Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) with amending regulations of: 27 March 2012 [shall come into force from 1 April 2012]; 6 February 2018 [shall come into force from 9 February 2018]. If a whole or part of a paragraph has been amended, the date of the amending regulation appears in square brackets at the end of the paragraph. If a whole paragraph or sub-paragraph has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted paragraph or sub-paragraph.

Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 618 Adopted 6 July 2010

Regulations Regarding Disinfection, Disinsectisation and Deratisation

Issued pursuant to
Section 27, Paragraph two
of the Epidemiological Safety Law

I. General Provisions

1. This Regulation prescribes:

1.1. the procedures for performance and financing of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation in the focus of an infectious disease;

1.2. the requirements for the provision of prophylactic disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation services in an object or territory, as well as the qualification requirements for employees who provide the referred to services; and

1.3. the requirements for educational institutions in which providers of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation services are trained, the training programme model and the sample certificate of a service provider.

2. In performing disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation, such disinfection products, products against insects (insecticides, rodenticides) and other biocidal products shall be used, the use of which is allowed in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding activities with biocidal products, in compliance with the instructions for use thereof, as well as taking into account the information provided on the safety data sheet of the biocidal product.

II. Procedures for Performance and Financing of Disinfection, Disinsectisation and Deratisation in the Focus of an Infectious Disease

3. The necessary measures of current disinfection (daily disinfection or repeated disinfection) and the disinfection method in the focus of an infectious disease shall be determined by a medical practitioner who has diagnosed the infectious disease or who has professionally substantiated suspicions thereof, except the cases of the diseases referred to in Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of this Regulation.

4. Current disinfection in the focus of an infectious disease shall be performed:

4.1. until placement of the infected person in a medical treatment institution;

4.2. until the time when the infected person is no longer spreading infectious disease-causing agents;

4.3. until the time when there is the risk of presence of infectious disease-causing agent in the environment with which contact persons are in contact.

5. Current disinfection shall be performed, using physical, mechanical and chemical disinfection methods.

6. The current disinfection referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Regulation shall be ensured by the person itself at the cost thereof.

7. The current disinfection referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Regulation in a social care institution, a child care institution, a place of imprisonment, a short-term place of detention, an internment camp for illegal immigrants, an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, barracks and medical treatment institutions shall be ensured by the head of the relevant institution. The current disinfection in a medical treatment institution shall be performed in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding the basic requirements for the hygienic and counter-epidemic regimen in a medical treatment institution.

8. The terminal disinfection in the focus of an infectious disease (after placement of the infected person in a medical treatment institution or his or her death), including treatment of personal belongings and bedclothes of the infected person in a disinfection chamber, shall be performed in case of the following infectious diseases:

8.1. smallpox;

8.2. anthrax;

8.3. plague;

8.4. avian influenza;

8.5 viral haemorrhagic fever, including Ebola viral disease, Lassa fever, Marburg viral disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever;

8.6. severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS); or

8.7. another dangerous infectious disease, having reappeared.

9. The terminal disinfection by treatment of personal belongings and bedclothes of the infected patient in a disinfection chamber shall be performed in case of epidemical louse-born typhus fever and Brill's disease.

10. The terminal disinfection shall be performed if there are suspicions regarding the use of means of biological terrorism in the potential focus of an infectious disease.

11. Disinfection shall be performed if the carriers of infectious disease (lice or fleas) have been determined in the focus of an infectious disease or there are suspicions regarding existence thereof in the case of the following infectious diseases:

11.1. epidemical louse-born typhus and Brill's disease;

11.2. plague; and

11.3. louse-borne relapsing fever.

12. Deratisation shall be performed when rodents (mice or rats) have been detected in the focus of an infectious disease or there are suspicions regarding existence thereof.

13. The performance of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation measures referred to in Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of this Regulation shall be ensured by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the financing shall be granted from the State budget programme "Funds for Unforeseen Events" in accordance with the Law on the State Budget for the current year.

[27 March 2012]

14. If there is no risk of infection of human beings or animals in the potential focus of an infectious disease, the terminal disinfection thereof may be suspended until receipt of the results of laboratory test and performed after laboratory approval of the infectious disease referred to in Paragraph 8 of this Regulation.

15. In case of Legionnaires' disease the terminal disinfection shall be performed in the water supply or conditioning system of the potential focus of infectious disease. The terminal disinfection shall be ensured by the person who owns the water supply or conditioning system or who is the person authorised by the owner of the relevant system.

