Biosafety Containment: Aerosol Transmissible Diseases

1. Complete the UCSD Aerosol Transmissible Disease Biosafety Plan identifying agents, personnel, operations, and safety practices.
   Aerosol Transmissible Disease Biosafety Plan 
   • For guidance on completing the HCP, see Hazard Control Plan.
   • Identify which personnel are working with specific agents.
2. In some cases, the lab should use an agent-specific HCP in lieu of the ATD HCP. In these cases, only the agent-specific HCP must be completed. Here is the list of agent-specific HCPs:

• COCCIDIOIDES SPP
• COXIELLA BURNETII
• ESCHERICHIA COLI (SHIGA TOXIN (VEROCYTOTOXIN) PRODUCING STRAINS)
• HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B
• HEPATITIS B VIRUS
• HEPATITIS C VIRUS
• HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS BSL 2+
• HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS BSL 3
• INFECTIOUS PRIONS
• INFLUENZA VIRUS
• LYMPHOCYTIC CHORIOMENINGITIS VIRUS
• MACAQUE TISSUE
• MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA VIRUS
• MPOX BSL 3
• MPOX BSL2+
• MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS BSL-3
• RABIES VIRUS OR RABIES VIRAL VECTOR
• RISK GROUP 3 FLAVIVIRUSES
• SALMONELLA TYPHI
• SARS-COV-2 BSL-2+
• SARS-COV-2 BSL3
• SHIGELLA DYSENTERIAE
• SIMIAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (SIV)
• STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE
• VACCINIA VIRUS OR VECTOR
• YELLOW FEVER VIRUS, VACCINE STRAIN
• ZIKA VIRUS

This exposure control plan must have documented review at least annually by the PI and by employees.

Use and storage of ATDs requires submission of a Biohazardous Use Authorization (BUA) application and approval by the IBC prior to start of work. The BUA application can be found on My Research Safety.

• Identify and describe any attenuated strains of aerosol transmissible pathogens. In some cases, attenuation will exempt the pathogen from the ATD program.

Related links:

• Biohazard Use Authorization (BUA)

Provide initial Aerosol Transmissible Disease Pathogens Training to employees at the time of assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place and at least annually thereafter.

Provide additional training after incidents and when changes in the workplace or procedures could affect worker exposure to aerosol-transmissible disease pathogens. Training must be documented and dated.

How to meet the training requirement:

• Register for and complete Biosafety: Aerosol Transmissible Disease Pathogens Training on UC Learning Center.
• Provide lab specific training on any aerosol mitigation procedures described in the ATD or applicable Hazard Control Plan.
• If handling genetically modified agents, register for and complete Biosafety: Recombinant and Synthetic Nucleic Acids training on UC Learning Center.
• If applicable complete the Hazard Evaluation form to request a respirator.
• (Note: if a respirator is required, you must be certified through the Respiratory Protection Program administered by EH&S.)

Annual Aerosol Transmissible Disease Pathogens Refresher Training is required within 1 year of initial training, and annually thereafter.

Related links:

• Biosafety Training
• Respiratory Protective Equipment Training

Ensure employees working with agents listed below are provided with corresponding medical services from Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM):

Immunizations

Job-related recommended immunizations are voluntary. After completing training and reviewing the Vaccine Information Statement, the employee must sign a vaccine Accept/Decline Form to document their intention to either accept or decline the vaccination.

Contact EHS Biosafety for more information.

If the vaccination is requested, an Authorization/Registration Form with instructions for scheduling a COEM appointment will be sent to you.

Costs

Vaccinations, TB screening, and medical consult costs are covered by the University if related to job task as described under the ATD program or required by the IBC.

How to obtain medical services

1. Contact COEM.

UCSD Emergency Guide

All workers should review the UCSD Emergency Guide (see image at right). The Emergency Guide contains emergency phone numbers and procedures for UCSD personnel, is widely distributed in laboratories, and is available online.

Spills or uncontrolled release

If a spill is too large or dangerous for lab staff to safely clean up, call UCSD Police at (858) 534-4357 or 9-1-1.

Agent-specific details can be found in the Hazard Control Plan.

Respiratory protection may be needed to clean up a spill or uncontrolled release of aerosol-transmissible disease pathogens. UCSD Police will activate the EH&S HazMat team. HazMat team members are medically cleared, trained, and fit-tested to wear self-contained breathing apparatus.

Spills or uncontrolled releases outside of biosafety cabinets must be reported to EHS Biosafety.

Report exposure incidents

An exposure incident is a significant exposure to an aerosol containing an aerosol transmissible disease pathogen without the benefit of applicable exposure control measures required by the agent-specific ATD Biosafety Plan.

If an exposure occurs, seek medical help and report the incident.

• See What to Do if a Work-Related Injury, Illness, or Exposure Occurs
  

Prompt medical attention may reduce the risk of serious health consequences after an exposure incident.

Per Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard, Title 8, Section 5199:

Aerosol transmissible pathogen - laboratory (ATP-L)

"A pathogen that meets one of the following criteria: (1) the pathogen appears on the list in Appendix D, (2) the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) recommends biosafety level 3 or above for the pathogen, (3) the biological safety officer recommends biosafety level 3 or above for the pathogen, or (4) the pathogen is a novel or unknown pathogen."

• California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA)
  • Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard, Title 8, Section 5199 (ATD Standard)
  • Appendix D: Aerosol Transmissible Pathogens – Laboratory
  • Aerosol Transmissible Diseases - Zoonotic – Title 8, Section 5199.1
• UCSD Policy 
  • Vaccination for Researchers and Research Support Staff