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Biological risk prevention at the workplace: why is it necessary?

What are biological risks?

The term biological risk refers to the possibility for any living being to come into contact with substances harmful to the organism. These substances care commonly transmitted through toxins, microorganisms or viruses.

Toxins are essentially poisons that are produced by organisms present in nature both of animal and vegetable origin. Toxins can act differently in the body through channels such as:

  • Blood – by destroying the elements of its composition;
  • Cells – which are inhibited in their metabolic and other functions;
  • The neurological system, -when they act at different stages of the activity – there are actually seven types among which, botulism and paralysis.

The term microorganism identifies all those living forms which are not visible to the naked eye. They are unicellular and can be found in all natural habitats. Microorganisms that determine biological risk can be identified according to the following classification:

  • Pathogenic – which operate in the host body for their own benefit;
  • Symbiotic – which establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the host;
  • Parasitic – which use the living being that hosts them to their own advantage.

Viruses are infections that develop inside living cells only. They are found on or in just about every material and environment on Earth and because of this, specific studies have been conducted on their nature in order to either isolate or inhibit them. The term “virus “means “poison” and they can be transmitted in various ways:

  • through contact;
  • through breathing;
  • through blood transmission.

Being parasites, viruses take over suitable host cells in which the viral genes are then copied many times using the process the host cell would normally use to reproduce itself.

Biological Hazard Prevention: The role of the OH&S magager

Knowledge of the real extent of biological hazard within the workplace is essential to implement the necessary measures to prevent health risks. In order to ensure that the measures prescribed by current health and safety standards are applied at the workplace at all times, responsibilities for OH&S management need to be allocated. In particular, the standards, related regulations and legislation state that an OH&S manager has to be appointed. This position may be held by the employer personally only in certain situations (depending on the number of employees and the area where the company is located), in other instances, a third party is to be appointed. Given the delicate nature of the issue, appointed OH&S managers need to attend a 4 module training course: – the first module is based on specific legislation, – the second module on medium, low and high risk management, – the third module involves technical aspects, – the fourth looks at the recording of data and reports. The overall duration of said training depends on the type of activity to be carried out and the specific knowledge required. The OH&S manager has specific responsibilities including assessing workplace risks, checking medical reports on risk assessment, and developing a safety plan for the protection of workers, as well as training workers on biological risk prevention. Given the particular responsibilities of the OH&S manager, candidates need to have higher education diploma and pass the tests related to all 4 modules. In addition, company supervisors and individual staff are to collaborate and assist the OH&S manager in ensuring the application of the appropriate risk control measures. Another responsibility of the OH&S manager is to ensure the use of appropriate personal protective equipment for the prevention of biological hazards, ensure these are always efficient and replace them when they wear out.

How to prevent biological risk through the proper use of specific PPE

Personal Protective Equipment has the basic function of protecting the wearer in all areas, from domestic to the workplace. In this context, particular attention must be paid to the nature of the places and the types of situations the workers find themselves in. Current legislation provides a set of specifications and obligations in this regard and prescribes the use of devices geared to the different types of hazard and risk ranging from the lower to the more dangerous ones.

Personal Protective Devices help protect all those parts of the body that could place workers at risk, i.e. respiratory system, head, hearing, eyes and skin, and are used when normal prevention measures are not sufficient. In order to conform to current standards the following requirements need to be met:

  • CE marking
  • Certification and approvals
  • Confirmation that the Safety Device is appropriate to prevent the risk for which it is being used
  • The PPE corresponds to the needs and health of the worker.

In conclusion, one must not forget that effective protection is only achieved by selecting suitable PPE and ensure it is correctly fitted, maintained and used. Workers must, therefore, be provided with adequate information, instruction and/or training on its use. However, PPE must always be regarded as a ‘last resort’ to protect against risks to safety and health. Engineering controls and safe systems of work must always be considered first.

For the respiratory protection of workers at high biological risk, KASCO srl manufactures  a specific powered respiratory protective device incorporating a helmet. This is respirator certified to international standards  which works by means of a slight overpressure created inside the helmet by a flow of filtered air. Powered blower units draw air through filters and convey it through a breathing tube to inside the helmet.