ABSTRACT
The risk of working with hazardous biological materials requires the implementation of an effective biorisk management program dedicated to protecting laboratory personnel and preventing the accidental or intentional release or removal of hazardous materials from the laboratory. Understanding these risks prior to constructing or renovating a laboratory is vital to ensure the success of an effective biorisk management program once work has commenced. The design of the laboratory and the containment measures implemented can negatively impact a biorisk management program. Therefore, design decisions and selection of specific containment measures should be based on a comprehensive biorisk assessment as opposed to defaulting to predefined solutions that may not be suitable in all cases. This chapter will discuss how the design of laboratories and the chosen containment measures impact biorisk management. Particularly, this chapter will also introduce the concept of using a risk-based design strategy to assist with the selection of suitable biorisk mitigation measures, reducing the chance that the facility will be over-engineered or that valuable resources will be wasted.
