1. Table of Contents
1. IntroductionPage 1
2. Types of Biological Hazards Page 2-3
A. Bacteria
B. Viruses
C. Fungi
3. How Biological Hazards Enter the Body Page 4-6
A. Inhalation
B. Absorption
C. Ingestion
D. Injection
4. How Biological Hazards are Spread Page 7
5. Levels of Biological Hazards Page 8
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
D. Level 4
6. Controlling Exposure to Biological Hazards Page 9-10
A. Engineering Controls
B. Administrative Controls
C. PPE
D. Standard Precautions
E. WHMIS
7. Pandemics Page 11
A. Seasonal Influenza
B. Arian Influenza
C. Pandemic Influenza
8. What Should Employees DoPage 13
9. Role of the Health and Safety Representative Page 14
10.ConclusionPage 15
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2. Introduction
Biological Hazard when we hear that word we think disease as humans some of use get
scared.
What are Biological Hazards? Biological Hazards are organisms or products of organisms
that present a health hazard to humans. These hazards can be encountered anywhere in
the environment, including home, school or work. Exposure to biological hazards in the
workplace results in a significant amount if occupationally associated disease, although
the biological hazards are not always recognized in the work setting.
Types of Biological Hazards
Biological hazards can be put into different categories.
The most common biological hazards include:
Bacteria- microscopic organisms that live in soil, water, organic matter or the bodies of
plants and animals and are characterized by lack of distinct nucleus and the inability to
photosynthesize. Examples are E Coli, TB, and Tetanus
Viruses- are a group of pathogens that consist mostly of nucleic acids and that lack
cellular structure. Viruses are totally dependent on their hosts for replication. Examples
are common cold, influenza, measles, SARS, Hantavirus, and rabies
Fungi- any major group of lower plants that lack chlorophyll and live on dead or other
living organisms. Examples are athlete’s foot, mould, rust, mildew, smut, yeast, and
mushrooms
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3. Workers should be able to identify occupations where people can potentially be exposed
to infectious diseases. Workers could suggest the occupations, source or potential
disease, as shown:
Occupation Contact Source Disease
Dentist, nurses, volunteers Patient’s blood, Hepatitis, cold, flu
In hospital or health care Body fluids
Child care worker, Children’s body fluids, Colds, flu, eye infections,
Babysitter such as runny nose, Head lice, meningitis
dirty diapers, cuts
Food service industry Undercooked food Salmonella, e coli
Caretaking/cleaning/ Used needles, broken glass Hepatitis B,C, HIV
Waste disposal personnel
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4. How Do Biological Hazards Enter the Body?
Factors that can determine if a person will contract a disease and how bad it will be
include the dose, the virulence of the organism and the resistance of the individual. Some
organisms can live outside the host for hours or even days, while others require a host to
survive. Some organisms are very small and lightweight. Others are quickly settle out
onto surfaces, and are a contact concern. All of these issues affect potential exposure.
Biological hazards can enter the body in many ways. When determining appropriate
protective measures, measures are clear understanding of how it can enter the body.
Routes of Entry
Biological Hazards enter the body through:
-Inhalation through breathing
-Absorption direct contact through breaks in the skin, even chapped skin, or through
mucous membranes/contact with eyes, nose, mouth
-Ingestion through swallowing
-Injection through a puncture
The most common routes of entry for biological hazards are inhalation and absorption
from direct contact.
Inhalation
Inhalation is a common was for biohazards to get into the body. The effect on the body
depends on the biohazard and the amount that is breathed in.
Unlike chemical inhalation, we often don’t know we have inhaled a bacteria, virus or
mould because there is no smell or taste there are no irritating effects. It is only when we
get symptoms of the infection that we realize we were exposed.
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5. Points to remember about inhalation
More Hazardous agents get into your body by inhalation than by any other route of entry.
Although your body filters many of the normal pollutants from the air you breathe, it
cannot eliminate every type of contaminant.
