Dr. William J. Gartland, Jr., Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Page Two 
° Our IBC is charged with responsibility for all biosafety issues, not 
limited to work with recombinant DNA. At one time, a single laboratory safety 
committee concerned itself both with biohazards and all other aspects of gen- 
eral laboratory safety. With the advent of the recombinant DNA Guidelines, it 
was convenient to designate a separate biosafety committee meeting the require- 
ments of those Guidelines. Aspects of laboratory, shop and building safety not 
specifically involving biohazards continue to be supervised by the original 
safety committee. If the Guidelines did not exist, we would probably retain 
this double structure for convenience in handling the two classes of issues. 
I hope that these comments are helpful to you in your inquiry. If any 
clarification or further information is required, my telephone number is (215) 
728-2485. 
Sincerely yours 
Cfrairman 
Institute Biosafety Committee 
JJF : Is 
cc: Dr. A. G. Knudson, Jr., Director 
Committee Members 
[ 610 ] 
