The Regulation relating to Biological Agents (Verordnung biologische Arbeitsstoffe, VbA) of 1998 governs the use, including the unintended use, of biological agents. It deals, in particular, with the following issues:

• identifying and assessing the hazards as well as assigning biological agents to risk categories for intended use;
• identifying and assessing the hazards resulting from unintended use;
• hygiene, avoidance of exposure, vaccination;
• safety devices, personal protective Equipment, safe handling;
• disinfection, precautionary measures for specific incidents;
• record-keeping and reporting duties for the intended use of biological agents;
• employer’s duty to inform and instruct employees;

Annex One of the Regulation relating to Biological Agents contains a list of additional protective measures for risk categories 2, 3 and 4. Annex Two comprises lists of the organisms of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi and their assignment to risk categories.

• Biological Agents
• Blasting Operations