To ensure that biomedical research is performed in the safest and most responsible manner possible, the NIH established the Biological Surety Program (BSP) in 2006 to reflect the unique human and security factors associated with biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories. The program sets forth control measures to ensure there is a trained, responsible, and reliable workforce, with rigorous procedures to protect employee health and maintain a safe work environment.
The events and aftermath of September 11, 2001, accelerated a search for personnel reliability test measures to identify individuals who could pose a threat to our nation's security and safety. The creation and administration of a behavioral health screen for BSL-4 laboratory workers at the National Institutes of Health represents a pioneering effort to proactively build a BSL-4 safety culture promoting worker cohesiveness, trust, respect, and reliability with a balance of worker privacy and public safety.
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