What is classified as a bio-hazard?

10/23/2020 (Permalink)

9/7/2016

ARE THERE RACCOONS LIVING WITH YOU?

Last month’s Tip of the Month focused on the Hospitality Industry dealing with prevention of suicides.

From this discussion I learned there are a lot of people that don’t have a good understanding of what biohazards are and why they are dangerous to one’s health.

So what is a biohazard? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

A biological agent or condition that is a hazard to humans or the environment; also: a hazard posed by such an agent or condition.

Bio-Hazard threats can be found anywhere. Your workplace, your health provider’s office, the grocery store, your child’s school or day care and even your own home! –Biohazards should be handled with extreme caution.

What are some biohazard examples?

• Human blood and blood products. This includes items that have been contaminated with blood and other body fluids or tissues that contain visible blood.
• Animal waste. Animal carcasses, body parts, and feces or any bedding material used by animals that are known to be infected with pathogenic organisms.
• Human body fluids. Cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva, and peritoneal fluid.
• Microbiological wastes. Common in laboratory settings, examples of microbiological wastes include specimen cultures, disposable culture dishes, discarded viruses, and devices used to transfer or mix cultures.
• Pathological waste. Unfixed human tissue (excluding skin), waste biopsy materials, and anatomical parts from medical procedures or autopsies.
• Sharps waste. Needles, glass slides and cover slips, scalpels, and IV tubing that have the needle attached.