OVERVIEW
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
The Division of Biosafety and Biosecurity (DBB) was borne of the NICD’s need for a dedicated team of biocontainment engineering and biorisk specialists to oversee and advance institutional biorisk management requirements.
DBB was established in 2008 to support the daily operation of the BSL4 Facility, and has since grown in size and stature to service the entire institute, greater NHLS and beyond. The Division now boasts of a highly skilled and dedicated team of biocontainment engineers and artisans, a biorisk management specialist and administrative support.
OBJECTIVES
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
The Division oversees the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, (re)certification and development of the NICD’s high and maximum containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4 facilities), in accordance with current local and international biosafety and biosecurity guidelines, regulations and best practices.
The Division champions the continual improvement of biosafety and biosecurity policy, procedure and implementation at the NICD in order to allow for compliance with national and international regulations as they may apply and in support of the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee’s (IBBC) initiatives.
FUNCTIONS
- Oversees the daily operation, maintenance, upgrading, (re)certification and development of the NICD’s high and maximum containment facilities (i.e. BSL3 and BSL4 facilities)
- Perform regular maintenance (incl. the completion of the daily checklists), oversee repairs and validations to ensure the safe and secure operation of laboratory facilities for routine diagnostic and research purposes;
- Provide advice and direction to Centres in the design, budgeting, construction, upgrading and maintenance of high and maximum containment facilities;
- Formulation and management of capital expenditure budgets for infrastructural and biocontainment system upgrade projects for NICD facilities, including mobile laboratory infrastructure for outbreak response
- Supports the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee’s (IBBC) initiatives by contributing to the development and implementation of NICD’s biosafety and biosecurity policies and procedures according to national and international rules, regulations and best practices.
- Driving the development and updating of institutional biorisk management manuals, training programmes and emergency response plans, including procedures for shipping and receipt of biological and hazardous materials.
- Coordination and support of biorisk management related activities at the NICD, including Biorisk management training and mentorship.
- Promoting a shared culture of responsibility, reducing dual use risks, mitigation of biological proliferation and deliberate use threats, and to ensure safe transfer of biological materials.
Provides legislative oversight to ensure all facilities remain compliant with Legislative requirements pertaining to the transfer of biological materials.
Provide advice and guidance on all matters relating to biosafety and biosecurity.
LEADERSHIP AND TEAM
DIVISION OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY
Mr Zibusiso Masuku has led the Division of Biosafety and Biosecurity since its inception. He is an Industrial Engineer by training who has developed into a biocontainment engineering specialist. He Chairs the Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (IBBC), championing the NICD’s compliance with biorisk management legislation.
He serves as the NICD project lead on a number of projects which include, but not limited to the BSL4 Facility upgrade related projects; CEZPD/SVPL BSL3 Facility upgrade; NICD Regional Diagnostics Demonstration Centre; and the NIOH construction of a BSL3 Environment room for aerosolised MTB experimentation.
Administrator
Nomsebenzi Malinga
Email: nomsebenzim@nicd.ac.za
Tel: +27 11 386 6360
Biosafety Technician
Gunther Meier
Email: guntherm@nicd.ac.za
Biosafety Technician
Ronny Sebaka
Email: ronnys@nicd.ac.za
Biorisk Specialist
Anastasia Trataris-Rebisz
Email: anastasian@nicd.ac.za
Assistant Biosafety Technician
Zacharia Mabena
Email: zachariam@nicd.ac.za
Assistant Biosafety Technician
Thendo Netshilema
Email: thendon@nicd.ac.za
Artisan – Fitter & Turner
Robert Mabilo
Artisan – Maintenance
Tshireletso Masena
Handyman
Philemon Mokoena