Ehstoday 1738 Cdc Roybal
Ehstoday 1738 Cdc Roybal
Ehstoday 1738 Cdc Roybal
Ehstoday 1738 Cdc Roybal
Ehstoday 1738 Cdc Roybal

CDC Director Frieden: ‘Culture of Laboratory Safety Needs to Improve’

July 14, 2014
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has appointed a director of laboratory safety, temporary halted transfers of biological samples out of two bioterrorism labs and tightened its safety protocols, after discovering that CDC scientists might have been exposed to live anthrax spores in June.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has appointed a director of laboratory safety, temporary halted transfers of biological samples out of two bioterrorism labs and tightened its safety protocols, after discovering that CDC scientists might have been exposed to live anthrax spores in June.

During a Friday press conference, CDC Director Tom Frieden discussed the actions that the agency has taken in the wake of three separate safety incidents at government laboratories, including one that involved cross-contaminiation between an animal flu and “highly pathogenic” H5N1 bird flu.  

Asserting that the incidents “raise serious and troubling questions,” Frieden declared: “The culture of laboratory safety needs to improve at some CDC laboratories.”

“Our labs [and] our lab scientists are a national treasure,” Frieden said. “We are essentially the reference laboratory for the world. So when something like this happens here, I’m deeply concerned about it. These events should never happen.”

For more, watch Frieden's press conference:

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!