Public Administrator / Public Guardian Occupational Exposure Awareness Presented by Anna Levina,...

Public Administrator / Public Guardian

Occupational Exposure Awareness

Presented by Anna Levina, Department of Mental Health

Developed by Gevork Kazanchyan, MS, REHS, CP-FSCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE

LOSS CONTROL AND PREVENTION SECTION

Field OperationsHealth & Safety Mantra

DO wash hands afterwardDO keep wounds covered

Do NOT touch eyes, nose, ears & mouthDo NOT contact what will touch eyes, nose &

mouth Do NOT stand where you can’t see ground

Do NOT reach into where you can’t seeDo NOT touch what you question as safe

Exposure: Routes of Entry

Inhalation

Ingestion

Absorption/Dermal

Mucous Membranes

Injection

Exposure: Routes of Entry

“Active”Employee action

creates hazard◦Slips, Trips & Falls◦Probes & Piercings◦Over-exertions◦Strains/Sprains◦Contact Infections & Irritations

◦Some Infestations◦Etc., etc., etc…

Exposure: Routes of Entry“Passive”

Employee presence creates hazardSome Insect

Infestations/BitesSome Allergens/

Respiratory Irritants

Vulnerable Populations

Immuno-compromised

Asthma

Respiratory Sensitivity

2-Legged

4-Legged

More-Legged

No-Legged

“Squatting” Populations

X

4-Legged

Raccoons:Aggressive if corneredCarnivores: large caninesCommunal latrinesBaylisascaris procyonis

◦Hardy & nasty roundworm◦Primary host◦Accidental ingestion of eggs

Female produces 800,000/day Raccoon sheds 45,000,000/day

◦Serious illness; No cure

4-LeggedOpossums:Are NOT aggressive“All hiss, no bite”Unique defenseInfested with cat flea

◦Flea-borne typhus in LAC◦Person’s scratch, not bite

4-Legged

Feral Cats:“Community Cats”Infested with cat fleaToxoplasma gondii

◦Nasty parasite◦Primary host◦Accidental ingestion of cat feces

Excrete cysts in feces◦2 risk factors for Toxoplasmosis are:

Infants born to mothers infected upon pregnancy Severely Immuno-compromised

◦Behavioral change; acute Toxo = > psychotic

4-Legged

Rodents:

Roof Rats: Suburban

House Mice: Suburban & Rural

Deer Mice: Rural/Natural Areas

Norway Rats: “Downtown” L.A.

Legged & Winged

Bats:Rabies

◦Primary reservoir in SoCalFecal pellets

◦Look like mouse droppings◦Adhere vertically

Extremely sharp teeth

More-Legged

Spiders:Widow family

◦Venomous, sharp fangs◦Characteristic “snare” web

Black Widow◦Female

Twice size of male Larger venom glands

Brown Widow◦More potent but:

Less injected Localized

More-Legged

Spiders:Brown Recluse

◦Rarely aggressive◦Potentially deadly venom

Hemotoxic◦Not established in CA

Common Concerns

Human Remains & Body Fluids:

• Clear property with authorities• Ventilate if feasible• Lingering waste/fluids

• Odor; unpleasant=>unbearable• Simply avoid all contact• Inhalatory Health Risk; N/A

• Decomposition• Odor; unpleasant=>unbearable• Inhalatory Health Risk; N/A

Animal Remains & Body Fluids:

• Clear property with authorities• Ventilate if feasible• Distancing for “critters” • Lingering waste/fluids

• Odor; unpleasant=>unbearable• Simply avoid all contact• Inhalatory Health Risk; Negligible

• Decomposition• Odor; unpleasant=>unbearable• Inhalatory Health Risk; N/A

Hepatitis B & C:• Bloodborne Pathogen

• Sex• IV Drug Use• Needlesticks

Viable week+ outside bodyTransmission & Prevention:

HIV

Dust & Dirt:Discomfort or threat?Unsightly or unsafe?

Chemicals & Solvents:

Is it stable?◦Simply leave it be

Health Haz-Mat (LA County Fire) Emergency Response Unit (323)890-4317◦Unidentified chemicals?◦Hazmat of any concern?◦Disposal of chemicals?

