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The Rutgers Biosafety Program in the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) is responsible for overseeing research performed with:

biohazard_symbol

  • recombinant and synthetic genetic material
  • pathogenic microorganisms (affecting humans, plants and animals)
  • select agents and toxins
  • human material and human cell lines
  • transgenic plants and transgenic animals

This website is meant to be used as a resource for the university community to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations regarding the work, storage, transport, and disposal of biological materials.

When you see the Biohazard symbol around campus, it indicates the need to use Universal Precautions, which is a set of guidelines that help to prevent the transmission of pathogens from exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

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Biosafety Toolkit

The Biosafety Toolkit website has information for new PI’s as well as resources useful for navigating biosafety at Rutgers.

Biosafety Toolkits Website

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and Biosafety Protocol Management System (BPMS)

Rutgers Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) provides oversight of biohazardous related research and utilizes the Biosafety Protocol Management System (BPMS)

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Website

Biosafety Protocol Management System (BPMS) 

Biosafety Protocol Management System (BPMS) Website

Biosafety Regulations, Safety Policies & Guidelines

Universal Precaution for Biohazards

Universal Precautions is an approach to infection control. At Rutgers University all human or animal (e.g. blood, body fluids, tissues), plant, environmental (e.g. soil, water, sewage), and/or recombinant materials are handled under the Universal Precautions framework whether they are known or unknown to harbor pathogens and/or biological toxins.

Under Universal Precautions at Rutgers, all personnel must:

  • Treat the above materials as if they are known to be infectious
  • Wear appropriate PPE: eye protection, laboratory coat, gloves, and acceptable personal clothing (long pants and closed-toed shoes)
  • Employ engineering controls when opening, manipulating (e.g. Biosafety cabinet and/or Chemical fume hood, etc.), and/or transporting the material (e.g. utilizing an appropriate secondary container) 

Rutgers University Biosafety Regulations and Safety Guidelines

Below find a few of the most relevant Rutgers regulations and guidelines for biosafety on campus:

Federal and State Resources, Biosafety Regulation, Safety Policies & Guidelines

Below find a few of the most relevant Federal & New Jersey regulations, guidelines, policies, and resources for biosafety at Rutgers:

Biological Risk Assessment Resources

A biological risk assessment is used to identify the hazardous characteristics of an infectious or potentially infectious agent or material, the activities that can result in a person's exposure to an agent, the likelihood that such exposure will cause a laboratory-associated infection (LAI), and the probable consequences of such an infection. The information identified by performing a risk assessment helps with the selection of appropriate safety controls and should be performed prior to beginning work with a biohazardous agent or at any time when a change occurs to existing procedures, protocols, and SOPs. Utilize the resources below to learn more about and to help perform a biological risk group assessment. 

Permits, Transporting, and Shipping of Biological Materials

Biological Permits

Certain biological materials require permits from regulatory agencies such as the CDC and USDA. Please review the table below to see which biomaterials require permits. Additionally, REHS requests that you upload copies of both your approved permit and original permit application into the File Cabinet section of your biosafety protocol.

Transport of Biological Materials

  • Hand Carrying Between Rooms, Floors, and Buildings:
    • Primary container surrounded by an absorbent material, placed within secondary container (e.g. Ziplock™ baggie), placed inside rigid leak proof outer container with tight fitting lid
    • Place biohazard label on outside container

Research materials may not be transported on any forms of public transportation, mass transit, or rideshare (e.g. Rutgers shuttle, Uber/Lyft/Taxi, etc.)

  • Personal vehicle:
    • Materials of Trade (MOT) training is required for transport using personal vehicles:
    • Contact biosafety@rutgers.edu for access MOT module

Shipping of Biological Materials

Please visit our biomaterial shipping website for detailed information about which biomaterials need to be shipped as dangerous goods.

Shipping Biological Materials Website

If advised by REHS biosafety to include an acknowledgement statement with your shipment, use the template below – print it on your Rutgers departmental letterhead and include it with the shipping papers on the outside of the box.

Rutgers preferred shipping vendors are FedEx and UPS, but other companies are used. Reach out to biosafety@rutgers.edu for more information.

Biosafety Assessment CORE Forms

Biosafety office clearance is needed when you utilize Rutgers CORE facilities. See the list below and submit the biosafety assessment forms, if applicable.

Biosafety Training Requirements

REHS offers many biosafety-related trainings for laboratory and clinical personnel. The tables below provide details on biosafety training requirements.

Other Training Resources

MyREHS Website

REHS Training Website

Biosafety Topics in Laboratory Spaces

Engineering Controls for Biohazards

Additional Resources

Biosafety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

The IBC has approved the following Standard Operating Procedures for the use of certain viral vectors, as well as work involving CRISPR-Cas9. These SOPs must be incorporated into an approved biosafety protocol and are meant to be used as a training tool for involved personnel. Please contact biosafety@rutgers.edu with any questions or concerns.

Viral Vectors

Other SOPs 

Medical Waste Resources

Regulated Medical Waste (RMW), also known as red bag waste, must be properly packaged and labeled prior to being removed from the laboratory or clinic. This type of waste is highly regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the State of New Jersey. Depending on the location either Environmental Services, or a certified medical waste vendor, will remove the waste from the site.

If your site does not currently generate RMW but changes a process or service and will now have the need to generate RMW – contact REHS by email at biosafety@rutgers.edu or (848) 445-2550 before generating RMW. REHS needs to file paperwork with the DEP and our medical waste vendor in addition to providing training to all staff members.

If you need guidance or supplies, please contact REHS at biosafety@rutgers.edu

Printable Posters and Guides

Biological Laboratory Shutdown

Permanent Laboratory Shutdown or Relocation

The REHS website contains guidelines for laboratories relocating within or moving from Rutgers and/or if a PI is retiring and permanently closing their laboratory space.

Laboratory Closeout Guidelines

Temporary Laboratory Shutdown

Checklist and topics to consider for temporarily placing the lab in an inactive state due to impending weather affecting the university’s operating status issued state of emergency, or other unexpected disruption.

Student Experiences with REHS Biosafety

The REHS Student Experience is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn about and experience a career in Environmental Health and Safety specific to biosafety. This experience is eligible for academic credit or intern hours depending on the student’s academic program.

Students will enter into a mentor/mentee relationship with the REHS Biosafety team to achieve a specific goal or project. Biosafety specific projects can be suggested by REHS or tailored to the students interest if not yet developed. Projects may last for as little as a few weeks, a semester, or up to a year. 

This opportunity is open to Rutgers post-doctorate, graduate, and undergraduate students as well as students from other accredited universities or colleges.

Contact REHS Biosafety at biosafety@rutgers.edu for more information.

REHS Biosafety Team

Contact REHS Website

Make an Anonymous Biosafety Tip