Use of biohazardous materials, including Genetically Modified Organisms, is regulated in Australia by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), which requires that research institutions establish an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
The Flinders University Biosafety Committee receives applications for approval of research projects involving the use of Genetically Modified Organisms and biohazardous materials, including human tissue samples.
The Committee ensures that laboratory activities are planned and undertaken in such a way that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect the health and safety of workers, the public, laboratory animals and other organisms, and to prevent damage to property.
For more information visit the Biosafety Committee page.
Blood and Body Fluid Exposure
The Blood and Body Fluid Exposure (BBFE) procedure is in place to provide a practical approach to handling BBFE exposures. The process applies for Flinders University Staff and Students, including students who receive BBFE exposure while undertaking Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placements off campus. The process is outlined in the BBFE management flowchart.
Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD)
Please see the Vaccine Preventable Disease Procedure.
Identifying the risk
There are some activities undertaken at Flinders University where the work, study or research may put people at risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. This can occur through working in a range of activities including but not limited to;
- biological laboratories
- field work e.g. working with wildlife
- clinical settings – working with human body fluids and products
- working with animals and animal products / insects
- contaminated soil/ water/ dusts
A list of vaccine preventable diseases is available - see the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Managing and controlling the risk
It is the responsibility of the Supervisor / Manager to risk assess the tasks and activities where staff students and others may be at increased risk of being exposed to vaccine preventable diseases.
Where a risk assessment indicates vaccination is one of the suitable control measures (note vaccination must be used in conjunction with other controls such as engineering, isolation and good practices) it is the supervisor's/ manager's responsibility to inform relevant staff, students or others of the risks and provide them information around vaccination requirements prior to starting the work / study.
Record keeping
Vaccination records
For staff, evidence of vaccination certificates can be uploaded into WorkDay using the how to add vaccination certificates instructions.
Students are able to upload their vaccination records in to inPlace.
Declaration of Consent
The provision of information about the relevant vaccine-preventable diseases and the risk associated must be recorded on the Declaration of Informed Consent for VPD and must be provided to individuals as part of the communication process.
Declined Vaccination
Staff, students or others who decline vaccination or do not have immunity should be advised on the resultant health risks related to their work/study.
In these instances where staff, students and others are not protected by vaccination, the College/ Portfolio must formalise this in writing by having the individual complete the Declined Vaccination Statement for a VPD noting they may be at risk of acquiring the identified disease(s) for which a vaccine is available. This should be kept on staff personal file or for students in InPlace.
