The New York Times ran an interesting story yesterday about safety in biology research labs. The reporters were clearly hamstrung by the lack of real data on the issue, but the anecdotes – which include a University of Chicago scientist who died of the plague he was studying – make for troubling reading.
The bottom line, at least according to a 2006 survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, seems to be that there are fewer injuries and illnesses in industry research labs than in the average workplace. But some worry that biology labs have fewer federal regulations than a typical factory, despite the variety of chemicals and pathogens that can be found there. Among the worried: the new director of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who told the NY Times: “We have inadequate standards for workers exposed to infectious materials.”
What to do about it? The article suggests that OSHA is contemplating action. But even if OSHA beefs up regulations, its 2000 inspectors will likely have trouble enforcing them, the director cautions. With over 130 million workers in 7 million workplaces to oversee, they’re already pretty busy.
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Ironically, on the same day the New York Times article, “Safety Rules Can’t Keep Up With Biotech Industry” broke, the scientific watchdog group, The Council for Responsible Genetics-GeneWatch Magazine submitted the electronic version of the print subscription; March-April 2010 issue titled, “BioLab Safety”.
The Editor of GeneWatch, Sam Anderson stated in the Editorial Section, ” This may be one of the most important GeneWatch issue in recent memory”.
The electronic version of GeneWatch magazine; BioLab Safety is available free online at https://issuu.com/genewatchmagazine/docs/genewatch23-2?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true This 28 page electronic version can be read as you would a “printed” magazine issue.
March-April 2010 issue; “BioLab Safety” articles:
A Cruel and Unusual Corporation
By Ralph Nader
A Roach in the Kitchen
By CRG staff – interview with Becky McClain
Commentary: GM Crops
By Eric Hoffman
Dedication: Tony Mazzocchi
By Jeremy Gruber
Give Them an Inch…
By Michael Siciliano
One Bug, One Drug
By Lynn Klotz, Edward Sylvester
The Lab in My Backyard
By Beth Willis
Teatime in the Lab
By Sam Anderson
Book Review: Breeding Bio Insecurity and Germs Gone Wild
By Andrew Thibedeau
Flushing It Down the Rabbit Hole
By Andrew Thibedeau
Topic: Genetic Discrimination
By Jeremy Gruber
Topic: Forensic DNA Databanks
By CRG Staff
The Case of Dr. Malcolm Casadaban
By CRG Staff