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Kevin Noel
What are Biohazards? (With 6 Biohazard Examples)
As a medical waste generator or a person working in an industry handling biohazards, it is very important that you are able to identify and segregate each type of waste you generate. If you can't identify biohazard waste examples or define biohazardous waste, make sure you keep reading to protect yourself and the community.
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Key Takeaways
What is a Biohazard?
A biohazard is an infectious waste contaminated with potentially infectious agents or other materials which can cause public or environmental harm. The term biohazard is actually short for biological hazard, since a biohazard is just a biological substance with potentially harmful bacteria, pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, or toxins.
Since biohazardous substances can cause adverse illness and other issues - it is heavily regulated. This is why you will see personal protective equipment, biohazard symbols, and medical waste containers inside of hospitals, surgery centers, the doctors' office, and other medical waste generating facilities.
International Biohazard Symbol
Due to the dangers associated with biohazards, areas or items containing biohazards must be labeled with the international biohazard symbol to warn of hazardous substances. This symbol is commonly found on medical waste containers, designated accumulation areas, and any other area where a warning of potentially hazardous biological material is necessary.
This particular symbol is used because it is great at alerting attention, is unique and recognizable, and universally understood.
Six Examples of Biohazards
Six example's of biohazard waste products include:
1) Blood and blood products:
Contaminated personal protective equipment, waste blood, plasma, and any other materials contaminated with blood or potentially infectious materials.
2) Pathological Waste:
Human organs, human tissue, and other human bodily matter derived from surgical procedures like a biopsy or autopsy.
3) Microbiological waste:
Laboratory wastes such as specimen cultures, stocks, and materials that came into contact with infectious waste.
4) Sharps waste:
Used needles, scalpels, glass slides, or lancets
5) Animal Waste:
Animal carcasses, animal body parts, and other animal waste.
6) Bodily Fluids
Bodily fluids contaminated with blood such as urine, amniotic fluid, nasal secretions, peritoneal fluids, and even saliva from dental procedures.
How do I identify a Biohazardous Waste?
A great thing to do when classifying waste in a healthcare setting is asking yourself:
Has this waste come into contact with blood?
If the waste came into contact with blood then it is biohazardous waste and should be treated as a biological hazard. Since there are other potentially infectious materials aside from blood, this is not a bulletproof test.
Ultimately, if you have any trouble identifying biohazardous waste or red bag waste within your facility, it is a good sign that you should undergo additional training. If you have trouble identifying the waste, chances are you not handling the waste appropriately or segregating the medical waste into the correct container.
Biohazard Safety Levels
The Centers for Disease control has outlined 4 levels of biohazards:
Biohazard Level 1:
BSL-1 is microbes found to pose minimal threat to humans and the environment. An example of a biohazard level 1 is E. Coli
Biohazard Level 2:
BSL-2 is microbes that pose a moderate risk to both humans and the environment and are associated with mild disease. An example of a biohazard level 2 is Streptococcus Pneumonia
Biohazard Level 3:
BSL-3 is agents capable of serious and deadly diseases. Simply inhaling can cause transmission. An example of a biohazard level 3 includes Tuberculosis.
Biohazard level 4:
BSL-4 is agents that are commonly fatal and treatments are limited or non existent. This is extremely uncommon. An example of a biohazard level 4 would be Ebola.
Transmission of Bloodborne Pathogens Associated with Biological Hazards
Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted through direct contact with contaminated biological material.
Within healthcare, the most common way infectious pathogens are transmitted is through needlestick injuries. Since a needle injury means an exchange of human blood, it is possible for serious or lethal diseases to be contracted through the injury.
The most common health risks associated with needlestick injuries include Hepatitis B, HIV, and Hepatitis C.
Biohazard Waste Disposal
It is important to follow biohazardous waste guidelines to protect your staff, community, and environment. from the risks associated with biohazards.
When dealing with biohazards, it is essential to establish safety guidelines to prevent the risk of disease. Being knowledgeable on how to properly generate, handle, contain, store, and dispose of medical waste is essential to compliance. Under cradle to grave requirements, you are responsible for your medical waste from the point of generation to the point of final disposal.
This means it is essential to undergo proper training, perform waste audits, and choose a medical waste company you can trust.
We used to use a National Company but they just kept jacking our fees up all the time. We switched to Eco Medical Waste and they cut our invoices in half.
Eco Medical Waste is always professional and timely. We appreciate their business and services.
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We offer medical waste disposal and management in all of California. Eco Medical was founded in far Northern California and has rapidly expanded to cover the entirety of California.
