Leipziger Messe has announced that 'Laboratory Safety and Biosafety' will be the subject of a conference stream to be held at the inaugural LAB trade fair and conference
In recent weeks, the re-emergence of foot and mouth disease in the UK has brought to light the growing issues of biosafety and biosecurity.
Taking place on October 3, 2007 at ExCeL London, the 'Laboratory Safety and Biosafety' conference will address issues such as development of a 'culture of safety' and assessment and management of laboratory risks.
With concerns rising over the source of the recent foot and mouth disease outbreak, the effectiveness of current biocontainment techniques in the laboratory is under scrutiny.
Simon Parks of the Health Protection Agency Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response will discuss this theme during the conference, focusing on the handling of infectious and pathogenic agents and the importance of complying with Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2), BSL-3 and BSL-4 requirements.
The principles of Crisis Management and Incident Investigation Process will also be addressed in a presentation given by Dr Roger Slade, college safety officer, King's College London.
The 'Laboratory Safety and Biosafety' conference stream at LAB will also explore the issues of prevention and responsibility, a subject of particular relevance following investigation into research facilities close to the outbreak farm.
Matt Hall, safety advisor, Marine Biological Association, plans to speak about removing the need for biosecurity enforcement by building a culture of safety, dispersing ownership of safety issues to all workers and equipment safety versus behavioural safety.
