The technical rules set out the requirements and procedures for assessing risks from respiratory sensitisers at workplaces and the selection of prevention measures. This includes sensitisers originating from moulds (for example Aspergillus spp.). The document holds an overview list of sensitising biological agents.

The technical rules provide information about the classification of parasites into risk groups equivalent to the Biological Agents Directive. They also provide information on potential sensitising properties of parasites.

The technical rules provide information about the classification of viruses and TSE agents into risk groups equivalent to the Biological Agents Directive. They also provide information on potential sensitising properties of viruses.

The technical rules provide information about the classification of fungi into risk groups equivalent to the Biological Agents Directive. They also provide information on potential sensitising properties of fungi.

The technical rules provide information about the classification of bacteria and archae into risk groups equivalent to the Biological Agents Directive. They also provide information on potential sensitising properties of these microorganisms.

The GESTIS Biological Agents Database contains information for safe activities with biological agents at the workplace, e.g. the required technical, organisational and personal protection measures in the case of specific activities in laboratories, biotechnology and the husbandry of laboratory animals. It also supplies information on important properties of the various biological agents, e.g. their occurrence and pathogenic properties. It contains data on about 19500 biological agents. 

The chapter describes background information for scientific occupational health studies. It discusses objectives of biomonitoring and different biomarkers, and provides information on how to plan and design and conduct scientific biomonitoring studies. A separate section discusses validation of methods.

The aim of the code is to define “standards” to which occupational health professionals should adhere when conducting their work and/or be able to clearly reason why they deviate from them. The code contains a description of the role and responsibilities of occupational health professionals, the knowledge and expertise they should have, a commitment to prevention (rather than curing), principles of health surveillance, communication etc.