Regulations for Hazardous Biological Agents

BHEKI C. MABASODEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

PROGRAMMES :O.H.S.

Outlinehttp://www.gov.za/regulations/index.html#2001

Definition of HBAScope of the legislationClassification of AgentsInformation and TrainingDuties of exposed personsRisk AssessmentsExposure MonitoringMedical SurveillanceExposure Control

HBA - Definition

Are micro-organisms, pathogens, cells, cell cultures and human endoparasitesHave the potential to evoke infectious toxic effectsA micro-organism includes all microbiological entities, cellular or non-cellular, capable of replication or of transferring genetic material

Scope of LegislationApplies to every workplace where:

HBA is produced, processed, handled, stored or transported an incident which results in exposure during the performance of work occurring in:

food productionanimal contact or animal productshealth care, including isolation and post-mortem unitsclinical, veterinary and diagnostic labssewerage purification installationsgeneral workplace

HBA Classification

Group 1: Unlikely to cause human diseaseGroup 2: Can cause disease, unlikely for community spread, treatment/ prophylaxis availableGroup 3: Severe disease, risk of community spread, treatment availableGroup 4: Severe disease, high risk of community spread, NO treatment availableAnnexure to regulations

Information & Trainingcontents of regulationsrisks of exposureprotective measures by employerimportance of personal hygiene and housekeepingprecautions to be taken by employeenecessity and maintenance of controlsnecessity of medical surveillanceprocedures of use, handling, storage, labelling and disposalincident and accident procedurespotential exposure risk to human reproduction

Information & Training

Instructions on incident management provided in writing to driversEnsure that all employees

have information;has undergone sufficient training

Duties of exposed persons

Obey instructions:prevention of uncontrolled release of HBAhousekeeping, hygiene practices, health policieswear PPE as prescribedwear personal samplers to monitor exposuredisposal, disinfection of material and sitesreporting for medical surveillanceundergone training

Report accidental exposures

Risk Assessments

Regulations do not stipulate that these need to be done by an AIATo be conducted immediately and at intervals not exceeding two years

if previous RA is no longer validchange in process or methods

Done in consultation with H&S Representatives and CommitteesRecords of assessments to be kept

Information from RA

Nature, dose and route of exposure of HBALocation and physical form of HBANature of work, process and possible deterioration or failure of controlsEffects of exposure on employeePeriod of exposure to HBA

Informational Basis of RA

Classification into risk groupRecommendations of control measures by manufacturer, supplier or competent persons regarding controlsDiseases that may be contractedPotential allergic and toxic effectsAggravation of existing diseases

Exposure Monitoring

Use of a procedure which is:standardised, sufficiently sensitive proven effectiveness

Monitoring done for:ensuring maintainence of controlsprotecting health of employees

Medical Surveillance: Reasons

RA indicates exposureExposure may result in:

identifiable diseaseeffect may occur under conditions of work

Techniques available for detecting sensitisation or inflammatory responseRecommendation by OHP, ratified by OMP

Medical Surveillance: Initial

Employee counselling and educationInitial health evaluation

by an OHP, before or 14 days within employmentincludes:

medical and occupational historyphysical examinationappropriate biological and other tests

Medical Surveillance: Periodic

In cases where and HBA can cause persistent or latent infections, which

not diagnosable until signs develophave long incubation periodsserious long term effects

Medical Surveillance: General

Must have a written medical protocolInvestigate and record all incidents resulting in infection or deathOHP’s must submit to H&S Committees for approval, written procedures for dealing with abnormal results

Exposure Control

Responsibility to PREVENT exposureIf not, adequate CONTROLStandard procedures to reduce risk of transmissionAdopt appropriate measures:

limit amount of HBA usedrestrict number of exposed employeesintroduce engineering controlshave appropriate work procedures

Personal Protective Equipment

Only if previous control measures not practicableRespiratory protection and clothing for airborne HBAsImpermeable PPE for skin absorbed HBAA basic Respiratory Protection programme for airborne agentsProcedures for use, cleaning and storage of PPE

Other measures

Labelling, packaging, transport and storageSpecial measures for isolation facilitiesSpecial measures for laboratories, animal rooms and industrial processesDisposal of HBARecords

THE END .

THANK YOU.