Biosafety in the Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary School Classroom

Overview

This guideline describes general recommendations for science experiments in elementary, intermediate, or secondary school classrooms. The guideline is designed to promote best biosafety practices in the classroom and awareness of the risks associated with working with microbes. This guideline is meant to help schoolteachers, school support personnel (e.g., demonstrators, teaching assistants, student teachers), and parents mitigate the risks of exposure to microbes when planning or performing science experiments. The information presented in this guideline can help keep students, teachers, personnel, and the community safe.

Who this guide is for

• Elementary, intermediate, or secondary school teachers
• Elementary, intermediate, or secondary school demonstrators, teaching assistants, and student teachers
• Parents of students in elementary, intermediate, or secondary school

In this guide

• Preface
• Abbreviations and acronyms
• Chapter 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. Scope
  • 1.2. Overview of the Canadian Biosafety Standard and the Canadian Biosafety Handbook
  • 1.3. How to use the Biosafety in the Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary School Classroom guideline
• Chapter 2: Biosafety and biosecurity basics
  • 2.1. Types of microbes
  • 2.2. Classification of microbes by risk groups
  • 2.3. Classification of laboratories by containment levels
  • 2.4. Physical features of the classroom space for handling microbes
• Chapter 3. Promoting a culture of biosafety in the classroom
  • 3.1. Teacher responsibilities
  • 3.2. Student responsibilities
• Chapter 4. Considerations before handling microbes
  • 4.1. Risk assessment
• Chapter 5. Strategies to safely handle microbes in the classroom
  • 5.1. Risk mitigation strategies in the classroom
  • 5.2. Safe work practices
  • 5.3. Personal protective equipment
  • 5.4. Safety considerations for equipment used in the classroom
• Chapter 6. Decontamination and waste management
  • 6.1. Considerations for Risk Group 1 microbes
  • 6.2. Considerations for harmful microbes
  • 6.3. Waste management
• Chapter 7. Considerations for science fair projects
  • 7.1. Reviewing planned experiments
  • 7.2. Pre-experiment safety measures
  • 7.3. Where to conduct science projects
• Chapter 8. Glossary
• Chapter 9. References and resources
• Appendix A. Risk groups and containment levels
• Appendix B. Pathogen safety data sheet template
• Appendix C. Public Health Agency of Canada biosafety posters
• Appendix D. Risk assessment template
• Appendix E. Procedures to minimize aerosol hazards
• Appendix F. General spill clean-up procedure
• Appendix G. Proper handwashing technique
• Appendix H. How to safely remove disposable gloves
• Appendix I. Suitability of chemical disinfectants
• References

View complete guide
Download PDF (3.83 MB, 112 pages)

Details and history

• Published: September 11, 2020

For assistance

Contact the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) if you need assistance:
By phone: 1-613-957-1779
By e-mail: pathogens.pathogenes@phac-aspc.gc.ca
The PHAC’s service hours are Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm (eastern time). They are closed on statutory holidays.

Contact us by mail:

100 Colonnade Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9

Service standards: 

We respond to mail and email within two business days. If we can’t answer your question right away, we will send you an estimated date.