ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author draws on experience gained during his work with the UK Health and Safety Executive as a specialist in the safety of genetic modification work. He subdivides the safety issues relating to virus work into three broad areas: physical containment, experimental design and risk assessment, and safety management issues. The author then discusses the regulatory framework covering safety and related matters, including a discussion of the extent to which ethical issues are considered. In order to illustrate the kinds of matters which need to be covered in local codes of practice this section will outline a few examples of containment issues that are often overlooked. The vast majority of safety cabinets in use within virology laboratories are of class II design. It is also important that staff are trained in the correct use of safety cabinets.
