Biosafety Containment: Aerosol Transmissible Diseases
See requirements for research with listed aerosol transmissible pathogens at UC San Diego.
Purpose
The Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) program protects employees who can reasonably anticipate being exposed to aerosol-transmissible pathogens while performing their job duties. Aerosol-transmissible pathogens are spread by infectious particles or droplets through inhalation or direct contact with mucous membranes in the respiratory tract or eyes. There are common laboratory procedures that may generate aerosols or droplets. The ATD program outlines safe research practices in compliance with the ATD Standard.
The Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard, CCR Title 8, Section 5199, issued by California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) requires employers to implement an effective program to minimize exposure of employees to pathogens transmitted via aerosols and droplets.
Requirements for principal investigators
Principal investigators with research involving any agent listed in Appendix D: Aerosol Transmissible Pathogens – Laboratory, or required by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), must meet the requirements below:
- Work with ATDs requires submission of a Biohazardous Use Authorization (BUA) application and approval by the IBC prior to start of work.
- Implement a written ATD Biosafety Plan. The ATD Biosafety Plan is available in the Hazard Control Plan (HCP) application under My Research Safety.
- Have personnel complete the annual Aerosol Transmissible Disease Pathogens Training available through UC Learning Center.
- Assure personnel complete required medical surveillance. Vaccines for aerosol-transmissible pathogens are offered to all employees working with these materials. For a list of available vaccines, visit Vaccination for Researchers and Research Support Staff. Some pathogens require medical consult prior to start of work.
- Eliminate "clean areas" from bays where aerosol-transmissible pathogens are handled.
Requirements for the laboratory personnel
- Listed on a Principal Investigator’s approved BUA and ATD Hazard Control Plan.
- Complete all required
and/or medical consults for work with the specific agents.training - Read and sign the Hazard Control Plans associated with the specific agents.
- Implement all aerosol mitigation measures as outlined in the ATD Hazard Control Plan
See specific implementation procedures for UC San Diego researchers:
ATD Biosafety Plan
- 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.
- 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.
BUA - Risk Assessment
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:
Training requirement
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:
Medical services
Ensure employees working with agents listed below are provided with corresponding medical services from Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM):
Agent | Medical service |
---|---|
Bordetella pertussis | Vaccination offered |
Corynebacterium diphtheria | Vaccination offered |
Haemophilus influenzae, type b | Vaccination offered |
Hepatitis B Virus | Vaccination offered |
Herpesvirus simiae (B-virus) and any material suspected to contain the virus |
Medical consult required |
Influenza Virus | Seasonal vaccination offered |
Japanese Encephalitis Virus |
Vaccination offered |
Measles Virus | Vaccination offered |
Mumps Virus | Vaccination offered |
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) | Requires annual TB medical surveillance and Biosafety Level 3: Practices, Equipment, and Facilities training |
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Requires annual TB medical surveillance |
Neisseria meningitidis | Vaccination offered |
Rabies Virus | Vaccination offered, medical consult required |
Rubella Virus | Vaccination offered |
Salmonella typhi |
Vaccination offered |
Streptococcus pneumoniae |
Vaccination offered |
Vaccinia Virus | Vaccination offered, medical consult required |
Varicella-Zoster Virus | Vaccination offered |
Yellow Fever Virus |
Vaccination offered |
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
- Contact COEM.
Emergency procedures
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.
Prompt medical attention may reduce the risk of serious health consequences after an exposure incident.
Definitions
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."
Regulations and policies
- California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA)
- UCSD Policy