Living things you can't see — and the diseases they cause
Biological hazards are bacteria, viruses, fungi and plant and animal particles that can cause infectious diseases, respiratory illness, cancer and gastro-intestinal illness. In New Zealand the most commonly notified work-related biological exposures are leptospirosis and campylobacteriosis, and Legionnaires' disease — a severe pneumonia — can be picked up from soil, compost and water systems. The controls are to identify and remove the source, vaccinate where appropriate, keep good hygiene, and use the right protection.
Biological hazards include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and plant and animal particles. Exposure can cause a range of harm: infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, and gastro-intestinal illness. They turn up in farming and animal work, meat and food processing, waste and wastewater, healthcare and laboratories, cleaning, and any work that disturbs contaminated soil or water.
Diseases that pass from animals to people are a major source of work-related infection in New Zealand. Leptospirosis and campylobacteriosis are the most commonly notified work-related biological exposures to WorkSafe, and farm, meat-processing and animal workers are most at risk — from animal urine, tissue and contaminated water or soil. Good hygiene, covering cuts, and vaccination where it is available (see the Ministry of Health Immunisation Handbook) all help.
Legionella bacteria cause Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can be fatal. It is not contagious — you cannot catch it from another person — and it usually develops two to ten days after exposure. Workers are exposed by breathing in contaminated mist or dust from garden soil, compost, mulch and potting mix, and from water systems such as cooling towers and evaporative condensers. To reduce the risk: wear gloves and wash hands well after handling soil or compost, wet material down with a gentle low-pressure spray rather than a hard spray that creates mist, never use compressed air to clean off dust, and use sealed cabs or a P2 respirator when loading or spreading bulk soil and compost.
| Control | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Remove the source | Identify and remove or isolate harmful biological matter before work starts, by someone trained to do it safely; check disturbed land for contaminants. |
| Vaccinate | Where vaccination is available for a relevant disease, following Ministry of Health guidance. |
| Hygiene | Hand-washing facilities, covering cuts, clean and contaminated areas kept separate, and safe handling of sharps and waste. |
| Protection | Respiratory protection, gloves and other PPE where exposure cannot be eliminated. |
| Monitor | Health monitoring where workers are routinely exposed. |
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Bacteria, fungi, viruses, and plant and animal particles that can cause infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer and gastro-intestinal illness. They are common in farming, meat and food processing, waste, healthcare and any work disturbing contaminated soil or water.
Leptospirosis and campylobacteriosis are the most commonly notified work-related biological exposures to WorkSafe, mainly affecting farm, meat-processing and animal workers.
A severe, sometimes fatal pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. It is not contagious and usually develops two to ten days after exposure. Workers breathe in contaminated mist or dust from soil, compost, potting mix, or water systems like cooling towers.
Wear gloves and wash hands well afterwards, wet material with a gentle low-pressure spray rather than a hard spray, never use compressed air to clean off dust, and use a sealed cab or P2 respirator when loading or spreading bulk material.
Identify and remove or isolate the source before work, vaccinate where available, keep good hygiene and handle sharps and waste safely, use respiratory protection and gloves, and arrange health monitoring for routinely exposed workers.
