Training

Training Policy for IBC

A. Purpose

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) seeks to ensure the qualifications of all individuals who handle biologicals to enable them to carry out their responsibilities in compliance with applicable guidelines and regulations. The IBC must consider the qualifications of personnel involved in conducting research as part of its protocol review and approval.  

B. Scope

This policy covers all personnel who work with and supervise work with biologicals, including faculty, staff, students and visitors. The IBC requires assurance that individuals involved in the use of biologicals in research be qualified to perform their duties. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP) are available to provide training or programs to assist Principal Investigators to ensure that they and their laboratory staff are appropriately trained and qualified.

C. Training Content       

The Principal Investigator is required to inform the IBC of the degree of qualification of all project personnel who will work with biologicals. The Biological Use Authorization (IBC application form) allows the P.I. to indicate the qualifications of each user including:

1. Prior training and experience. Specific information should be provided regarding the particular procedures an individual will perform and if the individual working with the agent(s) is experienced with the procedures involved specifically for rDNA, infectious agents and any other applicable special training.     
2. Training and knowledge of NIH Guidelines and basic IBC policies and standards. This requirement for PIs will be met by annually completing an on-line training course, “Recombinant DNA / IBC Policies Training,” including an rDNA NIH Guidelines quiz to be provided by the IBC and accessed via the Research Information Management System (RIMS).     
3. Training and knowledge of Other special conditions. This requirement is met by completing training for Biosafety Level Three (BSL-3) Training, Select Agent Training, Shipping Biologicals Training, or N95 Respirator Fit Testing, if applicable for research proposed in an IBC protocol.         
4. Medical surveillance evaluation completed. This requirement is met by requiring all individuals who work with biologicals to submit a medical evaluation form available on the IBC website to the Research Occupational Health Program. In some cases, an exam, a TB test, or vaccinations may be required for clearance. All ROHP requirements must be met before starting work with biologicals, including, if required, a respirator clearance.   
5. Environmental Health & Safety Training. Completion, documented by EHS, of all required training applicable to the project, including annual Laboratory Safety, BSL-3, or Select Agent Training, within the twelve months prior to the individual being listed on an IBC protocol.    
6. Hands-on training. Training and demonstration of hands-on competence to handle biologicals and perform protocol procedures with particular agents involved. This is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator; however, assistance is available through EHS and ROHP. In addition to agent specific training, Agent Information Sheets (Agent Information Sheets (AIS) ) and Agent Specific Identification Cards are provided to all research personnel using biological agents with the potential to cause Laboratory Acquired Infection (LAI). Principal Investigators are expected to acknowledge in their IBC application when their personnel need additional training and to schedule it before personnel begin work with agents. 
7. Training by the Principal Investigator. The Principal Investigator will provide his/her staff with training and supervision to ensure that all members of the project team understand the protocol and how to carry out their roles and responsibilities under the protocol safely.  

The IBC Application will require:

1. Description of additional training that will be needed.
2. Completion of training: a condition of IBC approval.

The IBC will expect Principal Investigators to err on the side of caution in certifying whether additional training is needed, as indicated above in 1 and 2. If so, the IBC may not approve, or may conditionally approve the protocol until all training is completed and all individuals are qualified.