Common Hazards

A biological hazard is caused by a living or dead organism (or parts of it), which can result in harmful effects to people that come in contact with it.

Some common biological hazards that workers can face include:

• Viruses and bacteria (such as Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis, Hepatitis, and HIV)
• Plants that produce toxins and allergens (such as poison ivy and oak pollen)
• Insects (such as ants, wasps, and bees), spiders, ticks, and scorpions
• Reptiles such as snakes (for example, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, copperheads, and coral snakes), lizards, and alligators.
• Aquatic animals (such as jellyfish, stingrays, and sharks)
• Mammals (such as rats, mice, raccoons, and opossums)
• Protein allergens (such as urine, feces, blood, and hair or dander from animals)

These hazards can cause disease, injury, and even death to exposed workers. The following pages describe these hazards along with the health and safety risks they pose.

Hepatitis, HIV, and other diseases transmitted through contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials is covered in a separate Bloodborne Pathogens course offered through Compliance Training Online.

To learn more about Outdoor Biological Hazards visit our Outdoor Biological Hazards Online Training web page.