Biohazard safety levels were originally designed for laboratory work by the Center for Disease Control. However, after it became apparent that many diseases needed to be included in the biohazard safety levels, these levels then began being used by CleanScene BioRecovery Services in the biohazardous assessments of risk to our clients and communities.
The biohazard safety levels are as follows:
BioSafety Level 1 :
This area includes microbes or bacteria that present a low-risk health or safety hazard to individuals and communities, such as e-coli. Biohazard trained technicians should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at this level.
BioSafety Level 2:
Microbes in this area include HIV and hepatitis A,B, C, flu, HIV measles , etc. These present a moderate health risk to an individual or a low risk safety hazard to the community, as these pathogens have effective treatments and preventative measures that are available. Biohazard trained technicians are to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at this level.
BioSafety Level 3:
Microbes at this level can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through respiratory exposure, such as anthrax, West Nile virus, SARS TB and malaria. Biohazard trained technicians must wear PPE and respirators at this level.
BioSafety Level 4:
This level is rarely seen outside of laboratories. The infections caused here are usually fatal without treatment and include Ebola and other hemorrhagic diseases.
Be aware that these biohazards are not found only in labs. Any of these microbes can be found in blood or bodily fluids found at crime/trauma scenes, unattended deaths, suicides, etc.
Exposure to any biohazardous pathogen should always be remediated by biohazardous trained technicians . All biohazardous pathogens, including OPIM (Other potentially infected materials) will be rendered safe according to EPA and OSHA standards.
CleanScene BioRecovery Services uses a Risk Assessment Plan for each biohazardous situation that we encounter. This lets the client know the exposure to them and their environment. The level also dictates the type of PPE needed to be used for the situation. This can include hazmat suits, respirators, gloves and other applicable PPE , along with the appropriate EPA registered chemicals to remediate and treat the scene.
You can be assured that CleanScene Biorecovery Services and all of their employees are already trained in all of the above procedures, so, you, as the customer, can simply rely on us to perform the necessary services needed with full confidence that they will be done professionally, expediently, and cost effectively.