[6 February 2018]

15.¹ After the terminal disinfection in accordance with the indication of the Health Inspectorate, the person referred to in Paragraph 15 of this Regulation shall ensure detection of Legionella spp. bacteria in the samples of cold and hot drinking water from water distribution points and heating unit of the building, or in the water samples from the conditioning system, as well as performance of prophylactic disinfection until the number of Legionella spp. bacteria in water samples does not exceed 1 000 colony-forming units per one litre of water (1000 cfu/l).

[6 February 2018]

15.² The conditions referred to in Paragraphs 17 and 20 of this Regulation shall not apply to the prophylactic disinfection referred to in Paragraph 15.¹ of this Regulation, provided that the prophylactic disinfection is performed by employing the thermal disinfection method and in compliance with the following requirements:

15.² 1. the performance of thermal disinfection is documented by specifying the place (address of the object, description of the water supply or conditioning system), date, time and duration of performance of thermal disinfection, temperature of thermal disinfection, place for the measurement of temperature, the person performing prophylactic disinfection (given name, surname and signature) and the person referred to in Paragraph 15.¹ of this Regulation (given name, surname and signature);

15.² 2. the documentation which has been prepared in conformity with Sub-paragraph 15.² 1. of this Regulation is submitted to the Health Inspectorate in conformity with the request of the Health Inspectorate together with the results of laboratory testing of water samples of the number of Legionella spp. bacteria.

[6 February 2018]

15.³ Laboratories which have been accredited at the national accreditation institution in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding assessment, accreditation, and supervision of conformity assessment institutions are entitled to perform laboratory testing of the water samples referred to in Paragraph 15.¹ of this Regulation.

[6 February 2018]

15.⁴ Laboratory testing of the water samples referred to in Paragraph 15.¹ of this Regulation shall be performed by employing methods which ensure that the obtained data are reliable, representative and comparable. If the employed methods comply with the requirements of the applicable standards, they shall be considered to be complying with the requirements of this Regulation.

[6 February 2018]

15.⁵ The Ministry of Health shall recommend for the national standardisation body a list of the standards which are applicable for the fulfilment of the requirements of this Regulation. The national standardisation body shall publish on its official website a list of the applicable standards which have been adapted to the status of national standards and which may be applicable for the fulfilment of the requirements of this Regulation.

[6 February 2018]

16. If an infectious disease as to which both animals and human beings are susceptible has been determined for an animal, disinfection and deratisation shall be ensured by the relevant territorial unit of the Food and Veterinary Service in accordance with the regulatory enactments regarding infectious diseases as to which both animals and human beings are susceptible.

III. Procedures for the Provision of Prophylactic Disinfection, Disinsectisation and Deratisation Services in an Object or Territory

17. Prophylactic disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation services shall be provided in an object or territory by merchants who in compliance with the requirements of laws and regulations have informed of the commencement of commercial activity in the provision of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation services. The provision of services shall be organised by a specialist whose level of education complies with the requirements of laws and regulations for the level of education necessary for persons who conduct entrepreneurial activity with chemical substances and chemical mixtures. The service shall be carried out by a specially trained employee - a disinfector who has a secondary education or vocational basic education and who has acquired the training programme for disinfectors.

[6 February 2018]

18. Prophylactic disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation shall be performed so as to avoid damage and causing inconvenience to persons or damage to the environment which could affect public health or the environment.

19. A disinfector shall, upon providing prophylactic disinsectisation and deratisation services in objects and territories, determine the places where the harmful arthropods and rodents live, eat and roam, assess and select appropriate methods and means for elimination thereof, as well as recommend the client measures for protection against harmful arthropods and rodents. It is prohibited to use frightening away methods for the harmful arthropods and rodents.

20. A service provider shall enter into an agreement with a client regarding provision of prophylactic disinfection, deratisation or disinsectisation services. The following information at least shall be specified in the agreement:

20.1. the client (given name, surname (for a natural person) or name (for a legal person), address and phone);

20.2. place (address) of provision of the service;

20.3. [6 February 2018];

20.4. [6 February 2018];

20.5. [6 February 2018];

20.6. [6 February 2018];

20.7. [6 February 2018].

21. One copy of the agreement shall be kept by the service provider, the other - by the client.

21.¹ All measures of prophylactic disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation taken in an object or territory, except for disinfection of water supply system, shall be documented by the service provider in a disinfection, disinsectisation, deratisation card of the object or territory (Annex 3). The abovementioned document shall be drawn up in two copies. One copy shall be kept by the service provider, the other - by the client.

