IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

Biological hazard respiratory protection guide

Abstract

The IRSST developed this guide at the request of the Review Committee for Schedule I of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety. It is intended for workers exposed to biological hazards and for those people responsible for protecting them. These hazards are divided into two classes, based on the characteristics of a bioaerosol. Infectious hazards, such as some living viruses and pathogenic bacteria, can cause infections. Non-infectious hazards, which include microorganisms present in the environment in general, can produce immunological or toxic reactions when inhaled, even if they are dead. Simplified tables and a decision tree make it easy to determine the necessity for a specific respirator and to choose the most appropriate equipment for the situation, based on the case. This guide is intended for all workers and managers having to make decisions regarding personal protection, while being of particular interest to those in hospitals, household waste sorting centres, wastewater treatment plants, agriculture, and food and beverage processing.

Additional Information

Type: Project
Number: 0099-5810
Status: Completed
Year of completion: 2007
Team:
  • Jacques Lavoie (IRSST)
  • Geneviève Marchand (IRSST)
  • Yves Cloutier (IRSST)
  • Jaime Lara (IRSST)
  • Gérard Ozanne (Institut national de santé publique du Québec)
  • Élisabeth Lajoie (ADRSSS de Montérégie)
  • Sylvie Bédard (Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur affaires sociales)
  • Luc Ménard (IRSST)
  • Nicole Goyer (IRSST)