Advance notification of the use of biological agents belonging to group 2, 3 or 4

Occupational safety and health authority must be notified before biological agents belonging to risk group 2, 3 or 4 are used for the first time. Notice must be given at least 30 days before the work is due to begin.

Content of the notification:

• name and address of the company or institution
• name and qualifications of the person responsible for occupational safety and health
• findings of risk assessments
• types of biological agents involved
• protective and preventive actions to be taken.

Laboratories that provide diagnostic services on group-4 biological agents only need to submit a notice of their intention to handle biological agents before they commence the service.

Proceed as follows

Send a free-form notification to the occupational safety and health authority, i.e. the Occupational Safety and Health Department at the Finnish Supervisory Agency.

The notification is stored in the occupational safety and health authority’s case management system.

Notification of accidents and incidents

Employers must immediately notify occupational safety and health authority of all accidents and incidents that could have led to the release of biological agents to places such as a the public workspaces or general sewerage network of the workplace, and that could pose a risk of a serious infection or illness.

Proceed as follows

Submit a notification about the incident to the occupational safety and health authority, i.e. the Occupational Safety and Health Department at the Finnish Supervisory Agency.