[6 February 2018]

IV. Requirements for Educational Institutions where Providers of Prophylactic Disinfection, Disinsectisation and Deratisation Services are Trained

22. An educational institution shall conduct training of providers of prophylactic disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation services - disinfectors - in accordance with a vocational education programme which has been developed in accordance with the training programme model specified in Annex 1 to this Regulation, ensuring the necessary knowledge and skills for the performance of the basic tasks of professional activity of a disinfector (including the number of lectures and practical activities).

23. Employees of the educational institution who have acquired a study programme of higher (academic or vocational) education or a vocational secondary education programme after acquisition of which a scientific degree or professional qualification is granted in the environmental sciences, chemistry, biology or medicine are entitled to perform training of disinfectors.

24. The educational institution shall issue a certificate regarding the acquisition of the training programme for disinfectors in courses (Annex 2). The certificate shall be signed by the head of the educational institution.

25. A provider (merchant) of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation services registered in other European Union Member State is not required to acquire a training programme for disinfectors in courses if he or she provides such services in the Republic of Latvia.

Prime Minister V. Dombrovskis

Acting for the Minister for Health -
Minister for the Interior L. Mūrniece

 

Annex 1
Cabinet Regulation No. 618
6 July 2010

Model of the Training Programme for Disinfectors

I. Themes and Content of the Training Programme for Disinfectors

1. Training shall include themes regarding theoretical and practical issues of epidemiology of infectious diseases, disinfection, disinsectisation, deratisation, occupational hygiene and work safety.

2. Epidemiology of infectious diseases:

2.1. general issues of epidemiology of infectious diseases:

2.1.1. epidemiology as a field of science. Anthroponosis, zoonosis, sapronosis - explanation of concepts;

2.1.2. the concept of epidemic process: a source of infectious diseases, ways and mechanisms for transmission of infectious diseases-causing agents, entry gates of infectious diseases, incubation period, ways of discharge of infectious diseases-causing agents from the organism;

2.1.3. steadiness of infectious disease-causing agent in the surrounding environment;

2.2. epidemiology of infectious diseases of topical importance in the work of disinfector: infectious disease-causing agents, sources for infectious diseases, ways of transmission, peculiarities of the process of infectious diseases:

2.2.1. infectious diseases with fecal-oral mechanism of transmission: Abdominal typhus, A and B paratyphoid, salmonellosis, shigellosis, campylobacteriosis, rotavirus gastroenteritis, cholera, poliomyelitis, A and E hepatitis;

2.2.2. air droplet-borne infectious diseases: diphtheria, tuberculosis;

2.2.3. transmitted infectious diseases: haemorrhagic fevers, epidemic typhus, malaria;

2.2.4. infectious skin diseases: microsporia, trichophytia, scabies;

2.2.5. lousiness (infestations) of head and haired parts of the body;

2.2.6. zoonoses: rabies, plague, anthrax, tularemia, Q fever, brucellosis, yersiniosis, listeriosis, leptospirosis, rat-bite fevers, melioidosis, glanders; and

2.2.7. nosocomial infectious diseases.

3. Disinfection:

3.1. disinfection products and techniques:

3.1.1. mechanical techniques and means of disinfection: shaking out, beating out, washing, ventilating, use of vacuum cleaner, filtration;

3.1.2. physical techniques and means of disinfection: temperature (high and low temperature), beam energy (ultraviolet beams, sunbeams), drying out;

3.1.3. chemical techniques and products of disinfection: chemical disinfection products: aldehydes (formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal), halogens (iodine and iodophors, chloractive compounds, activated solutions thereof), oxidizers (hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid), surfactants (amines, glukoprotamines, quarternary ammonium compounds, biguanids), phenol derivatives, alkali, acids, metals and combined disinfection products: disinfection products for hands, skin, surface, tools and preparation of work solutions of disinfection products;

3.2. factors affecting disinfection process: presence of organic substances, type and intensity of microbial infection, characteristics of the object to be treated, concentration of a preparation and duration of effect, temperature and pH, spectrum of microbiological effect of disinfection products;

3.3. types of disinfection:

3.3.1. prophylactic disinfection (for example, drinking water supply systems, swimming pools), characterisation and tasks thereof;

3.3.2. disinfection of the focuses, characterisation and tasks thereof:

3.3.2.1. current disinfection: organisation principles in the focus of the infectious disease, the amount of work in the focus of the infectious disease, techniques for performance of the current disinfection, quality control of the current disinfection;

3.3.2.2. terminal disinfection: work organisation principles, amount in the focus of the infectious disease, norms for usage of disinfection products;

