The model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of biological hazards at work, the first Code of its kind in the world, provides practical guidance to assist employers with protecting workers and others from exposure to biological hazards in their workplace.
Biological hazards such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and certain types of fungi (like mould) can be found in all industries and workplaces. Exposure to biological hazards can result in injury, illness and disease.
Workers may be at risk of exposure if their work involves close contact with:
- other people
- animals
- contaminated or organic materials, or
- environments with vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks or mites.
Exposure can occur when biological hazards are part of the work conducted (e.g. farmers handling sick animals), associated with the work environment (e.g. outdoor work in areas with mosquitoes), or brought into the workplace from the community (e.g. communicable diseases like the common cold).
Under work health and safety (WHS) laws, employers have a duty to manage the risks arising from biological hazards as much as possible. While the types of biological hazards and control measures that can be implemented vary by workplace, some baseline controls can significantly reduce risk, including:
- maintaining a clean workplace with good air quality
- training workers on hygiene practices, and
- encouraging vaccination for vaccine preventable diseases
The model Code offers guidance on identifying and implementing effective controls to meet WHS duties. It is broad in scope and applies to any workplace where workers or others may be exposed to biological hazards.
Read the Code here.