Biological substances are any material that contains a microorganism (e.g., bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, parasites, or
fungi), human or animal products (e.g., blood, tissue, bodily fluids), insects,
plants, or toxic compounds produced by microorganisms, plants, animals, or
insects that can cause disease in humans or animals. Materiel equipment/systems, such as field food service, hygiene facilities, field laundry, water treatment, waste management, kennels, medical transport, mortuary affairs, and clothing items may be sources of potentially hazardous exposure to biological substances.
Data Requirements
Provide a description of the system design, to include function and structure (e.g., diagrams, construction materials, industry standards). Describe the system's use scenario including information such as the length of operations, capacity of the system (number of people supported), set-up configurations, and maintenance and cleaning procedures. Provide any test data for performance requirements related to the biological hazard (e.g., water temperature, swatch testing, filtration performance).
Health Protection Criteria
Aspects of design (e.g., structure, materials, space allowance,
ventilation, temperature controls, cross-contamination prevention, pest control,
and industry standards) are considered in comparison to the established
public health standards. Depending on the hazard source and type, these standards may include federal regulations, Army regulations and guidelines, Army Techniques Publications, and other sources. Assessors should have expertise in sanitation and hygiene
standards, public health regulations, and disease transmission. Appropriate substitution (e.g., nonporous for porous materials), engineering controls (e.g., ventilation), warnings, administrative controls (e.g., cleaning procedures), and personal protective equipment may be required depending on the hazard and identified deficiencies.
