Free OSHA Course- Health Hazards in Construction- Biological Hazards.
- Biological Agents.
Include:
– Bacteria, viruses, fungi, other microorganisms and their associated toxins.
– Have the ability to adversely affect human health in a variety of ways, ranging from relatively mild, allergic reactions to serious medical conditions, even death.
– These organisms are widespread in the natural environment; they are found in water, soil, plants, and animals.
– Because many microbes reproduce rapidly and require minimal resources for survival, they are a potential danger in a wide variety of occupational settings.
– Diseases or illnesses can occur from biological sources which include:
• West Nile virus
• Lyme Disease
• Histoplasmosis (fungus in bird droppings)
• Hantavirus
- Biological Agents.
Exposure to biological agents may occur:
– During demolition, renovation, sewer work, earth work, work on air handling systems, or other construction work from contact with contaminated or disease-carrying:
• soil
• water
• insects (mosquitoes, ticks)
• bird or bat droppings
• animals
• structures
TIP: Exposure to biological agents should be minimized to the full extent possible and /
or otherwise controlled following established engineering, work practice controls and personal protective equipment controls when necessary.
In occupations where there is potential exposure to biological hazards, workers should practice proper personal hygiene, particularly hand washing.
- Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs).
Bloodborne pathogens are:
– Infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans.
(HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV).
– Needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries may expose
workers to bloodborne pathogens.
– Workers in many occupations, including first aid team
members, housekeeping personnel in some industries, medical
waste clean up workers, nurses and other healthcare personnel
are at a higher risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
TIP: Occupations that deal with plants or animals or their products or with food and food processing may expose workers to biological hazards.
- Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs).
In order to reduce or eliminate the hazards:
– Of exposure to BBP’s, in those jobs where exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials are anticipated, an employer must implement an exposure control plan for the worksite with details on employee protection measures.
– Plan must also describe how an employer will use a combination of engineering and work practice controls such as “universal precautions”, ensure the use of personal protective clothing and equipment, provide training , medical surveillance, hepatitis B vaccinations, and signs and labels, among other provisions.
TIP: Universal precautions is an approach to infection control to treat all human blood and
certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other
bloodborne pathogens.
- Poisonous Plants.
Poisonous plants found in the US include:
– Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
stalks are damaged and come in contact with workers’ skin. – These plants can also be dangerous if they are
burned and their toxins are inhaled by workers.
TIP: Nearly one-third of forestry workers and firefighters who battle forest fires in California,
Oregon, and Washington develop rashes or lung irritations from contact with poison oak,
which is the most common poisonous plant in those states
- Other Biological Hazards.
Many types of venomous wildlife and insects.
be found throughout various geographic regions of the US.
– Especially dangerous to workers who have allergies .
– Anaphylactic shock , the body’s severe allergic reaction to a bite or sting and requires immediate emergency care.
– Thousands of people are stung each year, and as many as 40–50 people in the US die each year from severe allergic reactions.
TIP: Venomous U.S. snakes include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths/water moccasins, and coral snakes. Stinging insects include bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants. Venomous spiders include black widows, brown recluse spiders, and hobo spiders.