The symbol that you find on a biohazard sign or biohazard labels has a fascinating history. The symbol is both abstract, yet, by know generally understood. It has such resonance in our culture that, in fact, you see it in clinics, labs and [even] skateboards. How did this happen to this symbol and not to others that are equally abstract?

Let’s start with some background. The definition of the word symbol as written by Encyclopædia Britannica is, “a communication element intended to simply represent or stand for a complex of person, object, group, or idea.” In 1966, it became clear to a scientist named, Charles L. Baldwin, that biology laboratories around the world did not have that type of communication. In an article written by Baldwin and another scientist named Robert S. Runkle called, Biohazards Symbol: Development of a Biological Hazards Warning Signal, they describe how before 1966 there was no universal warning symbol for all biohazards, “In biology laboratories, however, a number of different symbols are in use; none of these has been universally accepted, and non imply or encompass all possible biohazards.” This was a danger to the entire biological studies community, as well as everyone else, because there was a possibility that the various symbols could cause confusion between different sections of biological studies. Containment facilities, and control of infectious agents had begun the process of keeping the workers safe, however, at times, accidents still occurred. There had been accidental infections of numerous laboratory personnel in the twenty years leading up to the article. By 1966 Baldwin decided to help protect the by creating a universal warning sign that all would recognize.