Standardization of Distribution of Work Clothing, Footwear and Personal Protective Equipment among Employees Working with Infectious Disease Agents

Abstract

When working with infectious disease agents, personal protective equipment (PPE) is widely used, which is one of the significant elements of ensuring biological safety. A review and analysis of the current legal and regulatory framework for providing workers with work clothes, footwear and PPE, carrying out activities with infectious disease agents in the Russian Federation has been conducted. The issuance of PPE when working with hazardous biological factors - infectious disease agents - is determined by regulations in the field of occupational safety, technical regulation, biological safety and provision of medical care. Problems of applicability of certain provisions of current regulations in the field of labor protection and technical regulation in relation to the issuance of PPE when working with pathogenic microorganisms are identified. The main ones include: discrepancies in terminology in documents approved by various executive authorities; the need to clarify the quantitative standards for issuing some PPE depending on the specifics of the work process and biological safety requirements; confirmation of compliance with the protective effectiveness of PPE against hazardous effects of biological factors; selection of PPE against exposure to pathogenic biological agents depending on the properties of a specific product, its design features, modifications aimed at reducing the risk to personnel, population and environment; identifying the concept of “work clothing” when working with pathogens. The solution lies in the development of standardization and methodological support for biological safety.

Keywords

• personal protective equipment
• standardization
• hazardous biological factor
• pathogens of infectious diseases