Scope
1 This publication provides guidance on the general duties under the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (the HSW Act) and the requirements
under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
(COSHH) as they relate to those who deliberately work with biological
agents that pose a risk to human health, other than genetically modified
organisms (GMOs). It also describes the minimum containment
requirements that implement the minimum standards required by the
European Directive (Directive 2000/54/EC) on the protection of workers
from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work.
2 There is separate guidance covering work with GMOs
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l29.htm and pathogens covered by the
Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg280.htm which should also be considered
in the context of other work related to biological agents.
3 In addition to COSHH, this guidance provides practical advice on applying
the relevant parts of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) for deliberate work with biological agents and
how to assess and control the risks associated with working with biological
agents.
4 This guidance applies to contained use work in all types of laboratories
where biological agents are handled including research, teaching, clinical,
forensic, veterinary and environmental laboratories. It covers both
deliberate work with biological agents and work with material that contains
or may contain biological agents and describes in detail the minimum
containment measures required at containment level 2 (CL2) and 3 (CL3);
and should be used in conjunction with the control measures specified in
Schedule 3, COSHH. Further details on biosafety management in
containment level 4 (CL4) laboratories can be found in the Principles,
Design and Operation of Containment Level 4 Facilities
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web09.pdf.
5 There are no legal minimum containment requirements under COSHH for
containment level 1 laboratories. However, the practices, safety equipment
and facilities are similar to those for containment level 2, as required by an
assessment of the risks, and these should be used in addition to the more
general COSHH control measures.
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