What is a common biological hazard control measure in BE work?

• A. PPE, work practices, biosafety cabinets, and vaccination where appropriate; proper waste disposal.
• B. Occasional gloves only.
• C. Ignoring waste disposal.
• D. Only engineering controls without PPE.

Answer: (A)

Biological hazard control in BE relies on layered safeguards that work together to reduce exposure risk. This means combining engineering controls, administrative practices, personal protective equipment, vaccination where appropriate, and proper waste disposal. Each element addresses different ways hazards can reach a worker—from aerosols contained by a biosafety cabinet, to safe handling procedures and spill response, to skin and eye protection with PPE, to reducing infection risk through vaccination, and finally to preventing environmental or occupational exposure by disposing of waste properly.

Using all these components provides defense in depth—if one measure isn’t perfect, others still offer protection. The option that includes PPE, good work practices, biosafety cabinets, vaccination where appropriate, and proper waste disposal embodies this comprehensive approach. In contrast, relying on gloves alone, ignoring waste disposal, or using only one type of control without the others leaves gaps in protection.