Development and Pilot Implementation of a Ladderized Biosafety Training Program in a Specialty Infectious Disease Hospital and Research Institute

Abstract

Biosafety is the application of laboratory practices, use of safety equipment and implementation of procedures in laboratory facilities when working with potentially infectious microorganisms to protect not only the laboratory worker, but also the general public and the environment. Biosafety training specifically structured based on risk is vital to establish a safe working environment to reduce the risks of unintentional exposure and/or intentional release of infectious microorganisms. In 2016, a ladderized 3-step biosafety training program was established by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, a specialty infectious disease hospital and National Reference Laboratory in the Philippines. The training program includes 1) Biosafety 101, offered to all new RITM employees; 2) Applied Biosafety training, especially designed for laboratory personnel; and 3) Advanced Biosafety training, focused on developing Biosafety Officers and infectious disease outbreak responders. A 30% increase in awareness on biosafety has been achieved among participants of the first two steps of the program, with the third module to be implemented in 2017.