One of the most recognizable symbols in our culture is the biohazard symbol. You see it in hospitals, in medical clinics, in bathrooms where there are sharps disposal containers. It’s a warning that if you don’t know what you are stepping towards or if you don’t have the necessary equipment with you, you should turn the other way. It’s a symbol that represents the harmful source of some type of insidious agent, and it should stop you in your tracks and prompt you to move quickly towards safety.
The biohazard symbol, developed in 1966 by Charles L. Baldwin and Robert S. Runkle, was a solution to a wide range of symbols used to warn people of infectious biological agents. When asked why he co-created the symbol, Charles Baldwin said, “We wanted something that was memorable but meaning-less, so we could educate people as to what it means.”
There are four circles of meaning represented by the symbol:
1. Agent: The pathogen capable of producing infection or infectious disease
2. Source: The host from which the pathogen originated
3. Transmission: The process of how the pathogen infects the host
4. Host: The organism the pathogen infects
“Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or samples of a microorganism, viruses, or toxins (from a biological source) that can affect human health. Symbolized by a striking medallion of curving, curlicue scepters, the sinister nature of the biohazard is evoked by the sharp and pointed nature of the otherwise round symbol.”
The sharp points and the disjointed nature of the overlapping circles not touching each other are caused by the numerous gaps. It’s a powerful symbol because it screams danger without using words. It looks like some type of weapon used in ancient warfare. This symbol is recognizable from far away, and it warns us even if we don’t know the source or significance of the biohazard.
When we are in a biohazard environment, we have four options:
Move away from the current environment
Stay in place and run the risk of getting sick from the biohazard
Acquire and use the proper equipment to stay safe in the dangerous environment
Bring in an outside source of help to remove the biohazard altogether
The biohazard symbol is striking because it’s the exact shape of a Venn diagram that has been fractured, disjointed, and altered completely because of the gaps in the circles. The Venn diagram is a well-known tool commonly used to show the interaction of three parts of a system or process:
The three independent circles are brought together to form a new and better interrelated system. The place all three circles intersect is called the nexus. The nexus would not be possible without the convergence of the three circles. But when the circles break, when gaps begin to form, the system becomes unstable and vulnerable, creating a toxic hazard. If there were a sign posted on the front door of your company office, would it be a biohazard symbol or a Venn diagram of trust? If your employees assessed your current culture on a sliding scale, would it lean towards toxic or trustworthy?
The gaps in trust are what make it toxic.
The gaps in trust make it a hazard.
The gaps in trust, if left unaddressed, will become an epidemic.
Distrust is the deep root of the status quo, and organizations will naturally become entrenched in the efficiency of “that’s just the way it is.” So, every leader has a choice. Every employee has a choice. You have a choice. You can lean in, speak up, and take a stand against the hazardous behaviors that are making your company sick. Or, you can continue to live in the midst of an epidemic of distrust.
If the biohazard symbol best represents your current reality, the work you do may feel hopeless. But even in the midst of an ever-deepening epidemic of distrust, there is hope. There is a way out. It’s within every individual’s and organization’s power to do something about this silent workplace culture killer. It is possible for you to lean into your influence and authority to engage in consistent, repeatable behavior to close the trust gaps. It starts by relentlessly evaluating your current reality, adopting a proven trust framework, and taking action to close the gaps in trust.
Sources:
“The Meaning Behind the Biohazard Symbol | Esco Lifesciences Group.” Esco Lifesciences Group. September 3, 2021.
Shroder, John. “Biological Aspects of Hazards, Risks, and Disasters.”Science Direct. Science Direct, July 9, 2015.
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