Year of Publication
2017
College
Public Health
Date Available
11-29-2017
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Committee Chair
Wayne T. Sanderson, PhD, MS, CIH
Committee Member
David M. Mannino, MD
Committee Member
Nancy E. Johnson, DrPH, MSPH
Abstract
Inspections are integral to comprehensive biosafety programs at academic research institutions that use a wide variety of infectious agents. However, there is no standardization of biosafety inspection procedures from institution to institution. This study analyzed results of 2,098 documented inspections conducted from January 2012 through December of 2016 performed by biosafety staff at a large Research I land grant institution in order to evaluate the effectiveness of an unannounced versus the more traditional announced approach to inspection procedure. Results demonstrated that: a) more findings were noted during unannounced inspections, therefore more accurately informing biosafety staff of the true day to day conditions of the laboratory; b) the most common findings decreased over the time; and c) over time, not only did findings noted in unannounced inspections decrease, but those noted in formalized announced inspections also decreased. Therefore, the results of this study support the implementation of unannounced inspections, specifically designed to prevent interruption of laboratorians’ work, as an adjunct to announced inspections at academic research institutions.
Recommended Citation
Trucks, Holley M., "An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Unannounced Safety Inspections Versus Announced Inspections in Academic Research Laboratories That Utilize Biological Hazards" (2017). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 177.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/177
