New guidance on working with dangerous pathogens

E058:06 10 May 2006

The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) today published new health and safety guidance on how to control the risks posed from infections at work.

Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of containment level 4 facilities is aimed at those responsible for working with the highest hazard pathogens.

It is based on the principles contained in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002. These regulations place a duty on employers to identify the hazards in the workplace, assess the risk posed and put control measures in place to control these risks.

The guidance, which has been developed in partnership with experts from ACDP, the biotechnology industry, HSE and other Government Departments, is intended for all laboratories in which high hazard human pathogens may be handled; prevention of exposure and potential infection from these highly pathogenic organisms is important for both workers health and safety and public health.

Professor George Griffin, Chair of ACDP, said: "This guidance is aimed at providing employers, users and designers of containment level 4 facilities with the information needed to assess, understand and control the infection risks to their staff arising from work with high hazard pathogens.''

Notes to editors

1. ACDP is a group of experts which advises the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and health and agriculture Ministers. They provide information on the nature, sources and transmission of infections, as well as possible control measures such as hygiene measures, engineering controls and provision of appropriate clothing.

2. The management, design and operation of microbiological containment laboratories aimed at those responsible for the management and operation of containment level 2 and containment level 3 laboratories was published in 2001. This is a priced publication available from HSEBooks (ISBN 0 7176 2034 4 -http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/information.htm)

3. Further information for those working with pathogens in the laboratory and health care settings, and for all occupations where incidental exposure to biological agents could occur such as farming, refuse collectors and cleaners can be found in 'Biological agents: managing the risks in the laboratory and healthcare premises (2005)' and

4. Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of containment level 4 facilities is aimed at those responsible for working with the highest hazard pathogens and completes a suit of laboratory guidance, complementing the previous publication covering laboratory containment levels 2 & 3.

Copies of Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of containment level 4 facilities are available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web09.pdf.

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