GENERAL RULES FOR SAFE WORK WITH BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

Problem statement. The work was carried out on the identification and distribution by groups of various types of emergency situations that are possible in laboratories when performing procedures with various biological agents. The need to observe clearly regulated rules for safe work with various biological objects in laboratory institutions is proved. The purpose of the article. Determine the rules for safe work with various biological agents in laboratory conditions of different security levels. Method. Analytical methods, generalizing approaches to information presented in regulatory documents, literary and other information sources. Results. Existing and previously developed rules for safe work and techniques for appropriate laboratory work with biological objects are studied. The main signs of work risks according to the international classification of microorganisms are investigated. The characteristics of each hazard group are studied and examples of microbial species assigned to a particular risk group are given. The classification characteristics for four types of microbiological laboratories according to a number of features are given. It was established that the level of laboratories’ biological safety depends on the risk group of microorganisms. It is recognized that compliance with the rules of safe work with various biological agents in laboratory conditions is ensured by the use of necessary and mandatory equipment for a certain level of the laboratory. It is argued that the possibility of implementing biological safety rules in laboratories of different levels is based on the assessment of biological risks in certain conditions of a given laboratory institution. A step-by-step procedure for assessing biological risks in a certain laboratory has been developed, which is also presented in the form of a block diagram. Scientific novelty. Scientific and normative information on the rules of safe work with biological agents in laboratory conditions is analyzed and summarized. A defined sequence of actions for biological risk assessment in certain laboratory settings is proposed. Practical value. The practical possibility and necessity of managing biological risks in laboratory conditions of different biological safety levels is substantiated.