials, animal work, and plants.
Biosafety at Clemson
Biosafety is a specialized discipline of safety that addresses the safe handling and containment of infectious microorganisms and hazardous biological materials to prevent accidental exposure or release into the environment.
Clemson has BSL-1 and BSL-2 labs on campus. Practices for each containment level can be reviewed from this CDC Biosafety infographic.
Required Training for Biological Labs
Everyone working in a biological lab needs to take Biosafety and Biohazardous Waste training. If you are working with human materials, you will also need Blood Borne Pathogen training (BBP). The first BBP training taken needs to be a LIVE class. This training needs to be taken every year. After the first LIVE class, an online refresher training can be taken instead.
Find Help for my IBC or AUP
The Biosafety Officer reviews biohazardous materials that are used in labs. The Biosafety Officer also reviews hazardous materials that are used in vertebrate animals. Specific questions can be directed to the Biosafety Officer.
Please see the IBC and IACUC sections of the Office of Research Compliance website for general protocol questions.
Need my Biological Safety Cabinet Certified
Clemson has a contract with Environmental Safety Professionals (ESP) for biosafety cabinet certification. Their contact is: 1-800-688-7167. You must have a PO number before scheduling.
For more BSC information, please see our Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) Training page.
Lab Inspections
Lab inspections are performed by OES on a yearly basis using the checklist listed in SciShield. General information about lab inspections can be found at (lab inspection program link). For specific questions, contact the Biosafety Officer.
