CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Scope — Determination and assessment of risks
Article 3
1
This Directive shall apply to activities in which workers are or are potentially exposed to biological agents as a result of their work.
2
In the case of any activity likely to involve a risk of exposure to biological agents, the nature, degree and duration of workers' exposure must be determined in order to make it possible to assess any risk to the workers' health or safety and to lay down the measures to be taken.
In the case of activities involving exposure to several groups of biological agents, the risk shall be assessed on the basis of the danger presented by all hazardous biological agents present.
The assessment must be renewed regularly and in any event when any change occurs in the conditions which may affect workers' exposure to biological agents.
The employer must supply the competent authorities, at their request, with the information used for making the assessment.
3
The assessment referred to in paragraph 2 shall be conducted on the basis of all available information including:
a
classification of biological agents which are or may be a hazard to human health, as referred to in Article 18;
b
recommendations from a competent authority which indicate that the biological agent should be controlled in order to protect workers' health when workers are or may be exposed to such a biological agent as a result of their work;
c
information on diseases which may be contracted as a result of the work of the workers;
d
potential allergenic or toxigenic effects as a result of the work of the workers;
e
knowledge of a disease from which a worker is found to be suffering and which has a direct connection with his work.