Occupational Health Program: Requirements

A successful occupational health program is designed to reduce the risk of infection and health complications in employees with access to Tier 1 BSAT in the event of exposure. Employees with access to Tier 1 BSAT should be introduced to the OHP before being granted access to such select agents and toxins. The key elements of an effective OHP include:

• Risk assessment
• Medical assessment and surveillance
• Access to clinical health services and management
• Hazard communication

Though the RO is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the requirements for an OHP are met, the OHP is a living document that should undergo regular review by subject matter experts for updates to ensure that it is effective in preventing infection and reducing health complications due to exposure to Tier 1 BSAT. Many elements of an OHP may already exist in the biosafety, security, and incident response plans. While the select agent regulations do not require that the OHP is consolidated into one document, FSAP recommends doing so to ensure ease of comprehension and training for laboratory workers.