Background

With the promulgation of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and OSHA's recognition of other biological hazards in the workplace, the concern for biological safety is rapidly growing.  Infectious agents are most often thought of when biohazards are mentioned, but laboratory animal dander, wood dust, enzymes, products of fermentation, and many other substances present in the workplace are also "biohazards".  Failure to recognize the presence of  biohazardous materials, and to provide protection to personnel and the environment may result in increased legal liability and expense.  Management, industrial hygiene and safety personnel are faced with the task of developing cost-effective programs for the protection of personnel who may be occupationally exposed to biological hazards.  

Biohazard Assessment | Personalized Biosafety Programs | Biohazard Awareness Training | Expert Witness |

Consulting Options | Biohazard Containment Facilities | Regulated Medical Waste | Qualifications |

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Biohazard Assessment

Management may not recognize the potential existence of biohazards in their workplace.  Biohazards are not limited to health-care institutions and medical research facilities. OSHA has chosen to enforce not only the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, but also the general industry standards and the General Duty Clause with regard to potential occupational biohazard exposure.  The precedents is thereby established for compliance officers to cite any work environment in which biohazardous materials may be present.  Biohaztec Associates can provide the expertise for evaluating your individual workplace for biohazards and can make specific recommendations for minimizing potential employee, product, or environmental exposure to these hazards.

Personalized Biosafety Programs

No two companies are exactly alike.  Safety programs, if they are to be appropriate and cost-effective, must be tailored to the requirements of the company.  Working with your safety personnel, Biohaztec Associates will provide the direction necessary to develop the biosafety program that best fits your specific needs.

Biohazard Awareness Training

Training is essential in the development and implementation of any effective biosafety.  Biohaztec Associates personnel have developed and presented numerous biosafety training programs including the "Biohazards" course and the section of the "Laboratory Safety" training course for OSHA compliance personnel at the OSHA Training Institute.  

Expert Witness

Failure to recognize the presence of  biohazardous materials, and to provide protection to personnel and the environment may result in increased legal liability and expense.  Legal issues regarding the possible occupational exposure to biohazardous materials have become more numerous and many issues involving exposure to biohazards are being litigated.  In addition, environmental biohazards (regulated medical wastes, biotechnology wastes, etc.) have become the subject of litigation.  Biohaztec Associates personnel will provide consultation for the development of legal cases, and expert witness testimony with regard to both environmental and occupational biohazards.

Consulting Options

Biohaztec Associates experienced professional biosafety experts can meet with your personnel at your site to perform biosafety assessments and to develop cost-effective strategies to deal with your biosafety problems.  Biohaztec Associates can provide biosafety training through train-the-trainer programs, and through specific personnel training programs.  Biohaztec Associates can research and provide specific reports on your biosafety concerns.  Biohaztec Associates can also provide, through phone consultation, an immediate response to the specific biosafety concerns of your health and safety personnel.

Biohazard Containment Facilities

Each biohazard containment facility must be individually designed and constructed so that it not only contains the hazardous material, but also is easily maintained with minimum potential exposure to maintenance and housekeeping personnel, and has flexibility for future projects.  Biohaztec Associates will work with your facilities planning engineers to identify the definitive requirements of your company with regard to both research and production containment facilities.  We will provide you with the expertise to ensure that your architects and engineers accommodate those unique requirements in the design and construction of your biohazard containment facility.  Biohaztec Associates will also work with your personnel to develop a sound, cost-effective validation package which will ensure that your facility is functioning as designed to protect your personnel, your products and the environment. 

Regulated Medical Waste

The disposal of regulated medical waste has become a significant problem for hospitals and research laboratories and, more recently, clinics, physician and dental offices.  Numerous states have "medical waste laws" and many others are seriously investigating the need for such laws.  Further federal regulation of medical wastes is also being considered.  Waste disposal firms and landfill operators are reluctant to handle regulated medical waste without charging considerably higher fees.  It is important that each generator of infectious waste develop an appropriate program for the identification, handling and disposal of such waste.  Biohaztec Associates will provide the technical expertise to assist in the development and implementation of a scientifically sound, safe, and cost-effective, validatable waste disposal program for your facility. 

Qualifications

Biohaztec Associates personnel have extensive experience in the industrial and institutional management of biohazardous materials.  They have developed and implemented industrial and institutional biohazard control programs encompassing personnel training programs, screening and vaccination programs, and computer tracking of potential biohazards.  They have assisted in the design, construction, certification and validation of numerous research and production facilities for the containment of biohazardous materials.  They have also provided consultation and testimony as expert witnesses in legal cases

Biohaztec Associates personnel have served on several government and many industry committees which have dealt with the handling of potentially biohazardous materials.  These include the EPA Committee for the revision of the "Guide for Infectious Waste Management", the CDC Committee for the revision of the agent summary statement for HIV-1 (AIDS virus), and the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards subcommittee for the development of a standard for the "Protection of Laboratory Workers from Infectious Disease Transmitted by Blood, Body Fluids, and Tissue".