Lab - the European trade fair and conference devoted to analysis, bio and laboratory equipment - occurs from 2-4 October 2007 at Excel London conference and exhibition centre
A conference stream dedicated to the subject of laboratory safety and biosafety will take place at Lab 2007.
The World Health Organisation published its first edition of the Laboratory Biosafety Manual in 1983, making the issue of biosafety essential to laboratories worldwide.
Since then, many countries have used guidance provided in the manual to develop codes of practice.
The day-long conference at Lab 2007 will debate many of the issues raised in the Laboratory Safety Manual.
The conference, which will examine areas such as safety techniques, incident response and the role of management in laboratory safety, is organised by Leipziger Messe and chaired by John Day, head of quality and safety at the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC).
LGC is the UK's leading independent provider of analytical and diagnostic services.
The Laboratory Safety and Biosafety conference, which will be held on 3 October 2007, concentrates on the following areas:.
Designing safety into your laboratory and equipment, includingimplementing the life-cycle approach to safety management.
Developing and maintaining a culture of safety.
Biosafety and biocontainment techniques, including information for Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2), BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) legislation.
Assessment and management of laboratory risks.
Laboratory incident response and investigation, from the principles of crisis management to managing the investigation process.
Safety, efficiency and the budget - the role of management in laboratory safety.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) presentation.
Planning and implementing occupational health management in a laboratory environment.
Chairman John Day, head of quality and safety at LGC, comments: "This subject area is both relevant and interesting to professionals from all industry sectors attending Lab.
"The issue of biosafety is currently high on the agenda of laboratories worldwide and more traditional safety issues are constant concerns in all laboratories.
"The WHO guidance notes encouraged countries to accept and implement basic concepts in biological safety and to develop national codes of practice for the safe handling of materials in laboratories within their geographical borders.
"However, we still have a long way to go to develop and reinforce these procedures.
"I look forward to discussing these issues with an international audience from countries across Europe, USA and beyond, to develop and maintain a culture of safety".
The Lab conference, which takes place 2-3 October, consists of six streams focusing on relevant industry issues.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit the Lab exhibition itself, thus making direct contact with leading international exhibitors working in the laboratory safety and biosafety fields.
Place on the 'Laboratory Safety and Biosafety' conference stream can be reserved online.
Participants who register before 15 August 2007 pay a discounted £75 for the full day's programme.
