OHSS: H&S Guidance 301.2
Self Classification of Biological Agents
Self-Classification of Biological Agents
A Biological Agent as defined by COSHH is ‘a micro-organism, cell culture, or human endoparasite,
whether or not genetically modified, which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or otherwise create
a hazard to human health’.
Most Biological Agents have been classified into Hazard Groups, which are listed in the Approved List
of Biological Agents. This lists Hazard Group (HG)2, HG3 and HG4 Biological Agents.
If a Biological Agent is not listed it is usually a HG1 agent defined as unlikely to cause human disease.
If your Biological Agent is not listed in the Approved list and you are aware of properties of the agent
that suggest that it is a human pathogen then you must provisionally classify the agent yourself.
You must assign the agent to one of the following Hazard Groups according to its level of risk of
infection. If you in doubt as to which of two alternative Hazard Groups is the most appropriate it
should be assigned to the higher of the two –
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Group 1 – unlikely to cause human disease.
Group 2 – can cause human disease and may be a hazard to employees; it is unlikely to
spread to the community and there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available.
Group 3 – can cause severe human disease and may be a serious hazard to employees; it
may spread to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment
available.
Group 4 – causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to employees; it is likely to
spread to the community and there is usually no effective prophylaxis or treatment
available.