Biosafety Officer

Main Activities

• Assists in managing the operational implementation of the health and safety aspects of research laboratories on an ongoing basis.
• Working closely with the Senior Biosafety Officer

Sub-Activities

• Extensive practical knowledge of health and safety within a laboratory/hospital environment
• Basic scientific knowledge
• Independent problem solving and safety implementation experience
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral

Role & Responsibilities

• Ensures a safe working environment for all research staff and visitors (including cleaners, maintenance etc.) creating and implementing environmental health and safety policies including workplace safety, radiation safety and laser safety.
• Implements environmental health and safety policies including workplace safety, radiation safety and laser safety.
• Collaborates with other committee members on the clinical environmental health and safety program.
• Support implementation of comprehensive biosafety, chemical safety, radiation and laser programs designed to provide appropriate protection and compliance for researchers, students, employees and the local community.
• Support implementation of policies and/or procedures that govern the use and disposal of bio-hazardous chemical and radioactive materials according to the requirements of relevant regulations and accepted safety practices. Educates researchers accordingly.
• Interfaces with the following:
  • Internal Research stakeholders, PIs, Chiefs, end users
  • Sidra Corporate Safety Department, Facilities and other functions as needed
  • The Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
• Works with Research Operations team members and Biosafety Officer to implement safety protocols for human/animal samples.
• Support institutional and regulatory reviews of Institutional Biosafety Committee research protocols.
• Provides technical safety reviews and advice to researchers, staff and students.
• Assist in delivering training to all laboratory workers involved with the use of hazardous materials, gases and other areas as required.
• Implements audit and inspection programs.
• Facilitates and coordinates emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities related to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials.
• Assists in developing and formalizing accident/incident investigation, documentation and reporting procedures and follows-up on all accidents, investigates cause, evaluates effects, and recommends mitigation.
• Assists and works with Biosafety Officer, researchers and staff to develop, implement and maintain safety practices for each research unit that will be tailored to fit the hazards and needs of each unit.
• Assists in implementing a comprehensive interdisciplinary lab audit program (e.g. Fire Safety, Industrial Hygiene/Safety, Laboratory/Research Safety, Waste Management).
• Assists with and performs evaluations of work place practices, occupational hazards and occupational exposure in research areas; recommends strategies to control/mitigate potential health or safety problems in research areas and initiates appropriate follow-up.
• Assists in implementing SOPs for using hazardous and other laboratory materials as required.
• Embraces a hands-on and highly-engaged customer service orientation toward researchers, and works with them to find practical and feasible solutions to biosafety issues.
• Assists in implementing new systems (e.g. electronic) for biosafety management, to help automate tasks and facilitate the work of researchers
• Takes on additional tasks in laboratory management (e.g. management of gases) as required by line manager