Biohazards are microorganisms – including bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi -- capable of causing communicable and infectious diseases. OHS pros in healthcare and related occupations know they can’t relax biohazard control efforts. Pros in general industry, construction and the like should place biohazards higher on the priority pole. Biohazards, with their opportunist diseases, have become particularly troublesome.
Biohazards can cause communicable or infectious disease. These terms are not synonymous. All communicable diseases are infectious, but not all infections are communicable. An employee who steps on a rusty nail at work may develop a tetanus infection. Tetanus, however, is not communicable to other workers. People may carry an infectious or communicable disease and show no symptoms of illness.