Small particles are difficult to eliminate and can get deep into the lungs where they can
cause respiratory problems.
It is important to notice warning signs, such as smelling chemicals odours. It is also
important to notice if you stop smelling a chemical odour that you used to smell-you may
be “accustomed” or used to the smell and not know that you are being exposed to the
chemical.
Absorption
A biohazard can enter the bloodstream through broken skin, such as a cut, chapped skin,
hangnail or any other break in the skin. Cover broken skin with a bandage or gloves to
seal the wound and wear the correct PPE to keep the wound area safe from bio hazardous
penetration. Splashes of blood or body fluids to the eyes are ways that biohazards can be
absorbed.
Points to remember about absorption
Your skin is a major route of entry for hazardous substance in the workplace.
Chemicals can be absorbed through healthy skin into the bloodstream and transported to
target organs when they can have damaging results.
Exposure to chemicals, biological hazards in the workplace can result in occupational
diseases and allergic reactions.
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6. Ingestion
Swallowing biohazards can sometimes occur without us knowing it, often simply from
not washing our hands. Poor hand washing is one of the most common way that
biological hazards can be transmitted. Workers should always wash their hands before
eating so that any hazardous material on the hands is not ingested.
Points to remember about ingestion
Hazardous agents can enter the body by being ingested (swallowed)
Some ingested hazardous agents are neutralized in the stomach, while others are
absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to target organs.
Eliminating these hazardous is the best method of preventing their ingestion. Other
important methods of prevention are personal hygiene and ensuring workers have access
to washing facilities, food storage and eating areas that are away from their work areas.
Vomiting and diarrhoea are ways the body tries to remove certain toxic substance for the
digestive system.
Injection
When something sharp punctures the skin, a biohazard can enter the body through the
skin. At home, if you drop a glass on the floor, what do you do? Sweep up the pieces with
a broom? Pick them up with your bare hands? In a lab if that glass contained a biohazard,
picking the pieces up with your bare hands could enable the biological agent to enter the
body through the cut or puncture
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7. How Biological Hazards Are Spread
Biohazard Disease Spread Precaution/Control
Bacteria Pink eye Human to Do not share eye
(conjunctivitis human contact makeup; wash hands
Virus Hepatitis A Human to Do not ingest
human contact contaminated water
or food; avoid direct
contact with infected
person
Virus Hepatitis B Human to Immunization; avoid
human contact contact with infected
people; avoid
tattooing and body
piercing dispose of
sharps in disposal
container.
Virus Hepatitis C Human to Avoid direct contact
human contact with infected person;
avoid tattooing and
body piercing; follow
standard precautions
Virus Measles Human to human Immunization; avoid
contact spread by direct contact with
cough and nasal infected people
droplets
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8. Levels of Biological Hazards
Biological hazards are organisms or are part that comes from organisms that are harmful
to health of people. There are four different levels of biological hazards. The reaction the
body has to each level is different and range from stomach aches to death and everything
in between.
Level One of biological hazards is usually bacteria of other types of microorganisms that
are relatively harmless to a human. The best way to protect you from this level of hazards
is to wear PPE. The best way to dispose of them is in a normal trash reciprocal. You can
help prevent the spread of these germs by washing your hands frequently during the day.
The most common level one biological hazardis hepatitis, chicken pox and e coli.
Level Two biological hazards are usually bacteria or viruses that cause mild symptoms in
most people that become infected. A little more care is put into making sure you do not
become infected with one of these viruses. Frequent hand washing is suggested along
with the proper PPE. Level two biological hazards are well known and include salmonella,
measles, Lyme disease, influenza (common cold) and HIV.
Level Three biological hazards can have severe or even fatal symptoms in humans but
can usually treat by vaccines or other treatments that know exist. The precaution that is
taken to avoid contracting this level is much more serious than the precautions used in
the first two. There is usually special equipment and protective gear that is used to
prevent the spread of any hazards germs. Level three hazards are anthrax, malaria,
tuberculosis, and typhus. If they are not contained properly an outbreak could occur and
potentially harm thousands of people before they can be vaccinated against the virus.
