Physical and Biological Hazards of the Workplace, 3rd Edition

Chapter 31RECOMBINANT ORGANISMS

Jessica Herzstein Gregg M. Stave*

OCCUPATIONAL SETTING

Recombinant organisms are used routinely in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and in academic laboratories. They are the source of many of the most innovative biopharmaceuticals that have contributed to medical science in the past 40 years. Because of the relative effectiveness of production techniques, certain processes may move from laboratory to pilot plant (often still a laboratory) to production with very little apparent change. Occasionally, relatively small facilities can produce large quantities of complex and previously rare or unattainable products. Increasingly, though, the scale of commercial manufacturing has grown significantly in order to support these valuable products.

The workforce at these facilities may be small but is very highly trained. Most biotechnology research and pilot production personnel have advanced degrees. Commercial facilities tend to be staffed with a mixture of individuals with high school or technical education and managers with advanced degrees. As a group, biotechnology workers are highly invested, both emotionally and economically, in the success of their new enterprises. Long work hours, secrecy concerning processes and product development, emphasis on rapid progress toward production, and very high economic stakes increase the potential for worker hazards.

EXPOSURE (ROUTE)

Exposure to three types of hazards must be considered in biotechnology ...