Protection from work-related hazards caused by bacteria, viruses, and other biological agents
Employees can be affected in various ways by biological hazards. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) contributes to the formulation of technical rules for activities involving biological agents. It also develops new measurement methodologies and researches health risks and appropriate protective measures.
Essentially, a risk is present as soon as an activity requires the handling of biological agents, for instance in laboratories, the healthcare sector, veterinary facilities, or the waste management industry.
Natural outbreaks of infectious diseases, sometimes on a pandemic scale, can raise the risk of infection among employees performing many different kinds of activity as well. Other biological agents may not be infectious, but can trigger sensitising or toxic reactions.
In order to ensure employees working with biological agents benefit from cutting-edge protection, our experts on the Committee on Biological Agents (Ausschuss für Biologische Arbeitsstoffe, ABAS) help keep the Technical Rules for Biological Agents (Technische Regeln für Biologische Arbeitsstoffe, TRBAs) up to date. Researchers at BAuA develop new measurement methodologies and assessment tools. Furthermore, they conduct systematic field research into bioaerosols in the workplace with the aim of preventing airborne transmission. And BAuA is preparing for future pandemics by researching both work-related infection risks and suitable protective measures.
It is hoped the results will enable organisations to correctly assess the risks to their employees from biological agents and infectious diseases, then take suitable protective measures, putting in place appropriate plans and precautions for every eventuality.
