32 C.F.R. Subpart A—Introduction
Title 32 - National Defense
(a) This regulation prescribes Department of the Army (DA) safety policy, responsibilities, and procedures for biological defense research, development, test, and evaluation (RDTE) operations. (b) DA Pam 385–69 prescribes the minimum safety criteria and technical requirements for the Army biological defense safety program and will be used in conjunction with this regulation to establish and implement the biological defense safety program. Required and related publications are listed in appendix A of this part. Abbreviations and special terms used in this regulation are explained in the appendix B of this part. (a) The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Logistics, and Environment) (ASA(IL&E)) establishes overall Army occupational safety and health policy and maintains oversight of the following— (1) All aspects of environment, safety, and occupational health statutory compliance. (2) Safe biological defense RDTE operations. (b) The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development, and Acquisition) (ASA(RDA)). Establishes overall Army RDA policy and will— (1) Integrate, coordinate, and manage Army efforts to increase effectiveness of biological defense technologies, materiel research, and the development and acquisition program. (2) Review and validate all future biological defense RDTE facility construction or renovation requirements before any organization initiates these construction or renovation programs. (c) The Director of Army Safety (DASAF), Office of the Chief of Staff, Army (OCSA), administers and directs the Army Safety Program as specified in AR 385–10. The DASAF will— (1) Manage Army-wide safety policy and guidance for biological defense RDTA programs as a part of the Army Safety Program. (2) Approve all actions that imply or establish a DA safety position for biological defense RDTE covered by this part. (3) Represent DA on all biological defense RDTE safety studies and reviews. (4) Develop safety policy and standards for biological defense RDTE operations. (5) Develop Army level safety program guidance. (6) Conduct an annual management review of the biological defense occupational safety and health programs of commands with Biological Defense Program (BDP) operations and responsibilities, to ensure consistency with DA policy. (7) Conduct biological defense safety evaluation visits, and advise the Army Staff (ARSTAF) of concerns, trends, and needed corrective actions. (8) Develop policies and provide guidance for executing the Biological Defense Safety Program. (9) Conduct the review of general construction plans for biological defense RDTE facilities. (10) Establish procedures to investigate biological defense related mishaps, referenced in AR 385–40. (11) Serve as proponent for Army biological safety training. (d) The Commanding General, United States Army Corps of Engineers, (CG, USACE) will establish procedures to ensure that biological defense RDTE facilities are designed, constructed, and acquired in accordance with current Federal, State, Department of Defense (DOD), and DA regulatory standards. (e) The Surgeon General (TSG) will— (1) Develop occupational health standards and medical support policies for the BDP. (2) Provide advice and guidance for health hazard assessments and medical surveillance in accordance with current directives and policies. (3) Provide medical guidance for selecting appropriate protective equipment for use in the BDP. (4) Provide a representative to each BDP special safety study group. (5) Provide occupational health support to the DASAF for conduct of annual management reviews (§624.4(c)(6)). (f) The Commander, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), in addition to major Army commands (MACOMs) responsibilities, will— (1) Conduct safety site assistance visits at BDP Army research facilities, on a periodic basis as determined necessary by the DASAF, and advise the ARSTAF of findings and recommendations. (2) Provide a group member for all other studies and reviews. (3) Assist Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) in its oversight role of monitoring biological defense RDTE activities throughout the Army and advise HQDA on concerns, trends, and corrective actions required. (4) Assist the DASAF in performing biological defense safety program mishap investigations. (5) Assist the DASAF in developing biological defense safety policy and recommend changes to policies and procedures. (6) Serve as the proponent for the BDP Special Immunization Program. (g) MACOM Commanders with a BDP mission will—(1) Establish and operate an effective safety program. (2) Publish a command program to implement HQDA biological safety standards and to identify responsibilities for all subordinate organizations that maintain, store, handle, use, transport, or dispose of etiologic agents used in the BDP. (3) Supervise subordinate organizations to ensure that an effective safety program, which complies with this regulation, DA Pam 385–69, and AR 385–10 is implemented and maintained. (4) Ensure that biological defense safety programs comply with the provisions of this regulation and DA Pam 385–69. (5) Appoint a safety and health manager per AR 385–10, who is occupationally qualified under Office of Personnel Management standards and has special knowledge of biological safety and health requirements. This safety and health manager should be the single point of contact for all aspects of the BDP Safety Program. (6) Review standing operating procedures (SOPs) for biological defense RDTE operations. (7) Develop and submit general construction plans for approval through command channels to HQDA, Army Safety Office, DACS-SF, WASH DC 20310–0200. (8) Approve or disapprove individual access to etiologic agent restricted areas. (9) Implement a Chemical Hygiene Plan, as appropriate, which meets the requirement of 29 CFR 1910.1450.
Title 32: National Defense
PART 626—BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE SAFETY PROGRAM
Subpart A—Introduction
§ 626.1 Purpose.
§ 626.2 References.
§ 626.3 Explanation of abbreviations and terms.
§ 626.4 Responsibilities.
