Biosafety
The DownloadETH Zurich biosafety concept (PDF, 574 KB)vertical_align_bottom contains detailed information on the regulation of Biosafety levels (BSL) 1, 2 and 3 activities at ETH Zurich.
Are you planning work with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pathogens, invasive/foreign organisms and/or with samples of human origin such as blood or cell cultures?
The activities mentioned (BSL1 and 2) must be reported to the federal authorities in accordance with the Swiss Ordinance on the Contained Use of Organisms (ESV); without official notification, such activities may not be carried out at ETH Zurich. To register in the database, please contact . In addition, a biosafety officer (BSO) must be appointed and a during the planning phase.
Work with samples of human origin (usually BSL2) must be assessed by the ETH Zurich Ethics Commission. For such activities, we recommend that you be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Please note that, for safety reasons, it is forbidden to use your own blood; likewise, taking blood samples from other members of the same working group should be avoided if possible. It is best to use tested blood from the blood bank.
For biosafety-relevant work with plants, special regulations and safety measures apply in some cases, which are defined in official enforcement aids. Analogous regulations also exist for corresponding work with animals; here, the animal welfare officers of ETH Zurich must also be consulted.
ETH Zurich does not have a general import licence for biological materials it is not needed for most human pathogenic and genetically modified substances. If you do require an import licence, e.g., because the supplier insists on it, because the substances fall under the Goods Control Ordinance or are considered biological weapons under the War Material Act, you must apply for it yourself to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) or the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). As the applicant, you bear the costs of issuing the document. The regulations and forms applicable to the import of animal pathogenic substances and material of animal origin can be found on the FSVO website.
Areas with special hazards (e.g., chemistry lab, workshop, bio lab, chemical cabinet, gas bottle cabinet, etc.) and those that require special protective measures (e.g., laser safety goggles, safety goggles, hearing protection, etc.) must be marked accordingly
Do you need hazard labels, warning notices, mandatory signs? Browse our ?.
Examples
Red/White = danger or prohibited
Colour of symbol: Black
Description: Danger signs (e.g. on packaging)
Colour of symbol: Black
Description: Prohibited area signs (e.g. on doors)
Yellow = warning
Colour of symbol: Black
Description: Warning signs (e.g. on doors or equipment)
Green = safety, protection, First Aid
Colour of symbol: White
Description: Emergency rescue signs (e.g. for eye wash station)
Blue = instruction, advice
Colour of symbol: White
Description: Mandatory signs (e.g. on doors or equipment)
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Do you work in the field of medical technology and develop technical devices for use on patients, such as infusion pumps, pacemakers, dialysis machines, or prosthetic devices of all types?
For questions, e.g. on product safety or materials to be used, or for advice on your work procedures, please contact us.
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Members of ETH Zurich are sometimes exposed to particular risks of infection or contagion in the course of their research work, during field trials or on excursions, which can be reduced by a Downloadvaccination (PDF, 133 KB)vertical_align_bottom. ETH Zurich bears the costs for the vaccination of its employees who require a special vaccination due to their professional activity at ETH Zurich. The units concerned (chairs, institutes and other organisational units) pay for these costs. Students usually pay for the costs of vaccinations themselves.
For advice regarding vaccinations and receiving vaccinations, you can either contact the Travel Clinic of the University of Zurich or the external pageCentre for Occupational Medicine, Ergonomics and Hygiene (AEH).call_made
One of the special vaccinations for which information is most frequently sought is the vaccination against tick-borne disease: information on tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and the vaccination itself can be obtained from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) external page?Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)?call_made.
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Documents
- Download vertical_align_bottom Biosafety Concept (PDF, 574 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Checklist: Self-Inspection Animal Facilities (PDF, 157 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Checklist: Self-Inspection Greenhouses and Plant Chambers (PDF, 142 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Checklist: Self-Inspection Laboratories (PDF, 131 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Factsheet: Notification of biosafety relevant activities (PDF, 261 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Factsheet: Prohibition of Food in Laboratories and Workshops (PDF, 680 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Factsheet: Working safely with ethidium bromide (EtBr) (PDF, 176 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Factsheet: Working with Acrylamide (PDF, 368 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Form: Request Prescription Safety Goggles (PDF, 232 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Information Sheet: Working with Sharps (PDF, 38 KB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Poster: Emergencies in the Lab – What to Do? (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Download vertical_align_bottom Template: Group-Specific Biosafety Concept (ZIP, 736 KB)