Which device protects users, the environment, and the product from biological hazards?

• A. Fume hood
• B. Biotechnology safety cabinet
• C. Lab safety cabinet
• D. Clean bench

Answer: (B)

A biosafety cabinet is designed to contain biological hazards at the source and keep them from spreading, while also protecting the worker and the environment and keeping the work area sterile. It does this with HEPA-filtered air: room air is drawn into the front of the cabinet, passes through high-efficiency filters that trap aerosols and microbes, and then is either recirculated for product protection or exhausted after filtration. This creates a controlled, clean workspace where the product stays protected from contamination, and any potentially dangerous aerosols are captured before they can reach you or get into the room.

This differs from a fume hood, which mainly protects the user from chemical fumes and is not designed to maintain a sterile work zone or protect the product from contamination. A basic lab safety cabinet or a clean bench focuses more on either protecting the product or providing general cleanliness, but not the full triple protection—user, environment, and product—that a biosafety cabinet offers.