Nature and assessment of biohazards

Risk assessment, followed by the associated protection and prevention measures, involves determining the nature of the hazard, its duration and the conditions under which workers, the general public or the environment are exposed to it. The hazard may be objective or potential.

Objective hazards are defined hazards that can be controlled by appropriate procedures.

A potential hazard is one that is possible, but not necessarily actual. The importance of this potential character will evolve with scientific knowledge. In this case, the precautionary principle will be applied to define the means of protection to be implemented.