Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The IBC's responsibilities are outlined in its terms of reference. It is responsible for administering the guidelines of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) which includes monitoring and surveillance of all genetic manipulation work carried out within the precincts of CYWHS. It is also responsible for ensuring CYWHS research proposals involving the use of potentially infective agents, carcinogens, mutagens and radioactive substances are compliant with the applicable regulatory requirements.The IBC reports to the Research Board Sub-Committee quarterly and to the OGTR annually.

Membership includes people with the requisite knowledge and expertise to assess, evaluate and oversee biological work carried out at CYWHS, an engineer experienced in testing biological safety facilities and equipment, and at least one lay person not associated with the Hospital. Meetings are held monthly and protocols for consideration by the committee must be received by the secretary 21 days before the meeting. The IBC is responsible for the certification and annual inspection of PC2 containment facilities within the hospitals and for the consideration of research protocols which are generally categorised as: exempt dealings, notifiable low risk dealings, or licensed dealings, depending on the level of associated safety implications. Enquiries about the committee should be directed to the IBC Executive Officer.

2008 meeting dates

The OGTR produces Guidelines which describe each of the above categories of protocol. Each application to the IBC must be accompanied by the relevant CYWHS form (see below):

Facility application and evaluation report

Exempt Dealing Application and Evaluation Form

DNIR Application and Evaluation Form

NLRD Application and Evaluation Form

Other documents of interest:

• CYWHS policy Risk Management

• Australian Standard 2243.3.2002: Safety in laboratories–part 3: microbiological aspects and containment facilities - hard copies of this standard are held in WCH library and the research secretariat and it is also available electronically. To access the standard electronically, please contact the Research Secretariat.

Responsibility of Department Heads

Records of training

OGTR requires that all personnel (staff, students or visitors) working in an OGTR-certified facility be appropriately trained. It is the responsibility of Department Heads to ensure that relevant personnel have completed a Record of Training, to retain originals of these records and to make them available to OGTR on request.

Genetically Manipulated Organisms (GMO) Storage Register

Department Heads have a responsibility to ensure that stored GMO details are recorded on the established proforma, and that the register is made available to OGTR on request.

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