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Reporting Incidents Involving Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

According to the University policy, employees must report job-related injuries/illnesses as soon as possible to the employee's supervisor.  If an incident occurs when working on a project that has IBC approval, the NIH recombinant DNA guidelines also require Principle Investigators to report any significant research-related accidents and illnesses to the IBC, OBA, and/or other appropriate authorities.

The following incidents must be reported:

• all research-related accidents or illnesses
• spills or accidents that result in an overt or potential exposure to an infectious agent or biologically-derived toxin
• spills or accidents that result in the escape or release of infectious agents or biologically-derived toxins
• spills or accidents that result in the escape or release of genetically modified or exotic microorganisms, animals, or plants

The IBC Report Form for incidents involving Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents is available on the IBC web site at http://cflegacy.research.umn.edu/ibc/download/documents/IncidentReportForm.doc. The form must be submitted to the IBC (ibc@umn.edu) electronically by a Principal Investigator or their designated laboratory representative. If the accident involves recombinant DNA, it must be reported to the IBC office within 24 hours to meet institutional requirements prescribed by The NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules.