Biosafety

Biosafety refers to containment principles, technologies, and practices that are implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to regulated biological materials, and their accidental release.

A biohazard is a biological agent that constitutes a potential hazard to humans, animals, plants or the environment. Researchers use many different types of biohazards in their laboratories including fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Other examples of biohazards can include plant material, animals or human cells and blood.

The following documents and resources will be helpful to those whose work can potentially bring them into contact with biohazardous materials.

Understanding Biosafety at Western

Western’s Biosafety Manual offers a comprehensive look at the requirements and procedures established by the University for work involving potentially hazardous biological agents. All work conducted with potentially hazardous biological agents on University premises or under the control of the University is to be performed in accordance with the requirements of this manual.

Biosafety Policies and Procedures: This webpage provides links to a number of specific Western policies and procedures, including the Standard Operating Procedures for Autoclaving and Load Verification.

Biosafety Awareness:  This information is intended for people who may visit or walk by biosafety laboratories on campus and explains some of the basics of biosafety.

Biosafety and Biosecurity Training: Western requires that anyone working with biohazardous agents takes special training. The Required Training page provides detailed information on all health and safety required training at Western, including Biosafety and Biosecurity training.

Frequently Asked Questions about Biosafety at Western.

Forms

Biological Agents Permit Application - This form must be completed when work involving biological agents is conducted at Western. There are three permit types available:

  1. Course: A principal investigator/course manager is a coordinator of an undergraduate/graduate course where handling biological agents is part of the course content.
  2. Facility: A principal investigator/facility director manages a research facility where biological agents are transiently handled. If the Facility conducts facility-based research, please select RESEARCH instead.
  3. Research: A principal investigator holds funding administered by the University and/or oversees a Western University laboratory where biological agents are handled.

All application types are completed using WorkSafe at Western. Forms must be submitted by the end of the month prior to the Committee meeting. Example: The form must be submitted by April 30th to be reviewed at the May meeting.

Note: As of May 2026, all current active permit holders must submit a new application in WorkSafe at Western, as previous PDF applications are not retained in the module, and additional questions have been introduced. A new permit number will be issued upon approval.

Once new permits are established in the system, all renewals and amendments are completed using WorkSafe at Western. For more information on how to complete new, renewal, or amendment applications, please visit WorkSafe at Western.

Animals in research:  If your research involves animals, please contact the Western Animal Care Committee.

Government and Other Regulatory Information

Funding agencies require that any research they fund involving biohazards, must be approved by an institution’s Biosafety Officer and/or Biosafety Committee in accordance with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Biosafety Standard. To understand these requirements, read more on the NSERC website: Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions

The Human Pathogens and Toxins Act was fully implemented in 2015. Recently, new amendments to modernize the Act came into effect in spring 2026.

The new Canadian Biosafety Standard (CBS), 3rd edition was released by the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2022. The CBS is the national standard for facilities where regulated human and terrestrial animal pathogens and toxins are handled or stored. For more information, visit the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines website.

According to the Public Agency of Canada, the development of the CBS was initiated to help streamline into a single set of standards and guidelines for laboratories regulated by both PHAC and the CFIA. The Canadian Biosafety Standard has combined and replaced the following documents:

  • Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines 3rd Edition, 2004 (PHAC)
  • Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities 1st Edition, 1996 (CFIA)
  • Containment Standards for Laboratories, Animal Facilities and Post Mortem Rooms Handling Prion Disease Agents, 2005 (CFIA)

For more information, visit the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines website.

External Links for Biosafety

There are a number of useful websites outside of the University for biosafety information and a selection is listed here (e.g. Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidelines and Material Safety Data Sheets).

Biosecurity

The University has a Biosecurity Plan as required by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Additional details on biosecurity, including security requirements for facilities where biological agents are used can be found on the Biosecurity website.

Biosafety Committee & Subcommittees

This page provides links to various Health & Safety committees.

Published on  and maintained in Cascade CMS.