Looking for advice on biological containment process in SF

[ShotokanXL]

Hi,

This is my first post so I hope it's in the right place!

I'm looking for a little advice or guidance on something in a story I'm working on. The situation is this: a remote, subterranean research and experimental lab has an emergency where the "subject" they are working on becomes incredibly hostile and survives the initial "sterilisation" process (directed jest of napalm). The subject then proceeds to break through the sealed doors and airlocks of the experimentation room and wreak havoc throughout the facility.

There are a limited number of staff and no real military presence.

What kind of emergency containment procedures would likely be in place to prevent the subject from reaching the surface? Sealed doors? Would the whole facility go on lock down? Would outside communications be cut or would they remain open so a distress/warning message would be sent? How "real" would it be to have a "self-destruct" or other similar mass-cleansing device in place (the example I think of is the fire bomb that goes off in CDC in the last episode of Season 1 of The Walking Dead TV series). IF there was such a protocol, would staff be evacuated first or would it be a case of doors are locked, all die?

It's set in the year 2059 and the technology of the time doesn't allow for containment force fields or things like that, though there are advanced robotics.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Michael Colton]

While it may be a different sort of laboratory than you are imagining, here are some quick reads about contemporary operations and what they entail: biosafety levels, Laboratory Response Network.

Obviously those are meant to contain biological contamination, not a living subject - but it might inspire ideas for you by seeing how another form of containment is structured. It seems unlikely to me that communications would be shut down during a lockdown - that has rarely made sense to me when I see it in stories. The reverse seems the most likely to me, that there is some form of explicit communication available at all times in case of an emergency situation.

But, as I said, most containment in the current world relates to biological hazard materials - not living subjects. You may want to grab inspiration from both biolabs and modern military containment (the CIA's black sites in Poland that were just leaked, etc.).

 

[ShotokanXL]

Thanks!

 

[Venusian Broon]

Hi Shotokan, Welcome to Chrons!

I was going to post exactly the same wikipedia page on biosafey levels but Michael beat me to it!

The trope that a remote base is locked down to render itself cut off and keep communicable diseases (and killer animals/aliens.) is pretty much well worn in SF and other genres. But still fine to use however, nothing wrong with spinning a new angle on it. Gives you the advantage of an instant character 'pressure cooker' I feel. Communications with the outside can be there or not, depending on what sort of drama you want. The outside world may for example take no chances and send in a nuke to 'cleanse' the site, giving your MCs a countdown to survive for example.

In real life I don't think there are many (if any at all) research laboratories that lock down and potentially destroy themselves - who would want to work there? . (And biological agents may survive all but the biggest sort of destruction.) What if there is a mistake or glitch?

The closest I've personally got to that is in UK universities, before the days of cheap powerful PCs, the computers for the department were big mainframes that were notoriously exothermic and a big fire risk. So many installed these mainframes in rooms with halogen fire response system. Needless to say such rooms were only carefully opened for access and maintenance and no one else was allowed in as a fire alarm could asphyxiate any hapless inhabitant. If the 'safety' systems are that lethal then people are generally removed from the place!

 

[LittleStar]

The first thing that comes to my kind when thinking of trying to contain a living subject in a lab, would be a full lock down of all the doors, exits etc. and you say it already survived one sterilisation, so I wouldn't imagine a second firebomb would do much good, but maybe it would, only you would know that.

Failing that, I think the next logical step (Im assuming from the sterilisation that you're after extermination, rather than containment at this point) would be to shut down the oxygen supply, or whatever the thing breathes, then drinks, then eats. One of them has to work, right?
I agree with Michael as well, I don't see any need to shut down the communications, unless that is a way the subject could concievably escape, it just wouldn't make sense... I guess if they wanted to keep it hushed up or didn't want any staff survivors inside the lockdown calling up every few minutes to yell for help.

Anyway, welcome to the Chrons

 

[ShotokanXL]

Thanks for the welcomes! What you guys are saying is great. Heh, I know the "beastie loose in the base" has been done to death, but it's only a very small part of my overall story, not the main plot device. This is just something that happens in the course of the story.

You're all right too. Why would you cut communications with the outside if things have gone horribly wrong? Only way I can see that happening is if coms are cut, or there's no one left alive at the facility to speak! Makes sense that if the "thing" has already survived the fire cleansing then what would be the point of trying to burn it again? I like the notion of trying to trap it and shut off the oxygen.

