The Govt. must step in a regulate these ventures very closely, especially in this day and age of worlwide terorrism. It seems kind of ironic that a person can get in big trouble if your car is not environmentally compliant, but yet you can have a bunch of nimrods running around playing with bio germs and virus's virtually unchecked. The way to play it safe is to not let it happen in the first place unlesss it's sanctioned by the Govt. Just because this is America with it's free enterprise system, that doesn't give anyone the right to endanger the larger population with some enterprising adventure that could potentially wipeout mankind.
Shut those down that are not specifically working on government sanctioned and regulated projects. Come on America - -wake up before it's too late.

Posted by: Randy Hart, USAF Retired at August 9, 2005 7:05 PM

You need a regulatory body, whether it be home- grown or an extension of current gov agency, to come in periodically. Inspections show where training and procedures are lacking, so training, training and more traning doesn't necessarily equate to quality control if said training doesn't span all the gaps. I work in the Pharm industry in Vaccine prodcution, and if I may borrow and paraphrase a statement from my beloved USMC......"the FDA, no better friend, no worse enemy."

Posted by: Charles Gonce at July 22, 2005 1:19 PM

I used to work in the nuclear power industry, which has an extensive program, mandated by Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulations, to deal with the insider threat.

The most serious problem we have with biolab security is 1. training and re-training. The suggestions previously listed nail that one pretty well. 2. As a secondary requirement ongoing monitoring of personnel who work with killer bugs is needed.

In the nuclear power industry individuals are monitored. Periodcally they are interviewed by their supervisors. EVERYTHING is fair game, how much are you drinking, how's your marriage, are you indebt -- how much. If an employee suddenly gets a couple of speeding tickets, his boss whats to know why, what's the cause of the instability. The employee will be taken out of the control room and shifted to a non-critical job until a subsequent review allows him back in the room. We used to joke that Ted Kennedy's drinking and wreckless driving didn't mean much for being a Senator, but it meant that he could never get a job as a nuclear plant operator.

While this may seem excessive, it has been standard operating procedure in the nuclear industry for decades. I recommend it for who work with dangerous pathogens.

Posted by: John Ciccone at July 15, 2005 9:21 AM

We cannot afford to be lax here. Good comments above. Let's stay heads up and pay attention, this stuff is not funny and it can get all to serious all to quick. No sense in taking unnecessary risks. Play it smart. Think on this.

Posted by: Lance Winslow at July 14, 2005 5:01 PM

when I was growing up(now66) my parents an M>D & R.N. along with the nursing training and cooking training in the USAF goal was to teach in my words that "cleanliness is next to godliness" & everything should be cleaned so that you can eat off it from flors to ceilings if this conept is "drilled" in to all;top to bottom personel there wouldn't be fear of accidents.

Posted by: shorty 124 at July 12, 2005 10:41 PM