Thamar University

College of Medical Sciences

Master of Public Health and Epidemiology

Environmental and Occupational Health

Dr\ Adel Aljawfi

Assistant Professor of Family and Community Health

2024

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Occupational Health
Biological hazards

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III. Biological hazards:
Biological hazards refer to organisms or organic matters produced by these
organisms that are harmful to human health. These include parasites, viruses,
bacteria and fungi.
Occupations and workplaces where people may come into contact with
biological hazards:
1. Health care workers: Viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV, meningitis,
COVID- 19, etc.
2. Employees in environmental hygiene services such as liquid waste and
rubbish collection and disposal.
3. Agriculture, fishery, veterinary services, and manufacturing industries
that use plant- or animal-based raw materials, such as paper and paper
products.
Examples: Anthrax, leptospirosis, tetanus, brucellosis and dermatophytoses.
Exposure routes for infectious agents include:
Injection
• Puncture resulting in transmission to bloodstream/tissues
Inhalation
• Droplet (a form of direct contact with secretions of an infected person
expelled a short distance during sneezing, coughing or talking).
• Airborne (air-suspended microorganisms); these can include particulates
that have been resuspended after settling.
Absorption; skin or mucous membrane contact
• Indirect contact (resulting from contact with a contaminated object or
surface)
Vector borne:
• Vector borne (spread by animals or insects)

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Ingestion
• Indirect contact (resulting from contact with a contaminated object or
surface)
• Material-borne (spread by food, water, drugs, etc. that may be infected
The most common types of biological hazards, their sources and their
recommended control measures:
Type of Biological Hazard Source of Hazard Recommended Control
Measures
Needle stick injuries, - Immunization of staff
Blood borne pathogen contaminated surfaces of - Pre-screening of patients
equipment and furnishings, - Use of disposable, single
use, sheathed needles
cups, lancets
- Proper disinfection of
cups, other reusable
equipment, surfaces, and
linens
- Use of sharps disposal
containers
- Proper spill response
procedures and waste
disposal
- Gloves and masks,
protective eyewear as
required

Respiratory infectious agent Patients coughing, etc., - Immunization of staff

contaminated surfaces - Pre-screening of
patients
- Proper disinfection
of surfaces and
materials
- Adequate ventilation
- Gloves and masks,
protective eyewear as
required
Intestinal and other parasite Patients with parasitic - Pre-screening of
infections – contaminated patients
bedding; skin contact - Proper disinfection
of surfaces and
materials
- Gloves and masks,
protective eyewear as
required

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 Other infectious agents Needlestick injuries, - Proper disinfection of
contaminated surfaces, direct cups, other reusable
patient contact, etc. equipment, surfaces,
and linens
- Pre-screening of
patients
- Proper disinfection of
surfaces and
materials
- Gloves and masks,
protective eyewear as
required

How to assess and control biological hazards in the workplace

Step 1: List tasks and environment aspects

Step 2: Identify the potential for exposure to biological agents through the
various routes of entry (injection, inhalation, absorption, ingestion)

Step 3: Assess the hazard and determine the risk for exposure

Step 4 Identify appropriate controls following the hierarchy of controls

Step 5: Communicate the information to workers and provide training

Step 6: Evaluate the effectiveness of controls and improve them as required

Infection Prevention and Control Definitions:

 Routine practices:

Include: hand hygiene; risk assessment related to client symptoms, care and
service delivery, including screening for infectious diseases; risk reduction
strategies through the use of PPE, cleaning environment, laundry, disinfection
and sterilization of equipment , waste management, safe sharps handling, client
placement and healthy workplace practices; and education of healthcare
providers, clients and families, and visitors.

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Hand hygiene is the most important infection control measure. Hand washing
should be done:
• before and after patient contact or acupuncture treatment;
• before and after preparing, handling, or dispensing herbs or herbal
remedies;
• when hands are contaminated during the treatment;
• immediately after inadvertent exposure to blood or body fluids;
• when hands are visibly soiled;
• after contact with environmental surfaces or equipment;
• after removing gloves;
• before preparing, handling, serving or eating food;
• after handling money or other items that may be contaminated;
• after answering the phone or using the computer or other electronic
devices and returning to a patient;
• after personal body functions.
 Additional precautions:
These precautions include Contact Precautions, Droplet Precautions, and
Airborne Precautions that are based on the method of transmission. They are
practices used to prevent transmission of infectious agents that are spread by
direct or indirect contact with the client or client’s environment that are
necessary in addition to routine practices for certain pathogens or clinical
presentations.
 Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sterilizing:

Sterilants are a unique class of disinfectants. Unlike sterilization, disinfection

does not kill spores. A few disinfectants will kill spores with prolonged
exposure times (3–12 hours); these are called chemical sterilants (such as
ethylene oxide gas or hydrogen peroxide).

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Germicide is an agent that can kill pathogenic organisms or “germs”. The term
germicide includes both antiseptics and disinfectants.

Antiseptics are germicides that can be applied to skin and tissue; while
disinfectants are anti-microbial substances that can be applied only to inanimate
objects.

Cleaning is the removal of visible soil from objects and surfaces and normally
is accomplished using water with detergents or enzymatic products. Thorough
cleaning is vital before high-level disinfection and sterilization because
inorganic and organic materials that remain on the surfaces of instruments
constrain the effectiveness of these processes.

Sterilization describes a process that destroys or eliminates all forms of

microbial life and is carried out in health-care facilities by physical or chemical
methods. Steam under pressure, dry heat, and liquid chemicals are sterilizing
agents often used in health care facilities.

Disinfection describes a process that is applied to inanimate objects to kills or

destroys many or all infectious microorganisms, except bacterial spores. In
health care settings, objects are usually disinfected using liquid chemicals.

Clinical Contact Surfaces: Clinical contact surfaces that may be contaminated

by spray or touch should be cleaned and disinfected after each patient visit.
Surfaces should be cleaned (using utility gloves) with a low-level disinfectant.
In some instances, an intermediate level disinfectant (e.g., 1:10 household
bleach mixed daily or 70-90% isopropyl alcohol) may be necessary. To facilitate
clinical cleaning, treatment areas should be uncluttered and well organized.
Decontamination removes infectious microorganisms from objects so they are
safe to handle or discard.

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General Housekeeping
All housekeeping surfaces need routine or periodic cleaning with a solution of
diluted detergents. High traffic or high touch surfaces should be identified for
more frequent cleaning (e.g., door knobs, handles) possibly using a low-level
disinfectant, where appropriate. Non-clinical surfaces that are low-risk of
contamination should be cleaned first then disinfected using a low-level
disinfectant such as:
• quaternary ammonium compounds
• chlorine bleach solution (e.g., 1:500, 1 part chlorine and 499 parts water)
• 3% hydrogen peroxide
• phenols (sometimes called phenolics)
These products come as liquids or as disinfectant wipes. Staff should use
household utility gloves for disinfecting. Floor mops should be cleaned and
dried after use, and fresh cleaning solutions should be used each day to prevent
creating reservoirs for infectious organisms.

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