Modifying Regulatory Practices to Create a Safe and Effective Working Environment Within a Shared Resource Laboratory During a Global Pandemic.

Abstract

Shared Resource Laboratories (SRLs) present a very unique set of problems with respect to operating safely and effectively during the current COVID-19 global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. By nature, they are often high-footfall, multi-user environments where surfaces are touched and instruments interacted with by many different people. As such, it is essential that the SRL management and team look carefully at their regulatory procedures in order to be able to operate effectively and minimize/eliminate all associated risks from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This paper presents some suggestions for simple modifications to SRL regulatory practices that can greatly reduce the risks from SARS-CoV-2 and still allow for the SRL to be accessed and utilized effectively. These include three major areas of consideration: (i) regulation of access to the SRL; (ii) regulation of SRL space; (iii) regulation of behaviors within the SRL (users and staff). Finally, we discuss risk-management with examples and the potential risks. As there is no "one size fits all" solution, the aim of this article is to provoke discussion and forethought so that individual SRLs can make specific plans and implement the needed safeguards to minimize risk while continuing to operate. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.