In some workplace settings, employee exposures to certain animals, insects, plant, fungi, bacteria and viruses represent a biological hazard that could have negative health impacts on employees. Some biological hazards include bacteria, fungi, or viruses that cause infections, toxins from molds and plants, and venom from insects and other animals. Health effects from biological hazards range from minor irritation to life-threatening illnesses and conditions.
Assessing for biological hazards in the workplace and implementing precautions as part of your workplace Accident Prevention Program (APP) will help to protect your employees.
Check this page if you need to learn more about Infectious Disease
Anthrax
Avian Flu (bird Flu, bird influenza)
- Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) 2022 Outbreak
- Gripe aviar Brote de 2022 (Spanish Version)
- Avian Influenza (OSHA)
- Avian Influenza Quick Cards (OSHA)
- Avian Influenza (DOH)
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the Agricultural Community
- Information on Avian Influenza (CDC)
Bioterrorism Agents
- Bioterrorism (OSHA)
- Bioterrorism and Terrorism (DOH)
- Bioterrorism (CDC)
- Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases (CDC)
Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)
Brucellosis
Campylobacter
Cannabis (Marijuana)
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Coronavirus
- Coronavirus/COVID-19 topic page
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus - CDC Situation Summary and Resources
- OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Cryptococcus Gattii
- Preventing Mold Related Problems in the Indoor Workplace (OSHA)
- Cryptococcosis Topic Page (DOH)
- Cryptococcus Gatti Infection (CDC)
Diphtheria
Ebola
- Ebola Topic Page (OSHA)
- Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus Disease(DOH)
- Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease) (CDC)
E. Coli
Foodborne illness
Hantavirus
- Hantavirus (OSHA)
- Hantavirus (DOH)
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) (Seattle-King County Public Health)
- Hantavirus (CDC)
Histoplasmosis (from bird or bat droppings)
Hop Dust
Influenza (Flu)
Legionella
Leptospirosis
Listeria
Lyme Disease
Measles (Rubeola)
Meningococcal Disease
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Molds and Mildew
- Mold Topic Page (OSHA)
- Preventing Mold Related Problems in the Indoor Workplace (OSHA)
- Quick Card – Mold (OSHA)
- Preventing Occupational Respiratory Diseases from Exposures Caused by Dampness in Office Buildings, Schools & other Nonindustrial Buildings (CDC-NIOSH)
- Workplace Mold and Your Health(CDC)
- Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings Guide (EPA)
Mpox (Monkeypox)
- Preventing the spread of monkeypox for health care workers
- Mpox Factsheet (OSHA)
- Mpox (DOH)
- Mpox (CDC)
Norovirus
Parrot Fever (Psittacosis)
- Hazard Information Bulletins Contracting Occupationally Related Psittacosis (OSHA)
- Psittacosis Topic Page (DOH)
- Psittacosis (CDC)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Plague (Yersina Pestis)
Poison Oak & Poison Ivy
Q fever
Rabies
Rat-bite Fever
Rubella
Salmonella
Shigella
Tetanus
Tuberculosis
- Tuberculosis Control in Health-care Settings (DD 11.35)
- Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional Facilities (DD 1.36)
- Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Healthcare Settings, 2005 (CDC)
- Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities, 2006 (CDC)
- Basic TB Facts (CDC)
- Tuberculosis (TB) (DOH)
- Tuberculosis (OSHA)
Tularemia
Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis)
- Valley fever is now in Washington State - Information for Employers (L&I Sharp)
- Valley Fever - Worker
- Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) (DOH)
- Valley Fever (CDC)
Venomous animals & insects
- CPR Seattle Venomous Snakes
- Venomous Snakes (CDC)
- Bees & Wasps (DOH)
- Bees & Wasps (CDC)
- Spiders (DOH)
West Nile virus
- Workplace Precautions Against West Nile Virus (OSHA)
- West Nile Virus Fact Sheet English (OSHA)
- West Nile Virus (DOH)
- West Nile Virus (CDC)
Wood dust
- Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for wood dust (WAC 296-841-20025)
- Woodworking eTool (OSHA)
- Wood Dust (NIH)
- Wood Dust Fact Sheet (Oregon OSHA)
- Recommended Exposure Limit for Wood Dust (CDC-NIOSH)
- Wood Dust Fact Sheet (Oregon OSHA)
Zika Virus
Agriculture
Cannabis Industry
Construction
- Valley fever is now in Washington State - For Employers
- Valley Fever - For Workers
- La fiebre del valle - para trabajadores (Spanish)
Corrections
Healthcare
- Preventing the spread of monkeypox for health care workers
- Tuberculosis Control in Health-care Settings (DD 11.35)
Hospitals
Tattoo and Body Piercing
L&I Rules (Washington Administrative Code / WAC)
- Agriculture, Safety standards for, Chapter 296-307 WAC
- Airborne Contaminants, Chapter 296-841 WAC
- Bloodborne Pathogens, Occupational Exposure to, Chapter 296-823 WAC
- Construction work, Safety standards for, Chapter 296-155 WAC
- Core Rules, Chapter 296-800 WAC
- Accident Prevention Programs, WAC 296-800-140
- Drinking water, bathrooms, washing facilities and waste disposal, WAC 296-800-230
- Employer responsibilities: Safe workplace, WAC 296-800-110
- Housekeeping, drainage, and storage, WAC 296-800-220
- Protect employees from biological agents, WAC 296-800-11045
- Personal Protective Equipment WAC 296-800-160
- Employee medical and exposure records, Chapter 296-802 WAC
- Firefighting, Safety standards for, Chapter 296-305 WAC
- Recordkeeping and Reporting, Chapter 297-27 WAC
- Respirators, Safety Standards for, Chapter 296-842 WAC
Washington State Laws
- Occupational diseases – Public health emergencies – infectious or contagious diseases, RCW 51.32.181