Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity activities are fundamental to protecting the laboratory workforce and the wider community against unintentional exposures or releases of pathogenic biological agents. These activities are implemented using a risk assessment framework and through the development of a safety culture which is needed to ensure a safe workplace where adequate measures are applied to minimize the likelihood and severity of any potential exposure to biological agents. Biosafety awareness and expertise have improved greatly since previous editions of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Laboratory biosafety manual (1-3). New technologies, such as the use of molecular methods, have advanced considerably and reduced the number of diagnostic activities that require propagation of high titre biological agents.