Jimma University

Institute of Health Sciences

Public Health Faculty
1
Department of Environmental Health Sciences & Technology

 Chapter Four(4): Biological Hazards ( Biohazards)

 By Debela H.(MPH)

May ,2024
Jimma,Ethiopia
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Industrial hygiene workers training manual

 Objectives of this chapter
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At the end of this session students are expected to:

 Describe the nature, types, and related health effects of
biological hazards
 Identify workers who are at high risk for exposure to specific biological

hazard
 Describe mode of transmission and route of exposure for biological hazards

 Describe appropriate control strategy for exposure to

specific biological agents

Industrial hygiene workers training manual

 Group discussion
4

 Can COVID-19 is biological hazard?

 It can be considered an occupational disease?

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 Biological hazards( biohazards)
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 There are at least 193 important biological agents that show

infectious, allergenic, toxic, or carcinogenic activities in the
working population.
 These agents are viruses, bacteria, fungi, plant substances,
invertebrate animals (mostly arthropods), and substances
derived from vertebrate animals.
 The biological agents may cause a variety of health effects in
humans, such as infectious diseases, acute toxic effects,
allergies and even cancer

Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

 3. Biological hazards/Bio Hazards
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 The UK Health and Safety Commission and the US

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
define;
 Biological hazards as “infectious agents or products of
such agents that cause human disease,” and
 Biological agents as “any microorganism, cell culture, or human
endoparasite, including any which have been genetically modified,
which may cause any infection, allergy toxicity, or otherwise create
a hazard to human health
 micro organisms which had a potential to cause harm/ disease on
living beings like: pathogenic bateria viruses, parasite,
fungus ,toxins releasizing plants and animals ( spiders, snake,
scorpion)
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Biological factor is a broad term. It includes many

agents, such as:
 Bacteria
 Fungi
 Virus
 Bacterial endotoxins
 Mycotoxins
 Peptidoglycans
 β-glucans
 Allergens (high molecular weight)
 Plant fibres
Industrial hygiene workers training manual
 3)Biological Hazards
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 Biological hazards(biohazrads) are an organisms or

substances derived from an organisms that pose a threat to
primary human health
 The effects are depend on :
 The combination of number of Mos in the environment
 The virulence of these Mos
 The resistance of the individual
 Concomitant physical of chemical stresses in the environment
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 3)Biological Hazards cont…

 Bacteria : are microscopic single-celled organisms. They are found in

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the air, water and soil and in living or dead animals and plants.
 Viruses: are micro-organisms that can reproduce only by coming into
contact with living cells.
 Fungi: are simple plants that feed on the living or dead tissues of
animals or plants. Mould, yeast and mushrooms are fungi.
 Parasites: live in the bodies of plants and animals, including, in some
cases, the human digestive system.
 Some plants produce substances that cause an allergic response in
humans.
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 Biohazards
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 Bacteria-Tetanus,Tuberculosis, Anthrax, Brucellosis

(Milkmen),Gonorrhea(Sex-workers-Genital organs get
affected).
 Virus - Hepatitis, AIDS
 Protozoal&Parasitic-Malaria,Hydatid(Doghandlers),
Hookworms, tapeworms (Agri-workers), etc.
 Fungi-(Agri-workers)-Tinea-infections, Coccidiomycosis,
Psittacoses, ornithosis, etc.

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3)Biological Hazards cont…

11 Have no threshold level of exposure, i.e., dose and
response relationship
 Are ubiquitous in the environment so the idea of
permissible exposure limits. is inappropriate
 Are affected by biological competition rather than
behaving in an additive or synergistic way
 Interact with the host and its environment to produce the
adverse effects
Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.
 Classification of biological hazards by type of agent

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 Infectious agents: e.g. Viruses, bacteria, fungi,
helminthes and protozoa.
 Plant and plant products: Athletes, military personnel
in barracks and veterinary practice and laundary workers
are at risk. E.g. anaphylaxis, mushroom workers’ lung
and bagassosis in the sugar cane industry, Fungi such as
molds and yeasts

Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

 Group discussion
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 What are major factors that promote the growth

and reproductions of biohazards?