3.4. disinfection devices and equipment:

3.4.1. devices for spraying of solutions: mechanical, electrical, combined, devices for the acquisition of disperged systems in the air: sprayer generators, smoke cylinders (candles), sprayers;

3.4.2. disinfection chambers: hot air, steam, steam-air-formalin chamber, basic principles of construction, temperature and pressure measuring during the operation of the chamber, logbook of the chamber;

3.4.3. sanitary passes: operating principles and regimes, location and equipment of premises;

3.4.4. disinfection and disinsectisation of chambers;

3.5. practical activities in disinfection:

3.5.1. preparation of work solutions of disinfection products and acquisition of certain disinfection procedures: surface (floor, wall, doors) washing, wiping and sprinkling; immersing of linen; disinfection of upholstered furniture and inventory, dishes, fluxion;

3.5.2. disinfection quality control - sampling of the disinfection product for chemical investigation, taking of the surface washing residue for bacteriological investigation, visual investigation of the disinfection quality;

3.5.3. practical activities in acquisition of technology and equipment: familiarisation with hot air, steam-air, combined steam-air-formalin chambers, with certain parts of chambers, control and measuring devices, acquisition of certain stages of disinfection, working with chambers: selection of articles and loading in a chamber, placement of control thermometers, indicators and biological tests in the chamber, acquisition of work safety and familiarisation with logbook of the chamber.

4. Deratisation:

4.1. meaning of deratisation in the system of counter-epidemic measures;

4.2. characterisation of representatives of the rodent order:

4.2.1. brown rat and black rat, house mouse, country mouse, yellow-necked mouse, common vole, biology and distribution thereof;

4.2.2. biology of the water-vole;

4.3. epidemiological and economic meaning of rodents;

4.4. favourable living and propagation conditions for rodents and prevention thereof; measures for the protection of premises against invasion of rodents;

4.5. detection of the presence of rodents (questionnaire, survey, objective method);

4.6. methods and products for elimination of rodents:

4.6.1. mechanical methods for elimination of rodents;

4.6.2. deratisation products, characterisation thereof;

4.6.2.1. first-generation anticoagulants;

4.6.2.2. second-generation anticoagulants;

4.6.2.3. fast-acting substances;

4.6.3. biological methods for elimination of rodents;

4.6.4. selection of methods for elimination of rodents, products and types of use thereof and determinants;

4.7. deratisation in different object groups:

4.7.1. in medical treatment institutions, educational institutions and pre-school educational institutions, residential buildings, food objects, livestock farming objects, open territories;

4.7.2. deratisation in the focus of zoonoses;

4.8. organisation, recording and quality indicators of deratisation work;

4.9. laboratory equipment, work safety in preparation and prepacking of deratisation products, recording of laboratory work;

4.10. practical activities in deratisation:

4.10.1. familiarisation with chemical and mechanical rodent combating measures, acquisition of trap deployment technique;

4.10.2. practical acquisition of work safety measures and familiarisation with the individual means of protection (including work procedures in the focuses of infectious diseases);

4.10.3. familiarisation with laboratory equipment and storage, prepacking of deratisation products and preparation of baits;

4.10.4. completion of deratisation work documentation, procedures for servicing of objects, work efficiency control system and methods; and

4.10.5. peculiarities of the performance of deratisation in different object groups.

5. Disinsectisation:

5.1. meaning of disinsectisation in the system of counter-epidemic measures;

5.2. view in systematisation, ecology and distribution of arthropods;

5.3. structure and physiology of arthropods, development of arthropods, characterisation of development stages, peculiarities of propagation;

5.4. epidemiologically most significant species of arthropods; cockroaches, lice, bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, gadflies, flies, ants, moths, Bruchus, Anthrenus, ticks (Ixodes, gamasides, dermatophagoides farinea and Sarcoptes scabei), characterisation thereof;

5.5. epidemiological meaning of arthropods;

5.6. types of disinsectisation:

5.6.1. prophylactic disinsectisation;

5.6.2. disinsectisation of the focuses;

5.7. means and techniques of disinsectisation:

5.7.1. mechanical method of disinsectisation;

5.7.2. physical method of disinsectisation;

5.7.3. chemical method of disinsectisation:

5.7.3.1. groups of insecticides, active substances of preparations, their general characterisation;

5.7.3.2. forms of insecticides: powders, sprays, granules, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, baits, their characterisation, techniques of use;

5.7.3.3. insecticides for professional use;

5.7.3.4. household insecticides;

