Pre-Symposium Professional Development Courses

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

ARS01. Scenario-based Agriculture Risk Assessment

Susan Harper, DVM, DACLAM, DACVPM, RPB(ABSA), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Deborah Howard, MPH, CBSP(ABSA), BASF, Durham, NC
Travis McCarthy, PhD, RBP(ABSA), U.S. Department of Agriculture—APHIS, Ames, IA

This course will review general concepts and considerations for assessing risks encountered in research programs that involve animals, plants, pathogens, pests, facilities, equipment, and work practices relevant to agriculture. The focus of the course will be on hazard identification and risk assessment (qualitative and quantitative), with discussion on how the strategic use of management practices can be used to minimize risks. Interactive exercises, specifically designed to incorporate unique challenges and hazards routinely encountered in agricultural research programs, will be used to guide attendees through the risk assessment process and illustrate key factors that influence selection of biocontainment and biosecurity measures to protect workers, the environment, and public health. The use of real-world case studies will provide opportunities for discussion and exchange of ideas that reinforce practical application of knowledge, information, and concepts covered through formal presentations, and an attendee’s actual experience in identifying and assessing research-related risks. Scenarios will be provided for discussion and assessment that focus on the critical aspects of agricultural risk assessment that differ from other described processes: the potential economic impact on local or regional animal and plant morbidity and mortality; and the international trade implications of disease presence in the country.

Objectives:

• Construct risk assessments for working with agricultural agents and/or animals at various levels of biocontainment, including foreign animal (i.e., transboundary) diseases, in limited resource areas, and contrast with considerations for resource-rich areas
• Develop practices and procedures appropriate for mitigating the risk of working with agriculturally important agents and/or animals infected with various pathogens
• Assess a facility’s ability to contain the agriculturally important agents or animals infected with various pathogens (ABSL1-4, BSL-3Ag, BL1-4P)

Suggested Background: Fundamentals of Biosafety, Risk Assessment, BSL-3 Operations and Management, Principles & Practices of Biosafety
Target Audience: Biosafety Professionals, Animal Caretakers, All Safety Professionals
Audience Level: All levels

This course has been approved for 1.0 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 7.50 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours.

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

ARS02. Addressing Biorisk in Facility Design, Maintenance, and Operations through Risk Assessment

Miguel Grimaldo, DSc, PhD, MEng, University of Texas Medical Branch—Galveston, Galveston, TX
John Henneman, MS, RBP(ABSA), Gilbane Building Company, Cleveland, OH

Many biocontainment research facilities have limitations with funding and budgets for design, operations and maintenance as compliance requirements and needs increase over time. At times, important biosafety needs are value eliminated in design, operational requirements are minimized, and necessary maintenance needs are postponed or not done at all. This course will explore the risk management process from hazard(s) identification to mitigation and auditing, including incident investigations. The risk assessment process is carried out in all phases of a facility starting with project conception, followed by design and construction, commissioning and operations, and then decommissioning of the facility. Commonly used techniques and facility situational examples will be discussed with tabletop exercises.

Objectives:

• Discuss the risk assessment process as it pertains to high-containment facilities
• Apply different techniques available for use in risk assessment
• Review practical exercises and examples

Suggested Background: Basic Biosafety
Target Audience: Biosafety Professionals, Facility Managers, Facility Engineers, Designers, Builders
Audience Level: Intermediate

This course has been approved for 1.0 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 7.50 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours.

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

ARS03. ISO35001: Steppingstones to Biorisk Management

Joseph Kozlovac, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), U.S. Department of Agriculture—ARS, Beltsville, MD
Patricia Olinger, JM, Varro Life Sciences, St. Louis, MO
Kenneth Shenge, PhD MPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), U.S. Department of Agriculture—ARS, Beltsville, MD

This course will introduce participants to the ISO35001 standard’s approach to managing biological hazards within a life science organization. Through a combination of expert presentations and engaging exercises, participants will review roles and responsibilities, discuss organizational context, internal and external stakeholders, policy, and explore best practices for leadership engagement, stakeholder communication, and performance metrics, while learning how to foster a proactive biosafety culture in your organization.

