Resources

This page contains links to sources of HSE information and guidance on biological hazards at work.

• General occupational guidance
• Laboratories
• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Sewage / Waste
• Legionella
• Zoonoses
• Miscellaneous
• Research
• Videos
• Advisory committees

General occupational guidance

• Controlling the risks of infection at work from human remains - A guide for those involved in funeral services (including embalmers) and those involved in exhumation
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 ACoP
• Infection risks to new and expectant mothers
• Infection at work: controlling the risk
• Blood-borne viruses in the workplace
• BSE - Occupational guidance (WEB22)

Laboratories

• Revision of laboratory containment requirements for work with novel A/H1N1 strains of influenza
• Blood-borne viruses in the workplace
• Revised Advice on Laboratory Containment Measures for work with Tissue Samples in Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratories
• Management, design and operation of microbiological containment laboratories
• Approved List of biological agents
• Working safely with research animals: management of infection risks
  • Working safely with simians: management of infectious risks
• Vaccination of laboratory workers handling vaccinia and related poxviruses infectious for humans
• Safe disposal of clinical waste
• Safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and similar facilities
• Guidance on the use, testing and maintenance of laboratory and animal flexible film isolators
• The large scale contained use of biological agents
• Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises
• Sealability of Microbiological Containment Level 3 and 4 Facilities NEW
• The principles, design and operation of Containment Level 4 facilities

Healthcare

• Safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and similar facilities
• Safe working and the prevention of infection in the mortuary and post-mortem room
• Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises

Agriculture

• Common zoonoses in agriculture

Sewage

• Working with sewage
• Working with sewage: the health hazards. A guide for employers
• Leptospirosis - Are you at risk

Legionella

• The HSE Legionella Working Group 
• Legionnaires' disease: a guide for employers
• Legionnaires' Disease: Essential information for providers of residential accommodation
• Legionnaires' disease: the control of legionella bacteria in water systems - ACoP and guidance
• Controlling legionella in nursing and residential care homes
• Management of Spa Pools - Controlling the Risks of Infection
• Legionnaire’s disease at chemical sites

Zoonoses

• Anthrax: Safe working and prevention of infection
• Leptospirosis - are you at risk
• BSE and carcass disposal
• E. Coli 0157

Miscellaneous

• Other dangerous pathogens free leaflets

Research

• Biological hazard

Videos

• Video catalogue

• Working with Hazard Group 3 biological agents it is essential that the most suitable containment measures are used. Invariably this means working at Containment Level 3 (CL3). This video aims to help laboratory staff in both research and diagnostic facilities to interpret COSHH regulations in this environment and demonstrates the requirements of the CL3 laboratory.0 7176 1877 3 £40.00 15mins
• Microbiological risks: working with sewage and sludge. Workers in a number of industries are at risk from contact with sewage. This video shows the risks presented by a number of different work activities. It illustrates the importance of personal protective equipment, good hygiene practices and training.0 7176 1897 8 £40.00 12mins
• Microbiological safety cabinets: safe working practice. This video about microbiological safety cabinets offers practical advice on their safe use. Correct use, maintenance and testing of cabinets is fundamental in controlling exposure to dangerous biological agents. 0 7176 2099 9 £25.00 19mins

Advisory Committees

• The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP)

Newsletters

Biological Agents Bulletin - Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens

This is an ad hoc publication, published by the ACDP secretariat. It aims to give information on the work of the ACDP, including new and forthcoming publications; news on the classification of biological agents; and other issues and topics of interest to people working with biological agents. The bulletin is aimed at workers in the laboratory and health care sectors, as well as people with a public health interest in infectious disease.

• Biological Agents Bulletin No 7, November 2006
• Biological Agents Bulletin No 6, March 2003
• Biological Agents Bulletin No 5, December 2002
• Biological Agents Bulletin No 4, July 2001
• Biological Agents Bulletin No 3, October 2000
• Biological Agents Bulletin No 2, October 1999
• Biological Agents Bulletin No 1, December 1998

N.B. Except for the latest edition the bulletins in this section are not current information; they have been included for interest only. Any links or URLs contained within some of the older bulletins may no longer work, and some of the pages referred to may no longer be extant.

Other

• Useful links