Articulating Biosafety Program Activities in the Context of a Simplified Public Health Logic Model

Introduction: Public health logic models divide interventions into three categories: inputs, activities, and outcomes. Similarly, biosafety programs can be described using this same logic model by describing inputs in the form of program staffing and budget; program activities in the form of risk assessments, routine surveillance, training, incident response, and other services; and outcomes in the form of reported exposures, injuries, compliance, finances, and client satisfaction. Methods: Described here is a systematic means of collecting and displaying biosafety program activity data monthly so that the organizational leadership and associated safety committees can readily grasp the scope of various activities undertaken by the biosafety program to support the broader organizational goals. Discussion: The simplified public health logic model affords guidance on inputs, activities, and outcomes that biosafety programs can use to their advantage. The importance of succinctly reporting the data describing activities can inform and educate upper management and other stakeholders regarding the resources needed to avoid injuries and illnesses and maintain compliance. Conclusion: Within the biosafety profession, on a good day, “nothing bad happens,” so conveying the message of the value of prevention can be challenging. By capturing and readily presenting data that describes the efforts of a biosafety program, individual programs can articulate their needs for staffing and resources more successfully, and the profession stands a better chance of maintaining strong administrative and stakeholder support.