Local Health Authority of Section H of Rome issued a document entitled "risk from biological agents in the polish companies" Consolidated Safety Legislative Decree 81/08, Title X , where are treated risks to biological agents in the field of professional cleaning .
The the biologic agents are microorganisms, cell cultures or human endoparasites which may cause infections , allergies or poisoning .
biological agents are classified according to their hazards (for both workers that for ordinary people) on parameters given by infectivity, transmissibility, pathogenicity and possible neutralizzabilità. The virulence of the agents is understood as the totality of characteristics of infectivity and patogenigicità.
The risks to biological agents in the workplace can be caused by: a deliberate use
- : activity during which biological agents are deliberately introduced into the work cycle to be processed, handled or processed to exploit its biological properties or deliberately isolated, grown or processed to determine the presence, type and / or quantity in the samples.
- a potential Exposure activities where you can highlight the presence of biological agents, even at high concentrations, breakthrough but as a fact and not voluntary, lacks the deliberate intent to make them the subject of work.
In cleaning companies exposure to biological agents is type potential: the activities are carried out in very different locations, and operators are not exposed to risks associated specifically with their job, but the situations and environmental hygiene the site where from time to time perform their jobs.
It is therefore extremely important that there is an active collaboration and coordination between the firm of polish and the customer service, particularly in the management of biological risk. The document reminds employers that the risk assessment is also required for activities involving potential exposure, this assessment depends on the mandatory implementation of certain protective and preventive measures:
- adoption of specific sanitation;
- specific measures for health care facilities and veterinary health surveillance
- .
In particular regard to technical measures, organizational and procedural employer:
- avoid the use of a harmful biological agent if the type of work permits;
- limited to the minimum risk of workers exposed to biological agents;
- properly designed work processes through the use of safety devices against accidental exposure;
- adopt collective measures (or individual if you can not otherwise) of protection;
- adopt hygienic measures to prevent and minimize the accidental spread of a biological agent out of the workplace;
- use the biohazard sign;
- develop appropriate procedures for taking, handling and processing samples of human and animal
- defines procedures to deal with accidents;
- verify the presence of biological agents at work;
- establish the capability for the disposal of waste;
- agree procedures for handling and transportation of biological agents within and outside the workplace.
The employer is also required to provide workers with information and instructions on:
- risks to health from biological agents used
- safety precautions to avoid exposure
- hygiene measures to be observed
- the function of protective clothing and of personal di protezione ed il corretto impiego
- le procedure da seguire per la manipolazione di agenti biologici pericolosi
- il modo di prevenire gli infortuni e ridurne al minimo le conseguenze
I lavoratori devono ricevere la formazion e prima di intraprendere le attività in questione e devono essere aggiornati con frequenza almeno quinquennale. Nei luoghi di lavoro devono poi essere presenti cartelli che illustrino procedure da seguire in caso di infortunio.
La sorveglianza sanitaria deve tener conto della pericolosità dell’agente e della reale esposizione in relazione agli specifici compiti effettuati” e dei fattori favorenti l’infezione, quali ipersuscettibilità individual or environmental factors that may reduce the skin's immune system and mucous membranes.
