Conducting a biosecurity risk assessment

Overview

This guideline describes best practices for conducting a biosecurity risk assessment in an organization where human or animal pathogens, toxins, or other regulated infectious material are handled or stored. The biosecurity risks associated with the handling and storing of pathogens and toxins can be minimized through the application of appropriate mitigation measures identified through the risk assessment process.

Who this guide is for

• Pathogen and Toxin Licence holders
• Biological Safety Officers
• Personnel in regulated facilities

In this guide

Preface

Abbreviations and acronyms

CHAPTER 1 - Introduction

• 1.1 Purpose and scope
• 1.2 Overview
• 1.3 How to use the Canadian biosafety guideline: Conducting a biosecurity risk assessment

CHAPTER 2 - Preparation

• 2.1 Gathering documentation
• 2.2 Threat environment
• 2.3 Assessment team
• 2.4 Schedule

CHAPTER 3 - Asset inventory

• 3.1 Asset identification
• 3.2 Asset priority

CHAPTER 4 - Likelihood

• 4.1 Biosecurity event identification
• 4.2 Adversaries
• 4.3 Targeted assets
• 4.4 Frequency
• 4.5 Calculating Likelihood

CHAPTER 5 - Consequence

• 5.1 Impacts to public health, animal health, and the organization
• 5.2 Vulnerabilities and effectiveness of mitigation measures
• 5.3 Calculating consequence

CHAPTER 6 - . Determining risk level and creating the risk register

• 6.1 Calculating risk
• 6.2 Risk register

CHAPTER 7 - Risk tolerance

CHAPTER 8 - Mitigation and review

• 8.1 Mitigation
• 8.2 Review

CHAPTER 9 - Report findings

• 9.1 Executive summary
• 9.2 Purpose
• 9.3 Scope
• 9.4 Background
• 9.5 Threat environment
• 9.6 Asset inventory
• 9.7 Risk assessment results
• 9.8 Risk tolerance
• 9.9 Recommendations
• 9.10 Appendix

CHAPTER 10 - Glossary

CHAPTER 11 - References

Appendix A - Resources

Appendix B - Biosecurity assets

Appendix C - Biosecurity events

Appendix D - Adversaries

Appendix E - Biosecurity mitigation measures

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Details and history

• Published: July 2018

For assistance

From Public Health Agency of Canada