The Challenge

World BioHazTec was engaged by Scripps Research to conduct a comprehensive laboratory safety audit of their biosafety program. Specifically, World BioHazTec was tasked with evaluating the BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories at Scripps Research and the California Institute for Biomedical Research campus. This audit was critical to ensuring that the laboratories met the safety standards outlined by key health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The Solution

To address this challenge, World BioHazTec conducted a thorough evaluation of Scripps Research’s laboratory protocols, operating practices, and training procedures. The team examined the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Biosafety staff’s certification practices, identifying any unsafe practices and situations that could compromise the labs’ safety and compliance with California and federal guidelines/regulations. The goal was to provide actionable remediations and quality improvement recommendations to enhance policies, procedures, and training, ensuring that crucial scientific research could continue efficiently while maintaining the highest safety standards.

World BioHazTec’s approach included reviewing relevant documentation, conducting staff interviews, and performing onsite walkthroughs and testing. Scripps Research’s laboratory practices were also benchmarked against those of similar non-profit research institutions, ensuring a robust comparison.

The Result

World BioHazTec’s audit produced a detailed Report of Findings, which prioritized safety threats and highlighted critical areas of concern. The report included a thorough analysis of program changes, staff safety perceptions, and specific safety issues observed during the audit. In addition, both short-term and long-term recommendations were provided to help guide Scripps Research in fostering a safer and healthier work environment. The recommendations sparked internal discussions at Scripps Research, setting the stage for continuous improvements to current practices and ultimately ensuring the lab environment remained conducive to groundbreaking research while upholding the highest safety standards.