Introduction

The aim of web feature

The aim of web feature is to furnish information about the possible acting of biological agents and especially about possibilities of reducing, or eliminating biological risks.

This web feature is intended to assist those who are seeking information on the prevention against biological hazards at work in the Czech Republic. The information is organised in the following sections:

What is biological hazard?

Biological agents are all microorganisms, cell cultures and endoparasites, which may be able to provoke any infection, allergy or toxicity. Microorganism is the term for a microbiological cellular or non-cellular entity that is capable of replication or of transferring genetic material. By the cell culture we understand the in vitro growth of cells derived from multicellular organism.

The biological agents are classified according to the level of infection risk into the following 4 groups:

A biological agent of group 1, with which it is not probable that it could cause any human disease,
A biological agent of group 2, which can cause human disease and might be a hazard to employees. However, it is improbable that it would spread into the environment outside the workplace. Effective prophylaxis or treatments is usually available,
A biological agent of group 3 that can cause severe human disease and represents a serious hazard to employees and also a hazard from the point of view of a possibility of spreading into the environment outside the workplace. Effective prophylaxis or treatment is usually available,
A biological agent of group 4 that causes severe human disease and represents a serious hazard to employees and may represent a hazard of spreading into the environment outside the workplace; usually neither effective prophylaxis nor treatment is available.

When the employee comes into contact with the above-mentioned biological agents at work, he/she may be exposed to biological hazards. If he/she does not acquaint himself/herself with dangerous properties of biological agents or does not keep principles of health protection (prescribed hygiene measures), occupational infectious and parasitic diseases will manifest themselves, or either dermatosis or bronchopulmonary disease will occur.

Sectors at risk

If the man works with materials of plant origin, e.g. cotton, linen, cannabic, jute, hay, or of animal origin, such as wool, with food, animals, or will be in contact with blood, urine and similar substances, it is a case of biological hazard. In the Czech Republic, intentional and unintentional handling biological agents can be distinguished from each other from the point of view of health protection at work with biological agents. In the case of unintentional handling biological agents, potential exposure to these agents cannot be excluded in the course of activities connected with work especially in the following:

in food production plants,
in agriculture,
where there is contact with animals and/or products of animal origin,
in the national health sector, including post-mortem units,
in clinical, veterinary and diagnostic laboratories, with the exception of diagnostic microbiological laboratories, because works performed here belong by character to activities with the deliberate intention to work with biological agents of groups 2 to 4,
in waste disposal plants, or
in sewage purification plants.

These activities with potential exposure to biological agents are listed in Government Decree No. 178/2001 Coll., as subsequently amended, on protection of employees' health at work. Potential exposure to biological agents may also occur during other activities that must be in accord with valid legislation evaluated and assessed from the point of view of ensuring health protection and safe handling.

Problems related to the biological hazards

Biological risks occurring especially at work with biological agents either at intentional or unintentional handling biological agents of groups 1 - 4 are subject to assessment and subsequent supervision of work with biological agents. Work with biological agents is work “at risk” and belongs to the system of categorization of works performed in the Czech Republic according to valid legislation. The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic by means of its supervisory bodies executes supervision of activities classified like that. The list of occupational diseases of the Czech Republic also contains a chapter concerning diseases caused by biological agents. Categorized workplaces are permanently observed and unfavourable health consequences are evaluated once a year.

The biological agents are basically divided into bacteria, viruses and fungi. The list of them is presented in Annex to the relevant legal norm of the Czech Republic – by Government Decree No. 178/2001 Coll., as subsequently amended, on protection of employees' health at work. From the definition of biological agents it follows that they are able to induce infectious diseases and allergic or toxic effects. A microorganism can enter into the human body by penetrating damaged skin, a prick made by a hypodermic needle, insect sting, etc. The biological agents can also be inhaled or swallowed, which induces the infection of respiratory tract or digestive tract.

The next information is available above all in Factsheets 33 An introduction to dangerous substances in the workplace, 41 Biological agents, 40 Skin sensitisers and 39 Respiratory sensitisers. Translations are available at http://www.bozpinfo.cz), more specifically at:

http://osha.mpsv.cz/publications/fakta/fakta33.pdf - Nebezpečné látky na pracovišti - úvod
http://osha.mpsv.cz/publications/fakta/fakta41.pdf - Biologické materiály
http://osha.mpsv.cz/publications/fakta/fakta40.pdf - Kožní senzibilující matreiály
http://osha.mpsv.cz/publications/fakta/fakta39.pdf - Respirační senzibilující materiály

Legal framework of the issue

At present the fundamental legal regulation is Council Directive 2000/54/EC, of 18 September 2000, on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work, (seventh individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC).

It is necessary to state that Council Directive 90/679/EEC, of 26 November 2000, on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work, (seventh individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), was several times substantially amended. For simplicity it was necessary to codify it.

The Council Directive 2000/54/EC was accepted for securing a higher level of safety and health as for the protection of employees from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work. It emphasises that:

The list and the classification of biological agents must be examined regularly and revised on the basis of new scientific data.
Employers must keep abreast of new developments in technology with a view to improving the protection of workers' health and safety.
Preventive measures should be taken for the protection of the health and safety of workers exposed to biological agents.

In the Czech Republic, handling biological agents is regulated especially by the following:

zákon č. 258/2000 Sb. ve znění pozdějších předpisů, o ochraně veřejného zdraví (Act No. 258/2000 Coll., as subsequently amended, on public health protection)
zákoník práce - zákon č. 65/1965 Sb. ve znění pozdějších předpisů (Labour Code - Act No. 65/1965 Coll., as subsequently amended)
nařízení vlády č. 178/2001 Sb. ve znění pozdějších předpisů, o ochraně zdraví zaměstnanců při práci (Government Decree No. 178/2001 Coll., as subsequently amended, on protection of employees' health at work)

The Decree contains the amended part incorporated into novela č. 441/2004 Sb. - Government Decree No. 441/2004 Coll., concerning risk assessment and securing safe handling and health protection at work with biological agents in accord with principles determined by Council Directive 2000/54/EC.

Other legal regulations of the Czech Republic in relation to biological agents are as follows:

Vyhláška Ministerstva zdravotnictví č. 432/2003 Sb., (Decree of the Ministry of Health No. 432/2003 Coll.), by which conditions for the categorisation of works are determined
Zákon č. 281/2002 Sb., (Act No. 281/2002 Coll.,) on some measures related to the prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on amendment to živnostenský zákon (Act on Small Businesses) in the wording of zákon č. 186/2004 Sb. (Act No. 186/2004 Coll.)

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