Work-related infections – Part 1: risks of exposure to infectious agents in the workplace

Authors: Tanusha Singh, Onnicah Matuka

Source: Occupational Health Southern Africa Vol 19 No.2

Summary

Key words: exposure risk; hazardous biological agents; infectious disease; work-related; occupational zoonoses

Abstract: Workers in many different jobs may be exposed to various infectious biological agents either intentionally or accidentally. This paper provides information on the risk of exposure to infectious biological agents in the work environment as well as the occupational risk group. The paper also examines the impact of emerging and re-emerging biological risks in the South African workplace. An overview of the proximate sources of exposure and the routes of transmission is presented.