Abstract
In recent years, research efforts and measurement capabilities in biological science have significantly increased at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Biological experiments are often performed by NIST physicists, chemists, and engineers who are not traditionally trained in biological safety protocols. A biosafety working group comprised of research scientists from across NIST was formed to address the need for an expanded, formalized biosafety program to ensure proper training and protocols for all biological experiments performed within the organization. With the support of NIST management, a dedicated Biosafety Officer was hired to formalize the biological safety program, and new requirements were established for training of staff and visiting scientists, registration of biohazardous materials, inspection of biological laboratories, and audits of the program to ensure continued compliance with internal biosafety requirements and other relevant biosafety regulations and guidelines.