Occupational Health Program: Risk Assessment

Consider the inherent risk of the select agent or toxin in question and the conditions of the laboratory. This type of risk assessment may be performed as a part of the biosafety plan. Perform a risk assessment based on the following criteria:

• Route of exposure
• Incubation period
• Infectious dose
• Agent virulence
• Environmental stability
• Communicability of the select agent or toxin
• Genetic modification
• Inherent risk
• Available resources for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis
• Available vaccine options
• Use of personal protective equipment
• Biocontainment issues

Use the information identified in the risk assessment as a guide for the selection of appropriate medical preventions and countermeasures. The risk assessment should specifically identify:

• Hazardous characteristics of a known infectious or potentially infectious agent or material
• Activities that can result in a person’s exposure to an agent
• Likelihood that such exposure will cause a laboratory acquired infection (LAI)
• Probable consequences of such an infection

An entity with Tier 1 BSAT should consider providing workers with access to Tier 1 BSAT a card that lists:

• Emergency phone numbers for:
  • Personal contacts
  • Primary care physicians
  • Occupational health physicians
  • Preferred or designated hospital
  • Entity’s Responsible Official

This information may be necessary when no occupational support is available onsite (e.g., a trip to the emergency room).