Love the examples given. Thanks everyone!

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Also it sounds like "Andromeda Strain" and others. The book IMO is better than the film.
Usually the immediate containment is run at lower air pressure to avoid air borne contamination in event of faulty seal.
Very many stories have suggested the obvious threat. An organism that "eats" or corrodes the seals.

Even Octopus has proven to be an unexpectedly clever escape artist in Labs, opening lids, locks and passing through apparently infeasible small tubes or holes. The common rook in UK figured how to use a key in a cage lock, and one "pet" that had learnt this even restarted the car while the person (I'm not sure the Rook believed it was owned any more than a Cat, a dog might) stopped to open a gate. Of course a rook can't work gears or steer and it wasn't an automatic.

There have been unfortunate incidents with viruses and bacteria in UK and USA when lab protocol had human error. My dad had an exotic red something or other that escaped from the Zoo, more than once.

 

[Abernovo]

Hi Shotokan. Welcome.

Many years ago, I did a bit of work in labs. Even though we were working with relatively minor pathogens (although some of the chemicals were a bit toxic), we knew that if there was a problem we could be stuck there until we were given the all clear. Taking home a bug or substance capable of giving your family and friends severe food poisoning does not make you popular. So, your workers are probably stuck in the building until the quarantine is lifted. As Ray says, most incidents (if not all) are down to human error and/or somebody not following safety protocols correctly.

I'm not sure if you have a biological contaminant. If it's just a beast on the loose threat, the quarantine could be lifted section by section, with people in known safe zones evacuated, then controlled evacuation routes from more dangerous areas. These routes can be closed down if they become compromised. That's a bit like evacuating people from a fire, or moving them away from a threat. With a biological contaminant risk, you would want some scanning etc.

You say no real military presence, but there are a lot of people trained to use firearms and tranquilisers. A lot of my work has been with or around animals in wild conditions. Being aware of the risks and taking measures to protect yourself is paramount. If they have transported a creature(?) to the facility, they would presumably have security and people trained to work with dangerous animals. Where are they in all this?

Two reasons the authorities (whoever they might be) may want to limit communications is:

• to control the rumours - not just to suppress the story, but to try to get facts out, rather than the wild speculations from a 'site worker' who is actually only in the accounts section and has nothing to do with the science, but still talks to the news; and
• to create a crisis management point, where a designated person takes control, is in charge with keeping the relevant authorities informed and relays their instructions/information to the personnel on the ground.

Of course, if your authorities are evil (most are not, more usually it's poor staffing, spotty training, p.p. planning, and incompetent management) they can have ulterior motives for keeping the people isolated.

Hope some of that helps.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Communication would only be allowed to the people managing the 'Incident'. This is normal in all crisis situations if the people managing the event can arrange it.

 

[ShotokanXL]

Hi Shotokan. Welcome.

Many years ago, I did a bit of work in labs. Even though we were working with relatively minor pathogens (although some of the chemicals were a bit toxic), we knew that if there was a problem we could be stuck there until we were given the all clear. Taking home a bug or substance capable of giving your family and friends severe food poisoning does not make you popular. So, your workers are probably stuck in the building until the quarantine is lifted. As Ray says, most incidents (if not all) are down to human error and/or somebody not following safety protocols correctly.

I'm not sure if you have a biological contaminant. If it's just a beast on the loose threat, the quarantine could be lifted section by section, with people in known safe zones evacuated, then controlled evacuation routes from more dangerous areas. These routes can be closed down if they become compromised. That's a bit like evacuating people from a fire, or moving them away from a threat. With a biological contaminant risk, you would want some scanning etc.

You say no real military presence, but there are a lot of people trained to use firearms and tranquilisers. A lot of my work has been with or around animals in wild conditions. Being aware of the risks and taking measures to protect yourself is paramount. If they have transported a creature(?) to the facility, they would presumably have security and people trained to work with dangerous animals. Where are they in all this?

