Health and Safety  -  Biosafety


Biosafety

Biosafety consists in the protection of laboratory personnel, the community, the animal population and the environment from the consequences of an exposure to infectious material, toxins, plants or plant pests handled in the context of our research projects.
Biosafety generally refers to the prevention of accidental events (spills, aerosol generation, etc.) but it also includes biosecurity which aims to prevent the loss, theft, misuse, diversion or intentional release of infectious material or toxins.

Biosafety Officer (BSO) at INRS

Mireille Cartier
mireille.cartier@iaf.inrs.ca
450-687-5010 x4226

Biosafety certification (internal permit)

Any work with human or primate biological material, pathogens, toxins or plant pests at INRS must be done in the context of a biosafety certification (internal permit).

Importation, exportation and transfer of pathogens, toxins, plants or plant pests

The BSO must always be notified prior to receiving or sending pathogens, toxins, animal by-products, plants or plant pests whatever the origin or destination of the package. In case of importation of animal by-products, animal pathogens, plants or plant pests an import permit from CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) may be required; please plan ahead a few weeks to apply for and receive the permit.

Trainees

University-level trainees must contact professors directly and must follow the same health and safety trainings as regular students.
For trainees from high school (outside the Apprentis en biosciences program) or college, the following documents must be filled and submitted to the biosafety committee (Forms are available in French only).