The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) today published new health and safety guidance on how to control the risks posed from infections at work. Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of containment level 4 facilities is aimed at those responsible for working with the highest hazard pathogens.

It is based on the principles contained in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002. These regulations place a duty on employers to identify the hazards in the workplace, assess the risk posed and put control measures in place to control these risks.

The guidance, which has been developed in partnership with experts from ACDP, the biotechnology industry, HSE and other Government Departments, is intended for all laboratories in which high hazard human pathogens may be handled; prevention of exposure and potential infection from these highly pathogenic organisms is important for both workers health and safety and public health.

Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of containment level 4 facilities is aimed at those responsible for working with the highest hazard pathogens and completes a suit of laboratory guidance, complementing the previous publication covering laboratory containment levels 2 & 3. The guidance is available from the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web09.pdf.

Source: www.hse.gov.uk (accessed 05/06/06)

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 8th, 2006 at 8:17 am and is filed under Health & Safety News, in Touch Legislation Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.