Biosafety

Switzerland has its own high containment laboratory complex, SiLab, where pathogenic micro-organisms in the highest risk groups (RG 3 and 4) can be handled safely. This means that we have the necessary laboratory capabilities to identify potential biowarfare agents and dangerous pathogens in the highest risk groups safely and swiftly. The SiLab carries out research for both military and civilian purposes and provides special assistance during emergency operations.

Safety is the number one priority in the SiLab:

It is essential that the public and the environment are protected from any accidental release of infectious pathogens from SiLab.
It is essential that SiLab personnel themselves are protected from accidental infection.

To ensure the highest possible level of safety, thorough analyses of potential risks are first carried out. The findings form the basis for the planning work with regard to the necessary structural measures as well as decisions on the corresponding procedures, practices and safety equipment.

Tasks

(Bio-)safety related tasks include:

Guaranteeing biological safety
Guaranteeing technical safety
Training

Biosafety

The term biosafety covers two aspects: biosafety and biosecurity. The WHO defines biosafety as the “containment principles, technologies and procedures that are implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins, or their accident release”. Biosecurity, on the other hand, refers to "institutional and personal security measures aimed at preventing the loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release of valuable biological material". Generally, biosafety consists of primary and secondary barriers. Primary barriers refer chiefly to the operational features specific to the laboratory as well as personal protective equipment. For example, the standard operating procedures of the laboratory set out how biological material should be handled and which appliances should be used. In this regard, it is vitally important that laboratory personnel receive the appropriate training and that working methods are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Secondary barriers cover technical installations as well as the actual design features of the laboratory itself.

Technical safety

All technical installations and their maintenance are an integral part of SiLab safety. The Silab is designed in such a way that air pressure drops the closer one gets to the critical area/potential source of danger (negative pressure). This guarantees an inward flow of air in the laboratory at all times, which in turn ensures human and environmental safety should any accident in the high containment laboratory occur. To ensure the smooth and safe running of the SiLab, redundant systems are in place for all technical installations, such as supply and exhaust air, water provision and drainage, and the power supply. The entire facility is monitored by a comprehensive control system, which also coordinates the room parameters and media procurement. Everything which leaves the SiLab (from exhaust air through to wastewater and sample material) is decontaminated or inactivated beforehand.

Training

Biosafety training in the SiLab is aimed at three target groups:

Training of SiLab personnel to ensure safety in the SiLab at all times;
Training of members of the Swiss Armed Forces to enable them to perform their duties in this specialist field without endangering themselves or others;
Training of national and international specialist personnel at the highest safety level The

SPIEZ LABORATORY plans to set up an international centre of expertise in biosafety level 3 and 4 training. Thanks to the SiLab, the SPIEZ LABORATORY is able to run courses where participants can train at the highest biosafety level under real (yet risk-free) conditions. All practical work is carried out in a special “mock laboratory”: it is almost identical to the real high containment laboratory with one major difference: highly contagious pathogens are not handled there.

Links

Legal bases:

National:

International:

SiLab Biosafety Officer
Daniel Kümin

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