Under RIDDOR (a health and safety regulation) employers now have a duty to report cases where employees have contracted COVID as a result of direct exposure due to work activities. Three specific circumstances have been identified: 1) “An accident or incident at work has, or could have, led to the release or escape of coronavirus”, 2) “A worker has been diagnosed with COVID-19 attributed to an occupational exposure to coronavirus.” 3) A worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to coronavirus. This must be reported as a work-related death due to exposure to a biological agent."

As a biosafety expert and consultant working in the scientific research, pharma and biotech space, my tip for scientist is to pay attention to your tissue culture practices, as cultures can be contaminated with COVID and these cultures may pose a risk to your staff. Though the chance is low be on the look out for all other techniques that can lead to scenarios such as this.

You can read about the legal requirement here: https://www.ioshmagazine.com/2020/11/10/covid-19-updated-reporting-guid…

For expert health, safety and biosafety consultancy advise, please contact: info@bishopsimon.co.uk. Credential can be viewed at http://bishopsimon.co.uk and here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shurene-bishop-simon-phd-cmiosh-mistr-682a4…