Course Description

This course is thoughtfully created around the key references in the field, the  Biosafety
Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratory (5th Edition, December 2009) and the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant and Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (updated November 2013). Our objective is to provide you with a working knowledge of the essentials of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, controlling, and confirming the controls of possible biological hazards in the workplace. After attending this course you will be well prepared for a leadership role in your institution's biosafety program as a Biological Safety Officer.

These concepts are fundamental to any biological safety program at any institution,
and are applicable to all Biological Safety Officers, whether new or experienced. 
Plus, our instructors employ an enjoyable combination of well-structured lectures,
descriptive examples, and hands-on exercises to teach this course. 

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for individuals working in the following settings:

• Research Labs
• Hospitals
• Health Departments
• Emergency Response Agencies (private, local, state or national level)
• Infection Control
• Reference Labs
• Infectious Substances Shipments or Transportation
• Biohazard Risk Management
• Animal Research Labs

Major Course Concepts

Day One

• History of Biological Safety
• Microbiology Review
• Biological Safety Basics
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens
• Hand-washing Guidelines
• Introduction to Stem Cells
• Recombinant DNA Guidelines & Institutional Biosafety Committees
• Lab Techniques & Recombinant DNA
• Personal Protective Equipment

 Day Two

• Containment Equipment
• Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Demonstration
• Worker Training Program
• Handling and Disposing of Infectious Waste
• Disinfection, Decontamination, and Sterilization
• Bio-aerosols, Mold, and IAQ
• Occupational Health
• Shipping Infectious Substances

 Day Three

• Biosafety and Animal Research Labs
• Biological Terrorism, Select Agents, and Toxins
• Public Health Preparedness—Infectious Diseases
• Respiratory Fit Testing Program
• Health and Safety Metrics
• Professional Development
• Biosafety Certification Exam Information
• Global Health Security

Course Agenda

Registration Fees

$ 595       Early Registration (Ends March 15, 2016) 

$ 695       Regular Registration (Ends April 1, 2016)

$ 795       Late Registration (Begins April 2, 2016)

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Registration & Cancellation Policy:
Full tuition must accompany each registration to ensure your registration for a course. Tuition is completely refundable if a course is cancelled by the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health or if the registrant cancels more than 21 working days prior to the course date. Registrants who cancel 10-20 working days prior to the course date may apply the entire course tuition towards another course or receive refund of 50%. No refunds are given for cancellations made less than 5 working days prior to the course date, but tuition may be applied towards a future course. A $75 administrative fee will be charged for cancellations 10 working days prior to the course date.  'No Shows' for a course will forfeit the full registration tuition. The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health must receive all cancellations in writing prior to the course date for the appropriate refund and/or credit to be issued. The Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health cannot be held responsible for a non-refundable airline ticket in the event of a course cancellation.

Requests for registration refunds must be in writing and received by our office (SWCOEH)  The date the request is recieved by us will be considered the cancellation date. Requests received after the refund deadline will not be processed. Requests should be emailed to SWCOEH.CE@uth.tmc.edu 

The Southewest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health reserves the right to cancel activities, not less than 10 business days before the scheduled date, if extenuating circumstances make it necessary. Registrants will be notified at the contact information indicated on the registration form. If an activity is cancelled, the SWCOEH's liability is limited to the registration fee paid. 

NOTE: If payment is made by check, an identification number is required to process the refund.

For Further Information Contact
Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
1200 Herman Pressler
RAS|W-1008
Houston, Texas 77030
713.500.9448|Fax 713.500.9442 SWCOEH.CE@uth.tmc.edu

For information about other SWCOEH events, please visit www.swcoeh.org 

Funding for this conference was made possible, in part, by the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Award no. 2T42OH008421 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Award No. 2U45ES019360 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.”  The views expressed in written conference materitals or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practicies, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.