Hazard-specific Issues: Biohazards

Biohazards - overview
Terminology
Biosafety
Diagnostic specimens
Data sheets
Pathogens - importation
WHO Risk Groups
Classification by Risk Group
References and Publications

Biohazards - Overview:

As set out in section 64 of the Controlled Products Regulations, (CPR), "an organism that causes disease in man or animal as well as the toxins of such organisms fall into Division 3 of [WHMIS] Class D – Poisonous and Infectious Material". A material which contains such an organism and/or its toxin, and is sold or imported into Canada for the reason that the organism or its toxin is present, is subject to the WHMIS requirements of the Hazardous Products Act, (HPA).

As for the Pest Control Products Regulations, for the purposes of Division 3 of WHMIS Class D, "organism means any biological entity living or non-living, cellular or non-cellular". Thus, the criteria includes a bacterium or a virus "that has been shown to cause disease in man or animal as well as the toxins of such organisms".

Terminology - Common Terms:

Antibiotics: Natural or synthetic drug substances used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Antimicrobials: Natural, semi-synthetic or synthetic substances that are capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. These agents include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, disinfectants, antiseptics and sanitizers.

Bacteria: Single-celled organisms with only one chromosome capable of multiplying by cell division. Many are beneficial; others cause disease in humans, animals and plants.

Bacteria, commensal: The normal microflora living on the external and internal surfaces of humans or animals.

Bacteria, enteric: Bacteria which are associated with the intestinal tract of humans and animals, such as Escherichia, Salmonella and Shigella.

Bacteria, pathogenic: Bacterial species capable of causing diseases in animals or humans.

Microorganism or microbe: Single cell organisms that are too small to be visible to the naked eye, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and microalgae.

Resistance, acquired: The development of antimicrobial resistance through mutation or acquisition of genetic material from other bacteria or the environment.

Resistance, antimicrobial: A condition in which a certain antimicrobial agent becomes ineffective in killing or inhibiting the growth of a targeted microorganism.

Resistance, cross: This develops when microbes exposed to one drug develop resistance to other antimicrobials of the same family.

Resistance gene: DNA molecules that contribute to the ability of bacterial species to thrive in the presence of antimicrobial agents.

Resistance, intrinsic: The ability of bacterial species to thrive in the presence of antimicrobial agents due to inherent characteristics of the organisms.

Virulence: The ability of microbial pathogens to invade host cells and cause infections.

Virus: A very small microorganism, consisting primarily of genetic material wrapped in a protein, which can only multiply inside living host cells.

Zoonoses: Diseases transmitted between vertebrate animals to humans.

Biosafety:

The Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines" were initially developed to guide government, industry, university, hospital and other public health and microbiological laboratories in their development of biosafety policies and programs. Laboratory workers can minimize the risks associated with work involving infectious agents through the application of appropriate biosafety and containment principles and practices.

Diagnostic Specimens:

The HPA applies to the sale and importation of a controlled product. Internal distribution of a substance, such as from one hospital to another, both of which operate under the auspices of a given Ministry of Health, is outside of the scope of the HPA/CPR. As for other employer generated substances which are not sold in Canada, enquiries relating to an employer's obligations regarding labelling and other information requirements for diagnostic specimens should be directed to the occupational safety and health agency having jurisdiction; (see "Contacts" page of the Health Canada WHMIS website).

Technical Data Sheets For Infectious Agents:

The Office of Laboratory Security, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has prepared data sheets for several common potentially infectious agents which can also provide a source of information for labelling. The data sheets are organized to contain health hazard information such as infectious dose, viability (including decontamination), medical information, laboratory hazard, recommended precautions, handling information and spill procedures. The intent of these documents is to provide a safety resource for laboratory personnel working with these infectious substances. As these workers are usually working in a scientific setting and are potentially exposed to much higher concentrations of these human pathogens than the general public, these data sheets contain information that is relevant specifically to the laboratory setting.

Importation Of Pathogens:

In 1994, Health Canada introduced regulations (currently administered by the PHAC) to control the importation of human pathogens into Canada and to ensure that adequate facilities exist for proper laboratory handling and containment of these pathogens. These regulations allow the PHAC to assess, control and manage the risk of inadvertent transmission of communicable disease caused by imported pathogens. Importation permits are issued by the Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC after appropriate evaluation and approval of laboratory facilities.

Animal pathogens are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). For importation of pathogens which are pathogenic to both humans and animals, an import permit is required from the CFIA as well as the PHAC .

World Health Organization (WHO) Risk Groups:

An organism is considered to fall within the CPR criteria for biohazardous infectious material if it falls within WHO Risk Groups 2, 3 or 4.

World Health Organization (WHO) Risk Groups

Group	Risk	Description
1	worker risk - low community risk - low	A microorganism that is unlikely to cause significant human disease.
2	worker risk - moderate community risk - limited	A pathogen that can cause human disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard to workers or the community. Workplace exposures may cause serious infection, but effective treatment and preventive measures are available and the risk of spread of the pathogen is limited.
3	worker risk - high community risk - low	A pathogen that usually produces serious human disease but where the pathogen does not ordinarily spread by casual contact from one infected individual to another.
4	worker risk - high community risk - high	A pathogen that usually produces very serious disease in humans, is often untreatable, and the pathogen may be readily transmitted from one individual to another, directly or indirectly.

Classification of Organisms by Risk Group:

Chapter 2 of the Health Canada Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines provided a list of infectious agents by Risk Group. The list of human pathogens classified by Risk Group is currently under review. For questions about the Risk Group classification of specific organisms, please contact the Office of Laboratory Security.

References / Publications:

Government of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada: " Links and Resources"

Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail: " Guide on respiratory protection against bioaerosols - Recommendations on its selection and use". This guide is intended for workers in household waste sorting centres, wastewater treatment plants, agricultural enterprises, food and beverage processing companies, and hospitals. It provides a description of the respirators, filtration mechanisms, as well as information on their fit, seal and maintenance. It then provides information on the respiratory protection required for infectious and non-infectious bioaerosols.