Biohazard assessment is the analysis of biological agents in the workplace that may endanger the health of workers.
Let’s see together what it is and what it is about.
What is biohazard assessment
Biohazard assessment is an analysis that the employer is required to do to safeguard the health of workers who come in contact with hazardous biological substances or agents in the work environment.
Workers such as nurses or paramedics are not the only ones who may be exposed to biohazard; in fact, waiters or cleaners, for example, may also be exposed to this hazard.
What are biological agents
Biological risk assessment is precisely concerned with biological agents:
they are microorganisms of different nature (such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, parasites) that depending on exposure, type of activity and other factors can cause infection, allergy, intoxication and health problems to the worker.
The groups of biological agents
Based on the risk of infection, biological agents can be divided into 4 groups:
– group1: This group includes all biological agents with a low hazard potential for humans;
– group2: belonging to this group are biological substances that may be harmful to the health of workers, with a low probability of spreading among individuals and for which there are prevention measures and treatment;
– Group 3: This group includes all biological agents that may be of high potential health risk to workers and spread among individuals and for which there are prevention and treatment measures. In this group, classified agents can cause serious diseases;
– Group 4: As in the third, this group includes all biological agents that may be of high potential health risk to workers and spread among individuals and for which there are usually no preventive measures and treatments. Also in this group, classified agents can cause serious illness to individuals.
When a biological substance cannot be assigned to either of the last two groups, the classification should be assigned to the group with a higher potential risk.
The employer’s obligations
The employer is required by law to proceed in drawing up the biohazard assessment document: it must support the most appropriate prevention and protection measures based on the risk factors and define any actions to reduce or eliminate exposure to hazardous biological agents.
In the details of Legislative Decree 81/2008 the employer’s obligations concern:
– biological risk assessment (consider in which group the biological agent is classified);
– the technical, organizational and procedural measures (such as taking protective measures and limiting as much as possible the number of workers exposed to the risk of biological agents, providing for the disposal of waste in a suitable manner, drafting a protocol that is safe and appropriate for the handling and transportation of biological agents);
– hygienic measures (such as making sure that workers have proper sanitary facilities and protective equipment);
– emergency measures (the employer must take emergency measures if a biological substance assigned to groups 2,3, or 4 has been dispersed due to an accident;
– specific information and training for workers (the employer has an obligation to inform and train his employees such as on hygiene measures to be followed or about precautions to be taken to avoid exposure).
