Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

What type of protection is typically required at Biosafety Level 3?

1. No protection necessary

2. Basic laboratory wear

3. Full body protection with locked facilities

4. Only gloves and masks

The correct answer is: Full body protection with locked facilities

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) is designated for laboratories that work with pathogens that can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation. In this environment, there are strict guidelines to safeguard both the personnel and the surrounding community from exposure to infectious agents. Full body protection with locked facilities is essential at this level because it ensures that containment is robust and that any potential exposure to harmful biological agents is minimized. Personnel must wear specialized protective clothing, such as filtering facepieces or powered air-purifying respirators, gowns, gloves, and sometimes face shields, to protect against airborne pathogens. Moreover, BSL-3 laboratories are equipped with enhanced engineering controls such as biological safety cabinets (BSCs) and controlled access to prevent unauthorized entry and minimize the risk of exposure to hazardous agents. These precautions are critical because they address the risk of aerosol transmission, which is a significant concern with agents that are endemic in certain environments and can pose widespread health threats. In short, BSL-3 requires comprehensive protective measures to deal with the increased risk associated with the microbes handled in these settings, underscoring the importance of full body protection and secure laboratory environments in safeguarding health.