VIENNA, Austria - April 2020: The potential for law enforcement and border control officers involved in drug control to be exposed to COVID-19 during the execution of their routine duties has increased significantly. Similar to the principles of safe-handling, avoiding secondary exposure and cross-contamination are also important measures in infection control. The safety procedures, protocols and measures taken to protect officers from the risk of accidental exposure when handling dangerous/toxic substances, such as synthetic drugs, can also protect them from the risk of exposure to communicable diseases as COVID-19.
UNODC LSS has developed Guidelines for the safe handling of substances and management of exposure risk for law enforcement and customs officers as part of the ‘safe handling’ series of technical guidelines and training materials. It is an evidence-based guidance document to support law enforcement and customs officers in the safe handling and management of exposure risks to dangerous/toxic substances, and the associated safety and risk mitigation procedures. The guidelines outline practical information and guidance that can also be leveraged to help protect front-line officers from risk of exposure and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and any other communicable diseases, while enabling them to carry out their operational duties with confidence.
Source: UNODC, Guidelines for the safe handling of substances and management of exposure risk for law enforcement and customs officers.
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