Level Four is by far the worst types of biological hazards. They can cause severe illness or
death in humans and have no known vacations or treatments. Most of the time people
working around these types of viruses are required to wear full hazardous material body
suits to protect them from the virus they are trying to fight. It is also necessary to wear
oxygen mask to avoid breathing in the harmful hazards. The most deadly of these
biological hazards are Ebola, bird flu, Bolivian, and Dengue fever.
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9. Controlling Exposure to Biological Hazards
There are three approaches to control hazards. The first consideration for controlling
biological hazards, as with all other types of hazards, is to look at engineering controls. If
a hazard cannot be eliminated or physically controlled through engineering methods a
second approach to controlling hazards is administrative. Then, if exposure to a hazard
cannot be prevented with either engineering or administrative controls then PPE is
necessary.
Engineering Controls
These controls are the first line of defense and include built in protection in building,
work areas, equipment or supplies. Hazard protection is built in and, therefore, control is
at the design stage. Examples of controlling biological hazards, using engineering controls
in a building are:
-Ventilation systems and construction seals to create negative pressure rooms
- Bio-safety hoods, with specific ventilation systems
Administrative Controls
These controls are steps in work procedures or work processes that minimize the risk of
exposure to a hazard. This type if control does not eliminate a hazard but can
significantly reduces the risk of injury. Administrative controls are set up by management
and workers are used if a hazard cannot be eliminated or reduced through engineering
controls. Some examples are:
- Worker training
- Rules that require regular hand washing
- A rule of no eating in work areas
- No sharing of personal items
- Procedures such as disinfection
- Wet mopping for hazards, such as Hantavirus clean-up
- Specific work schedules to rotate duties so that exposure times are limited
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10. Personal Protective Equipment
When a hazard poses a threat, even after engineering and administrative controls have
been implemented, then PPE is necessary. The most common types of PPE that protect
you from biological hazards include:
-latex gloves
-a proper mask for biohazards
-eye protection
If there is a chance that body fluids can enter through either direct contact or by being
splashed, then a face shield or safety goggles are necessary. Working in environments
such as hospital, labs, veterinary clinics or meat packing facilities, may require special
safety clothing or full body protection against biological hazards. Depending on the work,
workers may also be exposed to chemical hazards and therefor, the PPE would need to
protect against both types of hazards.
For PPE to be effective it must be worn correctly and must be comfortable and fitted for
each person. Workers must be trained properly so that it is worn when needed.
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are a type of administrative control that is well known in
workplaces or occupations where biological hazards are common. Standard precautions
are based on the premise that all body are considered infectious and are treated as such.
WHMIS
Suppliers of products that are biological hazards must have a WHMIS label to educate
workers of the hazard. For the purpose of WHMIS, only those suppliers who supply
organisms because they are biological hazard are required to label their organisms with a
WHMIS supplier label and provide a MSDS. Typically this would be research facilities
associated with medicine or agriculture; example a university other work places must take
all reasonable precautions to protect workers but WHMIS and MSDS will not likely be
available.
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11. Pandemics
An influenza pandemic is a widespread outbreak of disease that occurs when a new
influenza virus appears that people have not been exposed to before. Pandemics are
different from seasonal outbreaks of influenza. Seasonal influenza outbreaks are caused
by viruses that people have been exposed to; flu shots are available to prevent widespread
illness and impacts on society are less severe. This can cause serious illness because
people don’t have immunity impacts on society would be significant.
Seasonal Influenza
Is an illness, caused by influenza virus that affects many Canadians each year? It is passed
from person to person.
Avian Influenza
Is a group of influenza viruses that cause sickness and death in birds. Sometimes, these
bird viruses infect other species, such as pigs and humans. At the present time, this virus
does not spread easily from person to person but this influenza virus can change to the
point that a completely new strain could evolve.
