Biological Agents Notifications

Why Do I Have to Make a Biological Agents Notifications?

Biological agents are found in many work sectors and include bacteria, viruses, fungi (yeasts and moulds) and parasites. Some of these agents may have potential to cause ill health.

Workers may be harmed by being infected by a biological agent, by being exposed to toxins produced by the biological agent or have an allergic reaction to the biological agent or substances it produces. Some biological agents have the ability to replicate rapidly, require minimal resources to survive and can infect at very small doses.

How and When do I Make a Biological Agents Notifications?

Regulation 14 (1) (e) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations, 2013 (S.I. No. 572 of 2013) requires notification to the Authority thirty days prior to the commencement of work relating to the use of Group 2, 3 or 4 Biological Agents under certain circumstances and conditions using the Biological Agents Notification form (size 57 KB).