Product Overview

Summary: This Biological Hazards and Controls Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for identifying, assessing and controlling exposure to biological agents in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations meet their WHS duties while protecting workers, contractors and visitors from infections, contamination and other health impacts linked to biological risks.

Biological hazards are not limited to hospitals and laboratories; they arise wherever people, animals, plants, bodily fluids, organic waste or contaminated materials are handled. This Biological Hazards and Controls Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step approach to managing risks from microorganisms, blood and body substances, moulds, contaminated sharps, animal waste, and other biological agents. It translates Australian WHS and infection control expectations into clear workplace practices that can be applied in healthcare, aged care, laboratories, education, food production, waste and cleaning operations, and local government services.

The SOP guides you through hazard identification, risk assessment, hierarchy-of-control-based risk treatment, and ongoing monitoring of controls. It sets out practical requirements for immunisation programs, standard and transmission-based precautions, PPE selection and use, safe sharps handling, spill management, cleaning and disinfection, waste segregation, storage and disposal, and incident response. By implementing this procedure, organisations can demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation, support consistent training and supervision, and significantly reduce the likelihood of infection, cross-contamination, and reputational damage linked to poor biological risk management.

Key Benefits

• Ensure a consistent, defensible approach to biological hazard management across all sites and workgroups.
• Reduce the risk of infection, cross-contamination and disease transmission to workers, clients, patients and visitors.
• Demonstrate compliance with Australian WHS laws, infection control guidelines and relevant industry standards.
• Standardise training and induction so new and existing workers clearly understand safe biological handling practices.
• Improve incident response capability for biological spills, exposures and near misses, minimising disruption and harm.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Infection Prevention and Control Coordinators
• Laboratory Managers
• Aged Care Facility Managers
• Healthcare Practice Managers
• Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Officers
• Food Manufacturing Supervisors
• Waste Management Supervisors
• Local Government Environmental Health Officers
• University and Research Facility Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens (e.g. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV)
• Airborne and droplet transmissible diseases (e.g. influenza, tuberculosis, COVID-19)
• Contact with infectious bodily fluids, tissues and clinical waste
• Needlestick and sharps injuries involving contaminated instruments or waste
• Exposure to biological contaminants in sewage and wastewater
• Mould and fungal growth in indoor environments causing respiratory issues or allergic reactions
• Zoonotic diseases from animals, animal products or animal waste
• Microbial contamination of food, surfaces and equipment
• Improper handling and disposal of biological and clinical waste
• Secondary contamination from inadequate cleaning, disinfection and spill management

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Biological Hazards
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Consultation
• 4.0 Legislative and Standards Framework
• 5.0 Identification and Risk Assessment of Biological Hazards
• 6.0 Hierarchy of Controls for Biological Risks
• 7.0 Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions
• 8.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements and Use
• 9.0 Safe Handling of Sharps and Clinical Materials
• 10.0 Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilisation Procedures
• 11.0 Biological Spill Management and Decontamination
• 12.0 Biological and Clinical Waste Segregation, Storage and Disposal
• 13.0 Immunisation, Health Monitoring and Fitness for Work
• 14.0 Incident Reporting, Exposure Management and Post-Exposure Follow-Up
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 16.0 Recordkeeping, Monitoring and Review of Controls
• 17.0 Document Control and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Hazardous Manual Tasks (for handling biological loads and waste)
• Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (NHMRC)
• AS/NZS 2243.3: Safety in laboratories – Microbiological safety and containment
• AS/NZS 3816: Management of clinical and related wastes
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 1337.1: Personal eye protection
• AS/NZS 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems (ISO 45001 as adopted in Australia)