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Duke Occupational & Environmental Safety Office
Duke Occupational & Environmental Safety Office
Occupational & Environmental Safety Office
Report an Issue

Biological Materials

 

Biological Materials include bacteria, viruses, fungi, biologically-derived toxins, synthetic or recombinant nucleic acids, animals and animal tissue, plant and plant tissue, etc. These have the potential to cause illness or death if exposed to in the workplace depending on a variety of factors including the biological material’s inherent characteristics, an individual’s susceptibility, dosage, routes of exposure, etc. Biological Safety will conduct a risk assessment and assign the appropriate biosafety level or work practices to conduct the work to protect Duke personnel from occupational exposures to biological hazards. Specific hazards present unique issues that have to be addressed with a combination of engineering controls, administrative controls and personnel protective equipment (PPE). Using the links above, you can find additional information along with mitigations measures necessary to protect yourself and others in the work place.