Pandemic Influenza
This would be this new strain that people would have no protection against. The disease
would spread easily from person to person and an effective vaccine would not be
immediately available.
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12. Seasonal Influenza(flu) Pandemic Influenza
Occurrences Occurs every year, during Occurs 3 to 4 times a
the winter months. century; can take place in
any season
Infection Rate Affects 10-25% of the Experts predict an infection
Canadian population rate of 25-35% of the
population.
Recovery Most people recover within Usually associated with a
a week or two higher severity of illness and
higher risk of death.
Group at Risk Some people at risk for All age groups may be at
serious complications of risk for infection. For
influenza include: example, adults betweenthe
-the very young ages of 20-40 were
-those with certain health disproportionately affected
conditions during the 1918 pandemic
-people over 65
Prevention Annual influenza A vaccine against pandemic
immunization is effective influenza will not be
because the strain in available at the start of a
circulation each winter can pandemic; new strains of
be fairly reliably predicted. viruses must be accurately
identified. Producing an
effective vaccine could take
four to six months.
Treatment Anti-viral drugs are Anti-viral drugs may be in
available for those most at limited supply and their
risk of becoming seriously effectiveness will only be
ill. known definitely once the
pandemic is under way.
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13. Just imagine that up to one third of the workforce cannot work because workers are sick
or caring for an ill family member. Workers could be unavailable to work for amount of
time. Imagine the material suppliers are facing the same absentee rates and the goods and
services from other countries are not available.
What Should Employers Do
-Plan for impact of a pandemic on your business. In particular, check to see that the core
business activities can be sustained over several weeks.
-Identify other critical inputs services, products and logistics required to maintain a
business operation by location.
-Determine which outside activities are critical to maintaining operations and develop
alternatives in case they cannot function normally.
-Plan for possible short interruptions of essential services like sanitation, water, power
and disruptions to the food supply.
-Identify your company`s essential functions and the individuals who perform them.
-Maintain a healthy work environment by encouraging healthy behaviours at all times
and posting tips on how to stop the spread of germs at work.
-Communicate with and educate your workers. Tell the workforce about the threat and
the steps the company is taking to prepare for it.
-Update sick leave as well as family and medical leave policies and communicate the
importance of staying away from the workplace if workers become ill. Concern about lost
wages is the largest deterrent to not coming to work when ill.
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14. Role of the Health and Safety Representative
Your role is to work proactively (this means taking action before there is a problem) to
eliminate biological hazards from the workplace as much as possible, to make sure
workers are protected, and to educate workers about occupational hazards.
Eliminating hazards from the work environment is always first choice for preventing
disease.
When hazards cannot be eliminated, they should be controlled. Workers should press
management to introduce effective controls in the workplace such as engineering
controls, administrative controls
Pay attention to new workers and visitors. They are “newly exposed” to a workplace and
can tell you if they have health problems only when they come into the workplace.
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15. Conclusion
Biological hazards are organisms or groups of organisms that may cause health issues to
humans. These hazards are very dangerous and have to be taken seriously by employees
and employers. There are three types of biological hazards including bacteria, viruses and
fungi. All three types can cause illnesses such as hepatitis (virus), tuberculosis (bacteria)
and athlete's foot (fungi). Inhalation, absorption, ingestion, and injection are ways these
types of hazards can enter the body. There are many ways we can reduce our risk to these
contaminants. Engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective
equipment, workplace hazardous materials information system and standard precautions
are all ways to avoid risk to all levels of bio hazardous materials. It is the employee's
responsibility to follow rules and regulations, as well as be aware of potential hazards.
Employers also have to plan and prepare for potential risk by maintaining a healthy work
environment and educating employees on how to avoid biological hazards. With
cooperation from both employers and employees, there should be minimal risk of being
exposed by biological hazards.
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