PC1 Guidelines

Physical Containment Level 1 (PC1)

A PC1 laboratory is suitable for:

• Work with microorganisms where the hazards levels are low.
• recombinant DNA dealings of exempt status and where laboratory personnel can be adequately protected by standard laboratory practice.
• organisms that are not known to cause disease in healthy adults (i.e. organisms in risk group 1).
• work to be carried out on the open bench.

 Human blood, body fluids and cells should not be handled in a PC1 laboratory.

General

A PC1 laboratory requires no containment equipment.  Laboratory facilities shall be in accordance with Australian Standard 2982 and the following requirements:

Bench surfaces shall be:

• Impervious to water.
• Resistant to reagents, solvents and disinfectants used in the laboratory.
• Sufficiently heat resistant for general laboratory procedures.
• Furniture shall be ergonomically suitable for the laboratory.  The height of all seating should be adjustable to suit the height of benches and equipment. Seats should be of a material suitable to be cleaned and disinfected.
• Washbasins, supplied with hot and cold potable water, shall be available in each laboratory.
• Open spaces between and under benches shall be accessible for cleaning.

Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment (PPE)

• Laboratory coats, able to protect the front part of the body, shall be worn in the laboratory. NB  a theatre gown or wraparound laboratory coat is preferable.
• Closed footwear shall be worn.
• Laboratory coats will not be worn in offices, meeting rooms, seminar rooms and any room where food is handled.
• Safety glasses, face shields, and other protective devices shall be worn where appropriate to protect eyes and face from splashes and other hazards.
  NB Contact lenses do not protect the eyes.

  Work Procedures

1. Eating, drinking, smoking, shaving and the application of cosmetics is prohibited in laboratories.  Food and drink for human consumption shall not be stored in the laboratory.
2. Care should be taken that writing implements, which could become contaminated, are kept away from the face.  Every effort should be made to prevent such contamination.
3. Facilities separate from the workbench should be provided for writing and reference documents.
4. Hands shall be washed and laboratory coats removed when moving to non laboratory areas e.g. lunchrooms.
5. Significant spills and accidents shall be reported immediately to the laboratory supervisor.  A written record of accidents shall be prepared and maintained.
6. Toxic reagents shall be handled with appropriate protective equipment and containment.
7. Cultures shall be clearly identified with: date, organism name and the “owners” name. Cultures should be appropriately stored in a dedicated storage area.
8. When flaming a loop, care must be taken to prevent spreading contamination by spluttering.
9. Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited.  All pipetting devices must be used in ways that eliminate the production of aerosols.  Blowing out pipettes is a common way of producing aerosols; pipettes calibrated to deliver are preferable.
10. Workbenches shall be disinfected following spills and when work is completed (see Appendix A).
11. Reckless behavior in the laboratory is forbidden.
12. Use self adhesive labels; labels should never be moistened with the tongue.
13. Special care should be taken with fungal cultures on solid media to prevent dispersal of spores that may be allergenic or contaminate other cultures or equipment such as CO2 incubators.  Petri Dishes should be sealed with tape or stretch film.
14. Laboratory waste will need to be decontaminated before disposal.  It is most important this is done correctly see waste disposal procedures for complete information.
15. Large volumes of culture may need to be disinfected before disposal.
16. Persons who wish to transfer biological material between institutions will need to take notice of the various statuary regulations regarding transport of biological material. Tony Richardson can advise on these matters.

Transport & Storage

For transport, the GTR recognizes no difference between classifications of GM material. All GM, be it PC1 or PC2, material will be transported in the same manner: Inside its normal container (e.g. in a plastic biohazard waste bag or tube/bottle) which is inside a lidded unbreakable container (e.g. our lidded red waste disposal crates, a yellow bin or lidded plastic box). The outer container must be labeled to indicate exactly its contents (e.g. genetically manipulated material); the label must include a name and telephone number, to contact in the event of loss or damage. A template label is available see: Transport Label . Obviously waste is the majority of GM material "transported" but all GM material moved outside the PC1 area must be handled in this manner.

Note: PC1 or non-GM material that is transported to a PC2 facility for use or storage may not return to a PC1 facility the same is true for non-GM material transported to a PC1 facility. Persons wishing to store PC1 or non-GM material in a PC2 facility or non-GM material in a PC1 facility must make special licensing arrangements with the OGTR. Contact the the IBC to deal with these matters.

Tony Richardson 22/01/2007
Reviewed by Kate Dixon: 27/07/2009