Physical Containment Facilities and Training

A physical containment facility (PC facility) is a facility that involves the combination of building, engineering, equipment and practices to handle microorganisms safety. PC facilities are necessary as they reduce, or prevent, the release of pathogens into the environment. If your research involves GMOs, microbial pathogens, or other biological hazards, you will need to conduct your work in a PC facility with the appropriate level of containment. AS/NZS 2243.3 specifies four levels of physical containment for laboratories.

Physical Containment Level 1 (PC1)

A Physical Containment Level 1 laboratory is suitable for work with microorganisms where the hazard levels are low, and where laboratory or facility personnel can be adequately protected by standard laboratory practice. The organisms used should generally be classified as Risk Group 1. Specimens that have been inactivated or fixed may be handled in PC1 facilities.

There is no formal certification procedure required for PC1 facilities where Risk Group 1 microorganisms are handled. However, facilities must comply with the requirements for the relevant type of PC1 facility (e.g., laboratory, animal, plant or invertebrate facility) as described in AS/NZS 2243.3.

Physical Containment Level 2 (PC2)

A Physical Containment Level 2 laboratory is suitable for work with material likely to contain microorganisms that are classified as Risk Group 2 microorganisms. If working with specimens containing microorganisms transmissible by the respiratory route or if the work produces a significant risk to humans or the environment from the production of infectious aerosols, a biological safety cabinet must be used. It is highly recommended that you view the "Working Safely in Class II Biological Safety Cabinets DVD" produced by the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL).

There is no formal certification procedure required for PC2 facilities where Risk Group 2 microorganisms are handled. However, facilities must comply with the requirements for the relevant type of PC2 facility (e.g., laboratory, animal, plant or invertebrate facility) as described in AS/NZS 2243.3. In any facility where Risk Group 2 microorganisms are handled a “PC2 Microbiological Laboratory” sign must be displayed on the entrance door to the facility.

Unlike for PC2 facilities being used for work involving Risk Group 2 microorganisms, there is a formal PC2 certification procedure for facilities undertaking certain types of gene technology work. If a PC2 facilities is certified for work with GMOs, Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) PC2 signage will be displayed on the door to that facility.

NOTE: The “PC2 Microbiological Laboratory” signage is separate from OGTR PC2 signage. Some facilities will require both forms of signage, while some will only require one or the other.

Physical Containment Levels 3 and 4

UNE has no PC3 or PC4 facilities and work with Risk Group 3 or 4 organisms may not be undertaken at the present time.

PC2 Training

Any staff, students, visitors or volunteers working in PC2 facilities at UNE must comply with the behavioural requirements set by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), irrespective of whether or not they are working with genetically modified organisms, risk category 2 pathogens or merely using equipment within the PC2 laboratory. In addition, they must complete the associated UNE training. To obtain access to complete work in PC2 facilities at UNE, the following must be completed:

Enrol in the Biomedical Science Lab Safety MyLearn page.
Complete the requirements for the PC2 Biosafety tile, including achieving a score of 100% in the associated PC2 quiz.
Download, read and sign a copy of the Behavioural Requirements for working in PC2 laboratories.
Email the signed Behavioural Requirements document and proof of scoring 100% in the MyLearn quiz to ibc@une.edu.au. In the email, include your staff or student number, and the name of the facility you will need to access, so that a request for Safety & Security to add access to your staff or student card can be raised.

PC2 Inspections

PC2 laboratories are inspected annually by the UNE PC2 Inspector and the IBC, in accordance with the inspection checklist provided by the OGTR. Lab managers will be notified regarding the timing of the annual inspection. In addition, OGTR inspectors may visit the university to inspect PC2 facilities and notice may or may not be given of these inspections.

Even though the PC2 facilities are inspected annually, issues with facilities or the equipment within them may arise between inspections. If you are accessing UNE PC2 facilities and notice something that doesnt seem right, notify the IBC at ibc@une.edu.au or 02 6773 1093 at the soonest convenience.

Applying for a New Physical Containment Facility

Staff requiring a new physical containment facility should discuss this request with the IBC Chair and Committee Officer in the first instance, by emailing ibc@une.edu.au. This process should commence as far in advance of needing the facility as possible, because while it is possible to have new facilities certified, sufficient time must be allocated for any maintenance or upgrades that are required to meet certification standards.

Surrendering a Physical Containment Facility

If you no longer require an area to be maintained as a physical containment facility or if a building containing a Physical Containment is scheduled for demolition, then the facility must be carefully decontaminated and the PC2 Lab Decommissioning Form completed and submitted to ibc@une.edu.au.