Types of Biological Hazards in the Workplace: Comprehensive Guide, Risk Groups, and Practical Controls

Biological hazards (biohazards) are a critical workplace safety concern across Australia and globally. Whether you work in healthcare, agriculture, construction, or education, understanding the types of biological hazards, their risk groups, and how to control them is essential for protecting your team and ensuring compliance.

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What Are Biological Hazards?

Biological hazards are substances produced by living organisms—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—that can cause harm to human health. These hazards can lead to infections, allergic reactions, and even toxic effects, making them a top priority in workplace safety programs.

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Key Fact:

According to Safe Work Australia’s National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance Report, biological hazards are a major contributor to occupational diseases across Australian workplaces.

The 4 Main Types of Biological Hazards

Biological hazards are generally grouped into four main categories. Understanding each type helps employers and workers identify risks and implement targeted controls.

1. Biological Agents

These include microscopic organisms that can cause disease or illness:

  • Bacteria: E.g., Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus

  • Viruses: E.g., Influenza, Hepatitis B and C, COVID-19

  • Fungi: E.g., Moulds, yeasts

  • Parasites: E.g., Giardia, tapeworms

Where found: Hospitals, food processing, agriculture, childcare, and laboratories.

2. Biotoxins

Toxic substances produced by living organisms:

  • Examples: Botulinum toxin (from bacteria), aflatoxins (from moulds), venom (from snakes or spiders)

Risks: Acute poisoning, chronic health effects

Where found: Food production, agriculture, pest control, and laboratories.

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3. Blood and Blood Products

Blood and body fluids can transmit serious diseases:

  • Risks: Hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, other bloodborne pathogens

  • Exposure: Needlestick injuries, cuts, splashes, improper disposal

Where found: Healthcare, emergency services, cleaning, tattoo parlours.

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4. Environmental Specimens

Environmental materials that may harbour biological hazards:

  • Examples: Soil, water, plant material, animal droppings

  • Risks: Leptospirosis, Legionnaires’ disease, histoplasmosis

Where found: Construction, landscaping, plumbing, waste management.

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Risk Groups: How Dangerous Are These Biological Hazards?

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies biological agents into four risk groups based on their potential to cause disease, spread, and the availability of treatment:

Risk Group Description Example Agents Risk Level
1 Unlikely to cause disease in healthy humans Non-pathogenic E. coli Low
2 Can cause human disease, unlikely to spread, effective treatment available Staphylococcus aureus, Influenza Moderate
3 Causes serious disease, limited spread, treatment may exist Tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2 High
4 Causes life-threatening disease, easily spread, no effective treatment Ebola, Marburg virus Extreme

Learn more in the World Health Organization’s Laboratory Biosafety Manual.

Tip: Always assess the risk group before handling any biological material. Use this to guide your control measures and emergency planning.

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How to Control Biological Hazards in Your Workplace

1. Risk Assessment

  • Identify all possible sources of biological hazards.

  • Assess who might be at risk and how.

  • Review and update assessments regularly.

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2. Engineering Controls

  • Use physical barriers, ventilation, and containment systems.

  • Install sharps disposal units and handwashing stations.

3. Administrative Controls

  • Develop clear policies and procedures.

  • Provide regular training and refresher courses.

  • Schedule vaccinations where appropriate.

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection.

  • Ensure PPE is appropriate for the hazard and used correctly.

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5. Hygiene and Housekeeping

  • Promote hand hygiene and surface disinfection.

  • Safe waste disposal practices.

Real-World Examples: Biological Hazards by Industry

  • Healthcare: Exposure to bloodborne viruses during patient care.

  • Construction: Inhalation of fungal spores from soil disturbance.

  • Food Industry: Bacterial contamination in food processing.

  • Agriculture: Zoonotic diseases from livestock handling.

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FAQs

Biological hazards are substances produced by living organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can cause harm to human health. They are a major safety concern in many industries, including healthcare, agriculture, and construction.

Industries at higher risk include healthcare, agriculture, food production, construction, landscaping, waste management, and emergency services, where workers are exposed to bloodborne pathogens, environmental specimens, or infectious agents.

Identifying biological hazards involves conducting a workplace risk assessment, reviewing processes where exposure may occur, inspecting the environment for contamination risks, and consulting safety guidelines from regulatory authorities.

Effective control measures include engineering controls like ventilation, administrative controls like hygiene policies, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), regular training, vaccinations, and promoting safe waste disposal practices.

Risk group assessment helps determine the severity of potential harm, the likelihood of spread, and the availability of treatments, ensuring appropriate control measures are selected to protect workers and maintain regulatory compliance.

DIGI CLIP Mobile Forms allows instant reporting of biological hazards via mobile devices, even offline. It streamlines incident documentation with photos and notes, automates supervisor notifications, and stores data securely for audits and compliance.

Take Action: Make Biological Hazard Reporting Easy with DIGI CLIP mobile forms

Managing biological hazards requires fast, accurate communication. DIGI CLIP mobile forms lets you:

✅ Instantly report hazards using your mobile device—even offline
✅ Attach photos, location, and notes for rapid response
✅ Automate notifications to supervisors and safety teams
✅ Keep a secure, searchable record for compliance and audits

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