Watchdog gets document of ‘mishaps’ and ‘human errors’ in nation’s handling of toxins

A government watchdog organization reports it has obtained evidence of “mishaps, human errors, animal escapes, improper and defective personal protective equipment, facility equipment failures and containment failures” at U.S. facilities that handle dangerous agents and toxins.

It is Judicial Watch that obtained dozens of pages of redacted records and communications from the Federal Select Agency Program that included the details.

One report summary, from the USDA and HHS in 2021, said during the 2020 calendar year, the program got “13 reports of losses, 158 reports of releases, and no reports of theft of [biological select agents and toxins].”

The statement continued, “None of the reported releases resulted in death or transmission among workers nor transmission to the outside of a laboratory into the surrounding environment or community. FSAP [the Federal Select Agent Program] received one report from a non-registered entity of a release that resulted in an occupational illness in one worker that made a full recove1y after receiving medical treatment. The FBI investigated all 13 reports of losses and, in all cases, determined there was no criminal nexus.”

“These documents uncover a pattern of serious safety issues in biolabs here on U.S. soil,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “And, given these issues here at home, one can imagine the safety issues of labs the U.S. funds abroad.” – READ MORE