Biological Health Hazards in Construction

The Biological Health Hazards in Construction course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals addresses the biological agents that construction workers encounter in environments that most safety training ignores: soil disturbance that releases fungal spores (Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis), renovation work that disturbs mould contamination, sewer and utility work that involves sewage exposure, demolition that disturbs bird and bat droppings, construction near agricultural operations, tick and insect exposure on rural and wooded sites, bloodborne pathogen exposure from first aid and sharps, and Legionella exposure from water system work. These biological hazards are largely invisible and rarely addressed in standard construction safety training, yet they cause serious and sometimes fatal diseases.

The curriculum covers biological hazard categories in construction (fungi, bacteria, viruses, parasites, animal-borne agents), soil-disturbing activities and associated pathogens (histoplasmosis from bird/bat droppings in soil, coccidioidomycosis/Valley Fever from desert soil disturbance, tetanus from soil contamination of wounds), mould exposure during renovation and water-damaged building work, sewage and wastewater exposure during utility construction, animal and insect-borne hazards (Lyme disease from ticks, West Nile from mosquitoes, hantavirus from rodent droppings), bloodborne pathogens in construction (first aid, sharps on demolition sites), Legionella from water system construction and testing, exposure controls (PPE, respiratory protection, hygiene, vaccination, medical surveillance), and the biological hazard assessment that should be part of every construction project’s safety planning. All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS.

Upon completion, graduates receive a certificate, wallet card, and transcript, employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify biological hazards associated with soil disturbance: Histoplasma capsulatum (histoplasmosis from bird/bat droppings in soil — especially renovation/demolition of contaminated buildings), Coccidioides immitis (Valley Fever from desert soil), Clostridium tetani (tetanus from wound contamination), and the construction activities that create exposure.
• Manage mould exposure during renovation: identifying water-damaged materials, assessing mould contamination, respiratory protection selection (N95 minimum, half-face APR for significant contamination), containment during removal, and the exposure controls per EPA and OSHA guidance.
• Manage sewage and wastewater exposure: identifying biological agents in sewage (enteric bacteria, viruses, parasites), PPE for sewer work (gloves, face protection, waterproof clothing), hygiene practices (hand washing, no eating/drinking/smoking in exposure areas), and hepatitis A vaccination awareness.
• Identify animal and insect-borne hazards on construction sites: Lyme disease (tick avoidance, daily tick checks, prompt removal), West Nile virus (mosquito protection), hantavirus (rodent droppings during demolition — wet before sweeping, never dry sweep), and the site assessment that identifies biological risk before work begins.
• Manage bloodborne pathogen exposure on construction sites: first aid response, sharps encountered during demolition (needles, broken glass), exposure reporting, and the construction-specific BBP considerations.
• Manage Legionella exposure during water system work: construction and testing of water systems (cooling towers, potable water, decorative features), Legionella growth conditions (warm stagnant water, biofilm), and the water management practices that prevent Legionella colonisation during construction.

Core Curriculum Topics

• Soil Pathogens: histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, tetanus, soil-disturbing activities
• Mould Exposure: renovation, water-damaged buildings, assessment, containment, respiratory protection
• Sewage and Wastewater: enteric organisms, PPE, hygiene, hepatitis A, utility construction
• Animal/Insect-Borne: Lyme (ticks), West Nile (mosquitoes), hantavirus (rodents), site assessment
• Bloodborne Pathogens in Construction: first aid, demolition sharps, exposure reporting
• Legionella: water system construction, cooling towers, growth conditions, water management
• Biological Hazard Assessment: project-level identification, site history, environmental survey
• Exposure Controls: respiratory protection, PPE, hygiene, vaccination, medical surveillance
• Construction-Specific Considerations: rural sites, urban renovation, demolition, utility work

Participants will receive online training through Microsoft Teams and LMS. Courses are offered by accredited broadcasters and backed by expert instruction and official study materials. All assessments are conducted online and successful participants are awarded certificates that are accepted internationally.

The Biological Health Hazards in Construction program is designed for construction workers, supervisors, safety officers, and project managers who aim to identify, prevent, and manage biological hazards on construction sites. This course emphasizes recognizing biological risks, implementing control measures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting worker health and well-being.

Core Modules

Participants will explore essential topics to understand and mitigate biological health hazards:

Optional / Specialized Modules

Participants may explore additional specialized topics to enhance biological hazard management expertise:

The Biological Health Hazards in Construction program equips participants with practical knowledge, hazard recognition skills, and professional strategies required to identify, control, and prevent biological risks, ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering a proactive safety culture on construction sites.

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

The program is designed to offer flexible online learning with a minimum instructional contact time of 8 hours. Most learners successfully complete the course within one month, allowing them to progress at their own pace while balancing professional commitments.

Candidates can take this exam through an assigned portal from the American Institute of Safety Professionals. A passing score is 70% or higher, and exam results are provided right after by email to the address provided. The exam is open-book, allowing candidates to validate their answers. Any candidates who do not pass have 1 month after their exam to go through the training materials and can take the exam 3 additional times.

For questions about American Institute of Safety Professionals online fees, replacement certificates, additional hardbound materials or any other financial-related issues please feel free to contact accounts@amiosp.com

• Construction safety officers who need to add biological hazards to their programmes
• Renovation and demolition workers exposed to mould, droppings, and legacy biological contamination
• Utility construction workers who enter sewers, manholes, and wastewater systems
• Workers on rural construction sites exposed to ticks, mosquitoes, and wildlife
• Environmental consultants conducting biological hazard assessments before construction
• Occupational health professionals managing construction worker health surveillance

Prerequisite: None. Construction experience helpful. Companion to Health Hazards in Construction (chemical/physical focus).

• Biological Health Hazards in Construction — YOU ARE HERE (construction biological hazards)
• Health Hazards in Construction (chemical and physical health hazards)
• Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace (BBP at regulatory depth)
• Renovation and Demolition Safety (includes biological hazards in reno/demo context)
• International Diploma in Construction Safety Management (Unit 5: occupational health)