- microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi,
- cell cultures and
- human pathogenic endoparasites,
KOBAS is intended to help the accident insurance institutions form an opinion on how to interpret and evolve the Biostoffverordung (Ordinance on Biological Agents) and the body of regulations which supplement it. KOBAS also supports the collaboration between Germanys’ Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the prevention committees of the statutory accident insurance institutions.
KOBAS is based at the "Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften" (German Federation of Institutions for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention, HVBG). It is supervised and managed by the "Berufsgenossenschaftliche Zentrale für Sicherheit und Gesundheit" (BG Central Office for Health and Safety at Work, BGZ) and consists of:
- representatives of the statutory accident insurance institutions with seats on the "Ausschuss für Biologische Arbeitstoffe" (Committee on Biological Agents, ABAS),
- representatives of the BGZ and the "Berufsgenossenschaftliche Institut für Arbeitsschutz" (BG Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, BGIA),
- representatives of relevant "BGs" (institutions responsible for statutory accident insurance and prevention) or expert committees ⁄ groups with guest status and
- representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with guest status.
KOBAS – an important interface
KOBAS provides support for cooperation between the prevention committees and the ABAS, which advises the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. It develops a harmonised opinion on what protection measures the accident insurance institutions feel should be taken to tackle current OSH problems involving biological workplace agents. The standpoint established within KOBAS on specific OSH issues in the field of biological agents is presented to external parties, particularly the ABAS, where it serves as the statutory accident insurance institutions' contribution to pertinent debate. However, KOBAS also sets up its own working groups. One task force, for instance, collected examples of user instructions drawn up in accordance with the Ordinance on Biological Agents and published them, along with information on how to write user instructions, in a BG information sheet entitled "Betriebsanweisungen nach der Biostoffverordnung" (User instructions as specified in the Ordinance on Biological Agents, BGI 853).
Overview of rules, regulations and information sheets relevant to the area of protection against biological agents
- An up-to-date list of rules, regulations and information sheets related to biological agents can be downloaded in PDF format (44 KB) (only available in german). It is by no means exhaustive, nor does it eliminate the need to check for oneself which rules and regulations apply.
- A list arranged by sector is also available (PDF file: 99 KB) (only available in german).
- BG rules, regulations, and information sheets can be searched in the BGVR database.
- "Technische Regeln für Biologische Arbeitsstoffe" (Technical Rules for Biological Agents, TRBA) can be downloaded on the website of the Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, BauA).
- A list of all of the relevant ABAS documents can be viewed at http://www.baua.de under "Biologische Arbeitsstoffe" in the "Themen von A-Z" section.
Latest news
"Respiratory protection against airborne infectious diseases"
Influenza
In view of the continuing and recurring incidence of avian flu in the human population of Asia as well as German and international efforts to put influenza pandemic plans in place, a KOBAS task force has investigated which respiratory protection devices can be recommended to workers in order to protect them against influenza.
The task force consists of experts from the following bodies: the BG Expert Committee on Personal Protective Equipment, BG Expert Committee on Health and Welfare Services, BGIA, BGZ (which heads up the force), the "Bundesverband der Unfallkassen" (Central Federation of Public-Sector Accident Insurers, BUK), Germany's federal states, the BAuA and the Robert Koch Institute.
Having inspected and discussed the available data and taking into account a series of experiments which the BGIA recently conducted on face-masks in accordance with the test specification in DIN EN 149 "Respiratory protective devices – Filtering half masks to protect against particles – Requirements, testing, marking" (2001), the task force feels it would make sense to use a differentiated procedure to decide which respiratory protection devices should be worn to provide protection against influenza. The procedure is based on a qualitative risk estimation in conjunction with the total inward leakage rates specified in DIN EN 149 and results in the following categories:
- persons who come into contact with suspected sufferers of influenza or engage in certain, specified activities are recommended to wear an FFP1 mask or a face-mask which meets the requirements set out for FFP1 masks in DIN EN 149 (total inward leakage no higher than approx. 22%; arithmetic mean for 10 test persons x 5 exercises);
- persons who treat and care for patients with influenza are recommended to wear an FFP2 mask (total inward leakage approx. 8%);
- persons who perform actions on patients which can provoke coughing (e.g. bronchoscopies, intubation and suction) are recommended to wear an FFP3 mask (total inward leakage approx. 2%); and
- persons suspected of suffering from influenza ⁄ influenza patients shall be offered a face-mask, provided their state of health so permits.
Prevention of needlestick injuries
In October 2003, the BG Expert Committee on Health and Welfare Services and the Committee on Biological Agents (ABAS) at the then Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour published BGR/TRBA 250, "Biologische Arbeitsstoffe im Gesundheitswesen und der Wohlfahrtspflege" (Biological agents in healthcare and welfare facilities), which supplements the Ordinance on Biological Agents. The aims of BGR/TRBA 250 include prevention of needlestick injuries and cuts suffered by medical and care staff. The risk of infection involved in such injuries makes for a not inconsiderable health risk for such staff. In particular, infections with hepatitis B or C or HIV can cause severe and sometimes chronic illness in the persons affected, which in turn causes high costs.
In 2005, the BG for the health and welfare services, the BGZ, BGIA and Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs revisited the problem of needlestick injuries. They commissioned a metaanalysis entitled "Effectiveness of measures to prevent needlestick injuries among employees in health professions", the results of which will be described in an HVBG report.
Findings from the study have also played a part in the consultations concerning the updating of TRBA 250. On 17 May 2006, the ABAS decided to revise Section 4.2.4. As a result, injury-proof instruments will be required to be used in specific fields of work, such as the rescue services and casualty wards. In addition, safe instruments are to be used in all activities where bodily fluids can be transferred in quantities which could cause infection. For more details, including the exceptions, see TRBA 250.
Until their publication in the Bundesarbeitsblatt, the new requirements can be viewed here (Section 4.2.4, PDF file: 88 KB) (only available in german) and on the BAuA website (www.baua.de under "Biologische Arbeitsstoffe").
