Draft:Institute of Safety in Technology and Research

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Institute of Safety in Technology and Research (ISTR)
AbbreviationISTR
Formation1981 (1981)
TypeProfessional organization
Nonprofit organization
Location
SubsidiariesUK Biosafety Association
AffiliationsInternational Institute of Risk & Safety Management
International Federation of Biosafety Associations
European BioSafety Association
Websiteistr.org.uk
Formerly called
Institute of University Safety Officers

The Institute of Safety in Technology and Research (ISTR), incorporating the UK Biosafety Association, is a non-profit professional membership organisation for occupational health and safety practitioners based in the United Kingdom.[1] ISTR provides scientific and technical advice, resources and networking.

Activities

The ISTR carries out a range of functions including:

  • Publishing scientific and technical guidance[2]
  • Advising and presenting evidence to UK government departments and agencies on matters relating to safety in science, technology and research[3]
  • Contributing and consulting on development of national and international publications[4][5]
  • Developing standards for biosafety professionals[6]
  • Setting and maintaining a competency framework for biological safety practitioners and professionals[7] [8] [9]

Testimony to the UK Parliament’s Innovation, Universities, Science & Skills Committee

In early 2008, following the publication of the Callaghan Review, ISTR provided written evidence and witness testimony to the UK Parliament’s Innovation, Universities, Science & Skills Committee, which was examining biosecurity in UK research laboratories and the proposals to strengthen the regulatory framework for handling animal pathogens, following the 2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak. On 31st March 2008, Mr Michael Stephens, representing ISTR, along with representatives from the Institute for Animal Health and the Society for General Microbiology, gave evidence to the Committee supporting the proposed unification of regulatory oversight for animal and human pathogens, describing it as a logical step that would improve consistency, transparency, and remove conflicts of interest.[10]

Role in Development of Biosafety Professional Standards

Between December 2009 and June 2011, ISTR participated in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) workshop on biosafety professional competence which was published as CEN Workshop Agreement 16335: Biosafety professional competence. This international agreement would later serve as the foundation of the international technical specification ISO/TS 5441:2024 Competence requirements for biorisk management advisors (BMAs) [11] [12]. Following publication of CWA 16335, ISTR created the Biosafety Accreditation Scheme for biosafety practitioners and professionals which establishes standards of competency for individuals working in the biosafety sector and is based on CWA 16335.

Affiliations

The ISTR is affiliated with a number of international biosafety organisations, including the European BioSafety Association and the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA).[13][14]

See also

References