Aerosols - a nice explanation here; McMaster document here;

Audit - regular inspection of the laboratory; based on the requirements outlined in the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines;

AUP - animal utilization protocol; McMaster-specific acronym; the document used by AREB to assess work proposed by researchers using animals a McMaster; all workers using animals should be aware of this laboratory-specific document;

Biohazard - a human and/or animal pathogen; virus, bacteria, fungus, protozoa, toxin, prion; refer to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act;

Biosafety - containment equipment, personal protective equipment and procedures which act to protect users from infectous materials with which they work

Biohazard approval - the current McMaster process which reviews projects in order to determine biosafety levels required to carry out those projects

Biological indicators - biological tests used to verify sterility of autoclave runs; typically a vial with a color indicator

Biological Inventory - an inventory system used to keep track of biohazards; may be digital or paper; many formats; more information here

BUP - Biohazard Utilization Protocol; the current forms for applying for biohazard approval. Required for grant applications. More information found here.

CAF - central animal facility;

Cell Culture - growth and propagation of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; typically used to refer to mammalial cell lines; also applied to yeast and bacteria; aseptic techniques and good culture practices should be used for all types of cell culture; more information here

CFIA - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Containment - The laboratory qualities, the equipment used and the procedures employed in order to maximize protection of the worker against exposure to the pathogen

Containment Standards For Veterinary Facilities - A guidebook of standards for the use of animals and animal pathogens published by the CFIA. If the laboratory does not use animals but does use biohazards that are pathogenic to animals, these standards still apply.

Dosimeter - a piece of equipment which measures an individuals exposure to a certain chemical or radiation in their environment

Facility Certification Checklist - each NEW CFIA import permit application must have an attached "Facility Certification Form". An import permit qualifies as "new" even if the biohazard is the same, but the supplier is different.

Fomite - any inanimate object or substance capable of carrying a pathogen

Import Permit - the Government-issued document that MUST accompany any biological agent (BSL2 or higher) entering Canada; up to FIVE documents must be filled and faxed to the appropriate agencies; biosafety office signatures required, see the biosafety officer prior to ordering or arranging for shipment; more information here

Inventory, Biological - see biological inventory; more info here

Injury - see incident reporting

Incident Reporting - all incidents must be reported to the safety office; more information here

Laboratory Acquired Infection (LAI) - where a worker becomes infected with the pathogens in their workplace

Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines - document upon which the Biosafety Office bases its AUDITS and STANDARDS; every lab worker must read this document; downloadable as a PDF; readable as HTML;

Medical Monitoring - a system whereby the worker is informed of the risks associated with their work, the worker is infomed of the medical care that is available to them, the worker is infomed that they have the choice to enter into the medical monitoring program, the samples, evaluations and test results are kept double coded and under lock and key

Needlestick Injury - a wound where an accidential puncture of the skin has occurred.

Nosocomial infection - a hospital-acquired infection, for example if a hospital worker is exposed to an infectious patient and becomes infected as a result

PBAC - Presidential Biosafety Advisory Committee

PHAC - Public Health Agency of Canada; instituted the HPTA; deals with our Import Permits and CL2 checklists; publisher of the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines;

Pipetting - A number of pamphlets, videos and posters for pipetting from Thermo Scientific, Artel-USA, Mandel, Rainin

Provenance - a line of documentation which proves the ownership, purity and authenticity of a thing (in our case cell lines, bacteria etc)

Waste disposal

Waste pickup schedule - McMaster Campus