Facility Operator
A person who has the overall oversight of the management and operation of the facility.
Last updated on 31 October 2026
General
Operator, in relation to the facility, refers to the person who has the overall oversight of the management and operation of the facility.
Duties and Obligations
The Facility Operator is responsible for the following:
Appointing a Biosafety Coordinator and a Biosafety Committee (BC) as per the Sixth Schedule of the Biological Agents and Toxins Act (opens in new tab) (BATA). The BC advises on policies, programmes, and codes of practice for activities involving biological agents and toxins (Section 39 of BATA).
Ensuring the facility is fit for purpose, maintaining equipment in optimal and safe working condition and implementing adequate security and pest control measures (Section 40 of BATA).
Conducting risk assessments and implementing safety measures for all activities, including staff training, health and medical surveillance, decontamination and waste disposal, emergency response procedures, etc. (Section 41 of BATA).
Ensuring visitor safety, informing them of potential hazards, and ensuring they are accompanied by facility staff at all times (Section 42 of BATA).
Complying with animal containment requirements for experiments involving animals (Section 43 of BATA).
Maintaining records of activities, inventory, incidents, and visitors. Reporting incidents including confirmed or suspected infections, adverse events, loss, and destruction of biological agents and toxins stocks to the Health Sciences Authority (Section 44 of BATA).
Ensuring compliance with all applicable legislations, including the BATA.
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