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

Occupational safety and health authorities 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 regional occupational safety and health authority, i.e. the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose area the company or institution is located. Contact information.

If you submit the notification via email, it is recommended that you use the  secure email service provided by the regional state administrative agency. Use secure email at least when your message contains confidential or otherwise sensitive material. Please note that secure email only works at: turvaviesti.avi.fi.

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 authorities 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 regional occupational safety and health authority, i.e. the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Regional State Administrative Agency in whose area the workplace is located. Contact information.

If you submit the notification via email, it is recommended that you use the  secure email service provided by the regional state administrative agency. Use secure email at least when your message contains confidential or otherwise sensitive material. Please note that secure email only works at: turvaviesti.avi.fi.