5.7.3.5. ways of entry of insecticides in the organism of arthropods, efficacy mechanism; dynamics and features of arthropod intoxication;

5.7.4. biological method of disinsectisation;

5.7.5. repellents, their significance, physically chemical properties, forms of use;

5.8. disinsectisation measures in the focuses of infectious diseases, in different object groups;

5.9. registration and quality indicators of disinsectisation work;

5.10. practical activities in disinsectisation:

5.10.1. familiarisatiion with different forms of insecticides and techniques of use thereof;

5.10.2. practical acquisition of work safety measures and familiarisation with the individual means of protection (including work procedures in the focuses of infectious diseases);

5.10.3. familiarisation with laboratory equipment and storage and prepacking of disinsectisation products;

5.10.4. completion of disinsectisation work documentation, procedures for servicing of objects, work efficiency control system and methods; and

5.10.5. peculiarities of disinsectisation work in different object groups.

6. Work organisation, regulatory documents regulating disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation: the Epidemiological Safety Law, the Chemical Substances Law, the regulatory enactments regarding the requirements for activities with biocidal products and regarding the commencement of commercial activity of providers of disinfection, disinsectisation, deratisation services. Recording of disinfection, disinsectisation, deratisation work, necessary documentation.

7. Occupational hygiene and work safety requirements in disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation:

7.1. general work safety requirements;

7.2. specific work safety requirements when working with chemical substances, mixtures and solutions thereof;

7.3. regulations for storage of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation products;

7.4. individual means of protection: protective clothing, protective glasses, respirators, gloves, first aid kit; and

7.5. work safety regulations when working with disinfection chambers.

II. Necessary Skills for the Performance of the Basic Tasks of Professional Activity

8. The skills necessary for the performance of the basic tasks of professional activity of disinfector shall be as follows:

8.1. the knowledge of deratisation, disinsectisation and disinfection methods and safety requirements when working with biocidal products;

8.2. the ability to use deratisation, disinsectisation and disinfection products, to communicate with the clients, to inform regarding precautionary measures during the performance of disinfection, disinsectisation and deratisation; and

8.3. the responsibility for the results of the assigned work, the ability to assess the quality and efficiency of the measures performed, harmlessness to human beings, pets and the environment.

III. Number of Lectures and Practical Activities

No.	Topic	Number of classes	Including: theoretical/practical
1.	Introduction in disinfection, disinsectisation, deratisation work organisation	1	1/0
2.	Epidemiology of infectious diseases	3	3/0
3.	Disinfection	5	3/2
4.	Disinsectisation	7	5/2
5.	Deratisation	7	4/3
6.	Work organisation. Requirements of regulatory enactments. Occupational hygiene. Work safety requirements	2	2/0
	Total	25	18/7

Acting for the Minister for Health -
Minister for the Interior L. Mūrniece

 

Annex 2
Cabinet Regulation No. 618
6 July 2010

Certificate Regarding the Acquisition of the Training Programme for Disinfectors in Courses

(sample)

(supplemented lesser State coat of arms) CERTIFICATE regarding the acquisition of the training programme for disinfectors in courses <the given name and surname of the certificate acquirer (in nominative)> personal identification number <000000-00000> <full name of the educational institution (in locative)> In (year) <0000> has acquired the training programme for disinfectors Head of the educational institution <the given name, surname, signature> Certificate issued <00> <month (in locative)>20<00> (year)) <location of the educational institution (in locative)> Place for a seal

Notes.

1. The size of the certificate shall comply with a sheet of A4 format in portrait orientation.

2. The information indicated in the angle brackets shall be written or printed in accordance with each individual case. The rest of the text shall be printed and be identical in all certificates regarding the acquisition of the training programme for disinfectors in courses.

3. The details of the document "signature" and "place for seal" shall not be completed if the electronic document has been drawn up in conformity with the regulatory enactments regarding the drawing up of electronic documents.

Acting for the Minister for Health -
Minister for the Interior L. Mūrniece

 

Annex 3
Cabinet Regulation No. 618
6 July 2010

Disinfection, Disinsectisation, Deratisation Card of the Object or Territory

[6 February 2018]

Date of the provision of services	Type of the service provided	Problems, harmful organisms identified during evaluation of the object	Objects or territories where disinfection, disinsectisation or deratisation has been performed, area thereof (m2)	Means of disinfection, disinsectisation or deratisation used		Verification of the results of the provided service and precautionary measures	Given name, surname and signature of the service provider	Given name, surname, and signature of the client
				name	quantity

Note. This does not apply to the disinfection of water supply systems.

 

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Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)