Objectives:

• Describe the ISO 35001 standard
• Restate the importance of implementing a comprehensive biorisk management program using a systems approach
• Summarize the role of top management, leadership, and the Biosafety Professional in the program
• Identify the importance of effective communication to all levels including internal and external stakeholders
• Explain the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) approach and how it applies to operationalizing a biorisk management program
• Discuss the use of metrics and measures to review and continuously improve the biorisk management program

Suggested background: none
Target audience: Biosafety/Biorisk Professionals, Principal Investigators, Safety Professionals, Leadership (Managers/Supervisors) at a Life Science Organizations
Audience Level: Basic/Intermediate

This course has been approved for 0.5 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 3.50 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours.

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

ARS04. Biosecurity and Emerging Agrosecurity Threats

Susan Cropp, PhD, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—WMDD, Washington D.C.
Stephen Goldsmith, DVM, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—WMDD, Washington D.C.

The intent of the workshop is to improve cooperation among diverse stakeholders to develop effective detection, mitigation, and prevention strategies to protect against biosecurity/agrosecurity risks. Foreign and domestic individuals and groups have expressed a desire to attack the United States with biological weapons. The agricultural sector is an attractive target given its vital importance to U.S. food security and our national economy. Ensuring agrosecurity requires the collaboration, communication, and cooperation of a diverse set of stakeholders: agricultural professionals, academia, government, law enforcement, and research institutions. Developing effective detection, mitigation and prevention strategies is paramount for protecting all aspects of the Agricultural Sector.

Objectives:

• Increase awareness of potential biosecurity/agrosecurity threats
• Identify the biosecurity/agrosecurity roles and responsibilities of diverse stakeholders in protecting the Agricultural Sector
• Identify ways to improve communication, coordination and cooperation among stakeholders

Suggested background: none
Target audience: Institution Head of Research, Emergency Responders, Biosafety/Biosecurity Professionals, State/Local Public Health, EHS Officials, Office of Emergency Management, PI’s/Laboratory Personnel, Research Directors, Institution Human Resource Officers, Institutional Cyber/IT Professionals, Veterinary/Biomedical Students, Office of General Counsel, Campus / State / Local Police, Public Information Officials, State/Local Agriculture Officials
Audience level: All levels

This course has been approved for 0.5 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 3.50 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours.

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

ARS05. Life Science Facilities Biological Waste Management: Laboratory and Research Farms

Cam Ewart, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
David Harbourt, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), SM(NRCM), Center for Veterinary Medicine—Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD

There are a variety of approaches to handling waste considerations from carcasses, solid, and liquid waste in a biocontainment setting. Large animals present unique challenges related to physical safety, decontamination compliance, sharps, and solid waste management. This course will cover waste management in a large containment facility including the basics of effluent decontamination and alkaline hydrolysis and incineration. Validation of each of these processes will also be discussed especially related to the differences in validation of a steam-based process compared to a chemical cycle. While there are certain aspects of this class that will involve engineering discussions, this course is intended to be an overview of the systems currently utilized throughout industry. Case studies will be presented as examples of some of the issues facilities may encounter during system selection and validation.

Objectives:

• Paraphrase the types of effluent decontamination and tissue digestion systems and the validation process for each type
• Describe how biocontainment design affects waste management both with small and large animals
• Identify lessons learned from case studies and apply them to their own facility if applicable

Suggested background: None
Target audience: All Safety Professionals, Facilities Staff, Veterinarians, Scientific Support Personnel
Audience level: Basic

This course has been approved for 0.5 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 3.50 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours.

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

ARS06. Designing Effective Role-based Training to Mitigate Biorisk in Agriculture and Animal Health Settings

LouAnn Burnett, MS, CBSP(ABSA), Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

Too often the same training course is offered for multiple roles. Designing training to align with expectations for and realities of specific roles leads to more satisfactory learning outcomes and skills development. In agriculture and animal health, a multitude of roles impact and influence biosafety and biosecurity in a variety of settings. This course will offer validated methods to target training effectively.

Objectives:

• Describe the steps of a training design cycle
• Define key characteristics of a specified audience
• Develop desired actions and behaviors to target training design to a specified audience
• Design a training outline for a specified audience and desired outcomes

Suggested background: Basic knowledge of biorisk management (biosafety and biosecurity)
Audience level: Intermediate

This course has been approved for 0.5 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 3.50 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours.