Biological Hazards
The CDC describes biological hazards are disease producing agents (pathogens) that can be transmitted to individuals through various direct and indirect modes including blood and body fluid, direct contact, small particle aerosol and fecal oral transmission. There are several risk factors of biological agents and unsafe practices that can result in acute or chronic health conditions. They include improper management of sharps, improper disinfection of equipment and supplies and unsafe work practices (e.g., reuse of syringes, improper hand hygiene, improper specimen transport).
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Tips & Actionable Strategies
Consider these tips and explore the collection of curated resources, strategies and practices to learn ways to keep staff safe from biological hazards.
- Monitor to ensure that employees are utilizing PPE correctly.
- Avoid physical contact with bio-hazardous waste, whether in red bags or sharps containers — always wear gloves to move these items.
- Cover all cuts, abrasions, and other areas of nonintact skin while on duty.
- Consider organizing a selection and evaluation team for sharps injuries prevention devices.
- When placing sharps containers, consider accessibility, visibility, size, containment (lid), and disposal process.
- Consider using a standardized root cause analysis tool to evaluate sharps injuries.