Two reasons the authorities (whoever they might be) may want to limit communications is:

• to control the rumours - not just to suppress the story, but to try to get facts out, rather than the wild speculations from a 'site worker' who is actually only in the accounts section and has nothing to do with the science, but still talks to the news; and
• to create a crisis management point, where a designated person takes control, is in charge with keeping the relevant authorities informed and relays their instructions/information to the personnel on the ground.

Of course, if your authorities are evil (most are not, more usually it's poor staffing, spotty training, p.p. planning, and incompetent management) they can have ulterior motives for keeping the people isolated.

Hope some of that helps.

Information from someone with real life experience. Priceless! Thanks , huge help.

 

[jastius]

in this space werewolf thing i did where it was tearing through the security team, the last man standing used that idea of a tiger pit to have it fall into a deck cargo bunker, then he welded the hatch shut... until they could gas the thing and put it into cryo sleep.

 

[Avid Scifi Fan]

I think part of it comes down to where are you going with the story? Do you plan on letting it out in the surrounding area regardless of the containment system or will the story be "contained" to just the lab.

If your going to let it out, I wouldn't bother with too much detail in the lab. I would just throw a few barriers in the way before it gets out (glass walls, locked doors, lab personnel, etc.)

If your containing the story to the lab, is the story more about fighting for survival (both lab personnel and the creature)?

 

[ShotokanXL]

I think part of it comes down to where are you going with the story? Do you plan on letting it out in the surrounding area regardless of the containment system or will the story be "contained" to just the lab.

If your going to let it out, I wouldn't bother with too much detail in the lab. I would just throw a few barriers in the way before it gets out (glass walls, locked doors, lab personnel, etc.)

If your containing the story to the lab, is the story more about fighting for survival (both lab personnel and the creature)?

Yeah, the thing gets out so it won't be a massive story arc. I just wanted the desperate attempts to keep it contained seem as real as possible.

Good point.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

First you design your containment to what you're trying to contain. I am actually a bugs man by training and background, and I can assure you that I have never heard of a lab with a self destruct system. There are however fume cupboards with sterilization abilities, usually through the use of UV.

If it's a monster you're trying to contain, I would guess the models you need to look at are zoos and prisons.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[ShotokanXL]

Hi,

First you design your containment to what you're trying to contain. I am actually a bugs man by training and background, and I can assure you that I have never heard of a lab with a self destruct system. There are however fume cupboards with sterilization abilities, usually through the use of UV.

If it's a monster you're trying to contain, I would guess the models you need to look at are zoos and prisons.

Cheers, Greg.

Zoos. Why did I not think of that? Nice.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I have never heard of a lab with a self destruct system

Only in Fiction (e.g. Andromeda Strain and others).

Yes, Zoos and Prisons. Though stuff seems to escape!

 

[ShotokanXL]

Only in Fiction (e.g. Andromeda Strain and others).

Yes, Zoos and Prisons. Though stuff seems to escape!

Well that's handy because the subject does escspe.

 

[tinkerdan]

It seems that it goes without saying that you need to be sure to do some research on what might possibly be implemented in the given situation. What might be more important would be how you are able to slip it into the story as you go so that the reader can see those all the measures but not be overwhelmed with it all. Show how all your ducks are in a row and then, if the subject escapes, carefully craft the rogue duck that leaves the crack in the system. [like the fellow who is at lunch and is burning something by accident and subverts the alarm for that room because he doesn't want to inconvenience everyone. He might have to subvert the alarm that indicates there's a problem with the alarm in one room.]

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

Actually we did just have an escape from one of our prisons. Quite embarrassing really. A pedophile and murderer out on home visiting for some unknown reason (maybe we have the opposite of trust issues), got himself a passport under his birth name (more embarrassment) and flew to South America.

It seems our prison system is running a catch and release programme!

Cheers, Greg.

 

[ShotokanXL]

It seems that it goes without saying that you need to be sure to do some research on what might possibly be implemented in the given situation. What might be more important would be how you are able to slip it into the story as you go so that the reader can see those all the measures but not be overwhelmed with it all. Show how all your ducks are in a row and then, if the subject escapes, carefully craft the rogue duck that leaves the crack in the system. [like the fellow who is at lunch and is burning something by accident and subverts the alarm for that room because he doesn't want to inconvenience everyone. He might have to subvert the alarm that indicates there's a problem with the alarm in one room.]

For some reason the term "rogue duck" had me in fits of laughter!