CAMPAIGN Safety special – biohazards
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Unite took part in groundbreaking health and safety negotiations, ensuring critical progress was made to improve biosafety for workers.
The International Labour Conference (ILC), held in Geneva in June, saw over 5,400 delegates representing governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations across the ILO’s 187 member states.
Unite national health and safety adviser, Rob Miguel, has been leading negotiations on behalf of UK trade unions and workers for the Biological Hazards part of the ILC, with the aim of putting in place a new convention that would address biological hazards in the workplace.
Biological hazards are defined in the ILO’s technical guidelines as “any microorganisms, cells or cell cultures, including those which have been genetically modified, which can cause harm to human health, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, prions, DNA and RNA materials, and any other microorganisms and their associated allergens and toxins.”
There is the potential for workers in all sectors to be exposed to biological hazards. However some working environments will involve a greater risk than others.
This is particularly relevant to agricultural workers who come into contact with animals and livestock or organic materials.
These workers can also be affected by diseases linked to insects and plants, particularly through exposure to dust and pollen. (See our info panel opposite).
There was no international regulation focused on biological hazards in the working environment, but the negotiations, at times exhausting and intense, concluded with progress towards regulating biohazards.
Rob feels optimistic about the substantial progress made in this critical area.
He explained, “Biological hazards are incredibly important, especially after the pandemic which claimed around 7m lives and highlighted public health issues within the workplace.
“Negotiations aimed to construct a set of standards for occupational health and safety, with the aim of achieving binding articles that established global protection for workers against biological hazards.”
Rob was positive about the outcome and though accepting that there had been “difficult and significant battles” with employers over various aspects, he felt that, “governments have generally been receptive to both employers’ and workers' needs, making the negotiations productive.”
Rob said there were a number of areas the discussions covered, resulting in some “crucial inclusions” and some “significant steps forward.”
8 uniteLANDWORKER Spring 2026 ‘‘
Biological hazards are incredibly important, especially after the pandemic which claimed around 7m lives and highlighted public health issues within the workplace
Rob Miguel, Unite health and safety adviser
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i n Unite leads way in improving biosafety for workers
The talks were wide ranging and importantly included the establishment of a convention, rather than only recommendations, and a broader definition of health that covered workers’ mental health and well-being.
One important area was the recognition of the right for workers to remove themselves from danger connected to biological hazards, and that union reps should have a set of rights that includes being consulted, the ability to participate in investigations of occupational diseases and accidents and be given appropriate reports on health surveillance and medical examinations.
The impact of climate change was also explored, and Rob said this was, “The first time climate change has been acknowledged in an occupational safety and health convention.”
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