Which steps are included in a basic risk assessment for airborne transmission of a pathogen in a lab or facility?

• A. Identify hazard, estimate exposure probability and severity, determine risk level, implement controls (engineering, administrative, PPE), monitor, and re-evaluate.
• B. Only list the hazard and ignore controls.
• C. Rely solely on PPE without other controls.
• D. Assume risk is negligible and take no action.

Answer: (A)

Risk assessment for airborne pathogens starts with identifying the hazard and how it could reach people in the facility. Then you estimate how likely exposure is and how severe the consequences would be if exposure occurred. With those factors, you determine the overall risk and decide what controls are needed. The best approach uses multiple layers: engineering controls to reduce or contain airborne levels (like improved ventilation, containment, or filtration), administrative controls to shape safe work practices and procedures, and appropriate personal protective equipment to add a final barrier. After putting these measures in place, you continuously monitor the situation and re-evaluate as conditions or activities change to keep protections effective. Approaches that skip controls, rely only on PPE, or assume no risk do not adequately reduce the chance of transmission and are not sufficient for safety.