Incident risk mitigation

Laboratory Incident Notification Canada collects and processes incident reports from licensed facilities conducting controlled activities under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act .

Many follow-up reports to incidents reported in 2023 demonstrated that applying risk mitigation strategies minimizes the chances of reoccurrence.

For example, an incident that occurred during a routine laboratory procedure illustrated the importance of biosafety protocols and emergency response planning.

The incident involved a small spill of a risk group 3 pathogen in a containment level 3 laboratory and a potential exposure. The technician immediately contained the pathogen and decontaminated the area according to the laboratory's procedures. They immediately reported the incident to a supervisor, who took steps to reduce risks and protect the safety of personnel. Although 4 other people were potentially exposed during the incident, the risk of infection was low as they were all wearing proper personal protective equipment. They received immediate medical consultation in accordance with the laboratory’s emergency response plan and incident response protocol. As required, they quickly reported the incident to the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency), who reviewed it to assess the risks.

After this incident, laboratory safety management implemented dedicated spill response training. They recognized that ongoing safety training is crucial for all personnel to be prepared for any situation that may arise. While the possibility of another spill can’t be eliminated, they continue to prepare staff members to handle similar future situations.

This echoes a core principle in laboratory safety: the focus on continuous learning and improvement. By learning from such incidents, laboratories can be better prepared. This can benefit their staff and help set a standard for the wider scientific community. Inspectors can offer guidance on possible mitigation strategies and actions to prevent future incidents.

Laboratory Incident Notification Canada’s review of reported incidents revealed the importance of another common risk mitigation strategy. Standard operating procedures can be modified following incidents to minimize hazards or to add steps to improve biosafety.

These reported incidents show that exposures to human pathogens and toxins can be minimized with the following supports:

• ongoing compliance of Licence Holders with legislation and licence conditions
• regular biological safety officers and Agency inspections
• resources to support licence holders
• The Centre for Biosecurity’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration with licensed facilities

For additional guidance, refer to the Canadian Biosafety Standard , third edition and the Notification and Reporting Under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations guideline.

For question related to incident reporting, email biosafety.biosecurite@phac-aspc.gc.ca .