Biological safety

These procedures are designed to provide people who handle animals at the University with guidance to minimise the likelihood of injury or disease.

There are minimum requirements for the handling of human biological specimens, particularly blood, and no guarantee can be given that the guidelines will ensure 100 per cent protection. Adherence by staff to both these particular policies and general guidelines for safe practices in microbiological laboratories will minimise the risks, however.

We provide a number of training courses related to biological safety and gene technology, and online courses to those who require them for work purposes.

The University of Western Australia is committed to taking all reasonable steps for the protection of staff, students and public from dangerous infectious diseases.

The implementation of effective infection control guidelines depends upon the co-operation of staff and students. They must have a proper understanding of how infections may be spread in the workplace and of established prevention procedures.

Under WA's Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, staff members are responsible for their own health and safety and must take reasonable care to avoid adversely affecting the health or safety of any other person through any act or omission.