Managers Responsibilities

Risk Assessment:

Some people who work with animals, or provide care for people, or who clean up or handle waste materials, can be exposed to harmful micro-organisms.  Micro-organisms are bacteria and viruses (more commonly known as germs), fungi or parasites. In most workplaces, the risk of catching an infection, such as a cold or flu, is no higher than in any other public place and under normal circumstances you do not have to take any action.

These micro-organism's can cause an infection if they are breathed in, swallowed, or if they penetrate the skin, and can include some very serious illnesses. Some may in turn cause an allergic reaction or are toxic.  Micro-organism's which are hazardous to human health such as those listed in Appendix 1 are included as substances hazardous to health in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), see Health and Safety Policies and Procedures – COSHH (Section 4.1).

COSHH requires employers to:

• Assess the risks to health from any work activities which involve a hazardous substance (e.g. a micro-organism)

• Prevent or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately control exposure to the hazardous substances

• Introduce and maintain control measures

• Provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training to employees about the risks and precautions to be taken

• Regularly review risk assessments and the effectiveness of control measures

Examples of Occupations and the Micro-organisms which could be encountered

Emergency Workers 
Tetanus, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis A

Conservation, Forestry, Park and Landscape Workers
Leptospirosis, Tetanus, Hantavirus disease, Lyme disease, Orf

Architects & Surveyors
Psittacosis, Tetanus, Anthrax

Building Maintenance Workers
Tetanus, Psittacosis, Leptospirosis

Engineers
Tetanus, Leptospirosis

Health Care and Social Workers
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, TB

Animal Health Officers
Rabies

Street Marshals/Car Park Attendants
Hepatitis A, Tetanus

Manager Responsibilities:

• Identify whether any employee or group of employees (or volunteers or agency workers working under the direction of the Council) is at risk from any of the micro-organisms listed above (or any other microorganism, zoonosis* or any other disease such as Hepatitis B).

• Identify the activities which give rise to that risk.

• Carry out an assessment of the risk to employees (and volunteers, agency workers, pupils and clients) when carrying out particular activities. Guidance on how to do this is given in the COSHH Policy which is available on The Source (Health & Safety Policies & Procedures – COSHH [Section 4.1]).

• Take steps to prevent or control the risk by preventing rodent or bird contamination in areas under Council control by notifying Facilities or the Estates Team to any potential issues as required.

• Develop safe systems of work for activities involving exposure, issue water proof clothing and first aid equipment as required, encourage good housekeeping and hygiene practices and encourage staff and volunteers to be immunised where available.

• Give staff and volunteers information about the risks to their health, the symptoms and what precautions are required through induction and training and issue warning cards if necessary.

• Make the COSHH assessment available.

• Ensure that reporting procedures are in place for monitoring the occurrence of infectious diseases and, if required escalate any concerns or issues initially to Line Management and then Occupational Health and the Health & Safety team as needed.

*Zoonosis – a disease which can be transmitted from animals to humans.