The biorepository is a very valuable asset to Windber
Research Institute (WRI), and because of the importance of our samples we take every
measure possible to insure safety of samples as well as our personnel. WRI has
an active safety committee whose purpose
is to bring workers and management together in a cooperative effort to promote
safety and health in the workplace. It
is important for each department to be represented and we have several
members of the tissue bank on WRI’s safety committee. The committee is formed
by lab staff and managers representing at least one member from each department.
The safety committee’s job is to ensure
proper lab and workplace safety is being practiced. As members of the
committee, we participate in safety inspections of the building and check all
areas for safety violations. These inspections are very important and help us to
identify existing and potential hazards and recommend corrective action. We
check lab equipment, emergency supplies and evacuation plans.
Because operation of a biorepository can potentially expose
employees to hazards, it is important for everyone to be involved in training
and education activities. Our
biorepository receives annual safety training and participates in periodic
educational activities for things such as the safe handling and use of liquid
nitrogen, proper personal protective equipment, etc.
Members of the Tissue Bank participate in training for the
safe packaging and transport of dangerous goods. The packaging and shipment
training helps keep us up to date according to national and international regulations.
Not only is the safety of our staff important, it is critical that we take measures to protect the biospecimens. We have comprehensive standard operating procedures covering everything from physical security and backup power, to monitoring and maintenance of storage equipment and troubleshooting. We constantly strive to put procedures into place and ensure they are followed with the ultimate goal of protecting our most valuable resource – the biospecimens!