SPECIFIC COMMENTS 
PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT SPECIFICATIONS 
THE EMBO COMMITTEE WELCOMES THE MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF 
PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT MEASURES GIVEN IN THE REVISED NIH GUIDELINES* 
NOTING THAT THEY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ACCORD WITH THE PROPOSALS 
AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF A JOINT NIH-EMBO WORKSHOP HELD IN MARCH 
(ANNEX 2). THE SEPARATE DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE COMPONENTS OF 
EACH LEVEL OF PHYSICAL CONTAINMENT* NAMELY THE LABORATORY DESIGN* 
THE LABORATORY PRACTICES AND THE SPECIAL CONTAINMENT EQUIPMENT* 
IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL. CONCERNING THESE SPECIFICATIONS THE EMBO 
COMMITEEE HAS ONLY A FEW COMMENTS: (A) IT BELIEVES THAT MOUTH 
PIPETTING SHOULD BE PROHIBITED IN THE PI LABORATORY* AS IT IS 
PROHIBITED IN P2-P4 LABORATORIES* AND IT RECOMMENDS THAT SIMPLE AIR 
EXHAUST CABINETS* SUCH AS A CONVENTIONAL FUME CUPBOARD* BE USED IN 
THE PI LABORATORYFOR THOSE MANIPULATIONS LIKELY TO PRODUCE LARGE 
AMOUNTS OF AEROSOLS* <B> IN THE SPECIFICATION OF THE P3 LABORATORY* 
WHICH MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH RUNNING WATE** OR LOCATED BENEATH OR 
NEXT TO LABORATORIES WITH RUNNING WATER* PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE 
CONSEQUENCES OF FLOODING OR CONTAMINATION OF THE MAINS WATER SUPPLY 
ARE NOT DISCUSSED. 
PROPOSED 'TRADE OFFS' 
THE PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE FLEXIBILITY OF CONTAINMENT MEASURES 
BY ALLOWING CERTAIN ALTERNATIVE COMBINATIONS OF SAFEGUARDS ARE 
WELCOMED BY THE EMBO COMMITTEE. THE EMBO COMMITTEE SUPPORTS THE 
[Appendix A — 89] 