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Factors affecting infection and exposure
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 Modes of transmission
 Contact (direct/indirect, zoonotic); vector-borne,
airborne
 Routes of entry
 Infectious dose (infective dose)
 Number of microorganism
 Viability and virulence of agent
 Viability - Ability to replicate
 Virulence – Ability to cause disease
 Host susceptibility
 Skin disorders, immune system, vaccination allergy,
infection of fetus, work practices

Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

 Chain of infection

Six major criteria's in chain of infection transmissions are:

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1. The agent must be pathogenic.

2. There must be a reservoir of sufficient number.

3. The agent must escape the reservoir.

4. The organism must be able to move through the environment.

5. There must be a portal of entry for the host.

6. The host must be susceptible to the agent.

Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

 Sources

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 Main sources of infection in a workplace:

 Blood and other body fluids animal carcasses and raw meat

 Human or animal waste products

 Respiratory discharges such as coughs and sneezes
Ex. COVID 19
 Skin - direct contact.
.

Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

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Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

 route of transmission

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The route of transmission may be direct or indirect.
1. Direct transmission takes place when there is physical
contact between an infected and a non-infected person.
 can also occur if there is a projection of droplets, injected
or punctured with an infected needle or other sharp
object which is infected.
 2. Indirect transmission occurs when infectious agents
attach themselves to materials or objects such as food
and water or cooking and eating utensils.

Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.

 People at risk

 Health professionals

19 Those who work with animals or plants or in health and
child care.
 laundry workers
 paramedical personnel (such as ambulance officers)
 police and prison officers
 Agriculture and food industry workers handle both animal and
plant products.
 Others include those who work with ventilation systems or
work in municipal sanitation or sewage operations
 Cleaners/janitors have frequent contact with biological hazards
 Workers in the hairdressing, nail and beauty industry
Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H.
 RISK GROUPS FOR BIOHAZARDS
 Risk Group 1 - (low individual and community risk).
 An organism that is unlikely to cause human or animal
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disease.
 Risk Group 2 - (moderate individual risk, limited community
risk).
 A pathogen that may cause human or animal disease and
which might be a hazard to laboratory workers, but is unlikely to
spread to the community, livestock or the environment
 Risk Group 3 - (high individual risk, low community risk).
 A pathogen that can cause serious human disease but does not

ordinarily spread from one individual to another.

 Risk Group 4 - (high individual and community risk).
 A pathogen that usually produces serious human or animal

disease and may be readily transmitted from one individual to

another,Industrial
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or indirectly.
 Blood Borne Diseases
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 The risk of occupational acquisition of a blood borne

virus relates to:
 The prevalence of the virus in the patient population
 The efficiency of virus transmission after a single contact
with infected fluid / tissue
 The nature and frequency of occupational blood contact
 The concentration of the virus in the blood.

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 Blood Borne Diseases
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 Hepatitis B
 Hepatitis C
 HIV - (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus).

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 Zoonoses
23
Zoonoses are infections that are naturally transmitted from animal to humans.
 There are over 150 known zoonoses which range from ring worm to anthrax
and rabies.
 Zoonoses primarily affect people who work closely with animals i.e. farm
workers, laboratory workers, vets, forestry workers.
 Infection can occur through contact with:
 Animal and animal products (meat, bone meal, fur, feathers, skins, wool)
 Animal tissue & body fluids (blood, saliva etc)
 Birth products (placenta etc)
 Waste products (urine, dung, faeces)
 Contaminated materials (ground, fencing, clothing etc).
 Infection may occur via inhalation, ingestion or through broken skin or
contact with mucous membranes.


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 Hierarchy of control of biohazards
24 · Vaccines
Engineering/Bioengineering · Prophylactic anti-viral medications
· Ventilation systems
controls · Engineered safe needle devices
· Automated equipment

· Policies and procedures

· Routine practices such ‘universal infection
control
Administrative controls procedures’ and other safe work procedures
· Immunization programs
· Training
· Quarantine and isolation procedures

· Gloves
Personal Protective Equipment · Protective clothing
· Eye protection
(PPE) · Face protection
· Respiratory
Industrial and Occupational hygiene slide By Debela H. protection