CHAPTER IIEMPLOYERS' OBLIGATIONS

Article 6Reduction of risks

1.

Where the results of the assessment referred to in Article 3 reveal a risk to workers' health or safety, workers' exposure must be prevented.

2.

Where this is not technically practicable, having regard to the activity and the risk assessment referred to in Article 3, the risk of exposure must be reduced to as low a level as necessary in order to protect adequately the health and safety of the workers concerned, in particular by the following measures which are to be applied in the light of the results of the assessment referred to in Article 3:

(a)

keeping as low as possible the number of workers exposed or likely to be exposed;

(b)

design of work processes and engineering control measures so as to avoid or minimise the release of biological agents into the place of work;

(c)

collective protection measures and/or, where exposure cannot be avoided by other means, individual protection measures;

(d)

hygiene measures compatible with the aim of the prevention or reduction of the accidental transfer or release of a biological agent from the workplace;

(e)

use of the biohazard sign depicted in Annex II and other relevant warning signs;

(f)

drawing up plans to deal with accidents involving biological agents;

(g)

testing, where it is necessary and technically possible, for the presence, outside the primary physical confinement, of biological agents used at work;

(h)

means for safe collection, storage and disposal of waste by workers including the use of secure and identifiable containers, after suitable treatment where appropriate;

(i)

arrangements for the safe handling and transport of biological agents within the workplace.