Chemical and Biological Hazards

WorkSafeBC has specific regulations regarding chemical and biological hazards to ensure the safety and health of staff who may be exposed to these substances.

If a worker is, or may be exposed to chemical or biological agents, that could cause an adverse health effect, the employer must:

• Clearly indicate the potential health and safety effects of hazardous chemicals and the necessary precautions through labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) provided by the supplier.
• Prepare and implement written procedures to eliminate or minimize exposure risk and address emergency and cleanup procedures for spills or releases.
• Ensure workers are trained in and follow measures for safe handling, use, storage, disposal, and emergency procedures.

Employers must offer hepatitis B vaccinations to all workers at risk of occupational exposure.

If a worker is exposed to any hazardous biological agent (e.g., needlestick injury), the protocol includes immediate first aid, incident reporting and documentation, and prompt medical assessment at a hospital emergency department.

Hazardous materials are dangerous products that can cause fires, explosions, or health problems. They include flammable, reactive, or corrosive substances, as well as those that can lead to respiratory/skin/eye damage or irritation, sensitization, acute or long-term toxicity, organ damage, carcinogenicity, or biohazards.

Compressed gases, liquid nitrogen, disinfectants, sterilizers, and specimen preservatives are examples of hazardous products commonly found in medical clinics. If hazardous products are used, stored, or handled in the clinic, the employer must establish and maintain an effective WHMIS program.

All staff in contact with hazardous materials, regardless of the amount, must obtain training to protect themselves. The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Provincial training course is available at no cost (refer to the Additional Resources section below).

An Exposure Control Plan (ECP) is a documented strategy that outlines procedures to minimize workers’ exposure to hazardous materials or conditions in the workplace. When an ECP is required, employers must inform workers about the plan, provide training, and review and update it annually.

Chemical Hazards

Some chemicals used in medical clinics are classified as hazardous substances and have occupational exposure limits (e.g. formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, glutaraldehyde). If workers are or may be overexposed to these chemicals (exposure above 50% of their occupational exposure limits), the employer must also develop and implement an ECP.

Refer to WorkSafeBC’s Table of exposure limits for chemical and biological substances.

Biological Hazards

Because of their work, medical clinic staff are likely to have occupational exposure to biological agents that can cause adverse health effects on humans. WorkSafeBC classifies these agents as hazardous substances (biohazards), which include bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other microorganisms that cause disease, as well as biological toxins. For a list of biological hazards classified as hazardous substances, refer to WorkSafeBC.

If workers are or may be exposed to biohazards, the employer must develop and implement an ECP. This template can help you create a biohazard ECP for your clinic.

WorkSafeBC has regulations to protect workers from exposure to both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.

If staff might be exposed to ionizing radiation (e.g., X-ray machine, CT scanner, mammogram) above 1 milliSievert (mSv) per year, the employer must:

• Create and implement an exposure control plan (ECP).
• Make the safe handling instructions accessible to workers in the work area or near the equipment.
• Ensure workers’ exposure is kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
• Provide the worker with a personal dosimeter and ensure its proper use.
• Inform staff about potential reproductive risks.
• Conduct radiation surveys according to acceptable standards or applicable safety codes and keep the records for at least 10 years.

Equipment producing ionizing or non-ionizing radiation, or ultrasonic energy must be installed, operated, and maintained according to acceptable standards. For non-ionizing radiation (e.g., MRI, infrared, ultrasound, radiofrequency, laser), the employer must ensure exposure remains within the recommended limits. Refer to WorkSafeBC for recommended standards.

A hazardous drug is one that has characteristics such as carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, genotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, or organ toxicity at low doses, or is identified as a hazardous drug by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Refer to NIOSH list of hazardous drugs.

If staff is, or may be, exposed to a hazardous drug, the employer must:

• Create a list of all hazardous drugs present in the workplace and make the list accessible to staff.
• Ensure a qualified person prepares a written risk assessment.
• Ensure a qualified person develops an exposure control plan (ECP).