In these Regulations any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have the meaning so assigned and, unless the context indicates otherwise -

"biological agent"

means any micro-organism, cell culture or human endoparasite, including any which have been genetically modified, which may cause an infection, allergy or toxicity, or otherwise create a hazard to human health;

"decontamination"

means to remove, as far as is reasonably practicable, all inanimate objects by way of sweeping, cleaning, washing, ventilating or any other process aimed at removing the contaminant;

"diagnostic laboratory"

means a workplace where diagnostic or other screening procedures are performed on blood or other potentially infectious materials;

"disinfect"

means to render non-viable virtually all recognised pathogenic micro-organisms, but not necessarily all microbial forms;

"engineering control measures"

means control measures that remove or reduce the exposure of persons at the workplace by means of engineering methods;

"Facilities Regulations’’

means the Facilities Regulations promulgated by Government Notice No. R. 2362 of 5 October 1990 under section 43 of the Act;

"General Administrative Regulations"

means the General Administrative Regulations promulgated by Government Notice No. R. 1449 of 6 September 1996 under section 43 of the Act;

"HBA"

means hazardous biological agents which are micro-organisms, including those that have been genetically modified, pathogens, cells, cell cultures and human endoparasites that have the potential to provoke an infection toxic effects, subdivided into the following groups -

"micro-organisms"

means microbiological entities, cellular or non-cellular, capable of replication or of transferring genetic material;

"monitoring"

means the planning and carrying out of the measurement programme and the recording of the results thereof;

"respiratory protective equipment"

means a device which is worn over at least the mouth and nose to prevent the inhalation of airborne hazardous biological agents, and which conforms to a standard, acceptable to the chief inspector:

"safety equipment"

means a contrivance or a device designed to as far as possible try and prevent injury;

"standard precautions"

means a synthesis of the major features of Universal Precautions (UP) and Body Substance Isolation (BSI) and applies to all persons coming into contact with potentially -infected persons, animals or animal products and potentially contaminated blood and other body fluids in health care facilities or elsewhere and -

"The Act"

means the Occupational Health and Safety Act,1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)