Report identifies top emerging biological risks in the workplace

According to the report, 'occupational risks related to global epidemics' rank as the highest emerging biological threat, followed closely by 'workers' exposure to drug-resistant micro-organisms' and 'lack of information on biological risks'.

Workers deemed most at risk include farmers, healthcare professionals or people in growing industries such as waste treatment.

Despite existing European law, knowledge is still limited and in many workplaces biological risks are poorly assessed and prevented. The report emphasises the importance of taking a global and multidisciplinary approach involving occupational safety and health, public health, environmental protection and food safety.

It is estimated that 320,000 workers worldwide die every year of communicable diseases caused by viral, bacterial, insect- or animal-related biological hazards. Although most fatalities occur in developing countries, some 5,000 workers fall victim in the EU. Women are more likely to be concerned than men as they typically work in occupations that involve more biohazards and exposure.

"Biological risks often remain underestimated, although they may be very harmful for EU workers in literally any sector,” says Jukka Takala, director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, of which the European Risk Observatory (ERO) is an integral part. "The challenge is to identify them quickly as they appear, analyse the consequences they might have on people's health, and work out policies and procedures to minimise their spread."

The most emerging risks relate to global epidemics with new contagious pathogens, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), avian flu and Ebola, and re-emerging ones such as cholera and yellow fever. Given the speed and volume of international traffic and trade, these diseases and viruses may spread around the globe within a few hours and start a new pandemic.