What is biosafety?

Biosafety is defined as a practice of managing biological materials to prevent exposure to harmful agents. This involves implementing safety measures and protocols designed to protect researchers, laboratory personnel, and the environment from potential biological risks, such as infectious agents or genetically modified organisms. The core focus of biosafety is to minimize the risk of exposure to these biological hazards while ensuring that research and experiments can be conducted safely.

The significance of this definition lies in its comprehensive approach to biological safety, which encompasses various practices, including proper handling, containment, and disposal of hazardous biological materials. This reduces the likelihood of accidental exposures and outbreaks, making it an essential practice in laboratories, healthcare settings, and various industries that work with biological substances.

Other options, while they touch upon safety and workplace practices, do not capture the essence of what biosafety specifically entails. For instance, increasing laboratory productivity does not directly relate to the management of biological hazards. Similarly, workplace safety related to chemical hazards pertains to a different set of regulations and practices distinct from biosafety. Lastly, while techniques in healthcare may involve biosafety, biosafety itself is not limited solely to healthcare settings; it applies across a broad range of fields that deal with biological materials.