Unstable/Off-gassing?->911

Medications & SyringesAvoid interaction if possibleMed’s

◦No bare hand contact (.)Sharps

◦Appropriate attire ◦Constant awareness◦Proper handling & disposal

Disposal: Follow County Protocol

Structural & Footing Hazards:• Is stability questionable?• Is footing questionable?• Is “trash-out” an option?• Adhere to fundamentals:

• Be conservative• Slow & sure

• Safety first• Don’t be a hero

Parvovirus◦No members of the genus Parvovirus are currently known to infect humans

Meningitis◦Acquired via direct contact with infected person (kissing, sneeze, sharing food & utensils, etc.)

Gastrointestinal Infections◦Consuming contaminated food/water or indirect oral contact after touching tainted surfaces

Non-Fac tors

Diptheria◦Direct physical contact or breathing aerosolized secretions of infected individuals

Tapeworm and Roundworm Infections◦Consumption of infected foods/fluids or bathing in contaminated waters

SARS◦No U.S. deaths, 8 confirmed cases, ALL contracted the virus abroad

Non-Fac tors

Scabies◦Mites usually survive off the host for 1-2 days, but no longer than 1 week (max)

Tuberculosis◦Bacteria (Tubercle) immediately inactivate once off living tissue/on non-living surfaces

Lice: Head & Body◦Head Louse dies off host within 1 day◦Body Louse survive less than 1 week

Non-Fac tors

Hepatitis A:• Food & Water-borne

Live shellfish

Fecal-oral contamination of ANY food

Prevention:o Vaccineo Good personal hygieneo Sanitation

Non-Fac to rs

Mold/MildewThe “M” WordRelative exposure timeFrom the CDC (re: removal):

◦ “We do not believe that one needs to take any different precautions with Stachy than with other molds.”

Recent study:◦ Inefficiency of inhaling mycotoxins◦ Requires extremely high airborne

spore levels for extended periods◦ Mycotoxicoses implausible by

inhalation in moldy indoor areas

N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s

There is no evidence in the medical literature to

suggest that any one species of mold is more

poisonous than another, when present on surfaces in an indoor environment.


“SuperDeadlyKillerToxicBlack” Mold?

Mold…In GeneralHealth effects of mold exposure are generally confined to mild respiratory irritation and potential triggering of symptoms in individuals with asthma and certain allergies.


Asbestos◦Simply “Do Not Disturb”

“Airborne” Diseases◦No ill host to generate and transmit

Lead-Based Paint◦Dust: ingested as hands/food place in mouth◦Chips: consumed by children◦Fumes: inhaled during “hot-work” tasks



MRSA (“Superbug”):• Antibiotic-resistant Staph

Transmission: contact with infected person (or their belongings) at wound site

• Prevention: o Wash handso Don’t share personal itemso Keep wounds covered


Psittacosis:• Inhalation of bacteria from

dried bird droppings

Mostly involves pet, Parrot-like caged birds o Pigeons occasionally

Less than 50 confimed cases in the U.S. since 1996


Hanta Virus:• Deer mice

◦West U.S.Rural SettingsContact with:

◦Urine◦Droppings◦Saliva

• Fresh viral loads• Extremely rare in LA County


Plague:• Infected flea bite (Ground squirrels)• 3 cases in LA County since 1979• High elevations/Mountains


“Bed Bugs”:• Come out to feed weekly

• Need textured surfaces

• 3 months without meal• Nocturnal (Practically)• “Hitch-hikers”• 1/8”

Cockroaches:

• Extraordinarily prolific creatures

• Hide in dark, warm, moist environments

• Nest inside wall/ceiling spaces and appliances

• Indicators of unsanitary conditions

• About 50 pathogens have been isolated

• NO scientific proof of direct transmission

• Definite “mechanical vector”


“Third-Hand Smoke”:• Lingering aged smoke

deposited on indoor surfaces• Potential hazard from irritant

aerosols and carcinogenic adsorbed compounds

• Higher asthma hazard index than parent compounds

• No data on exposure doses• No guidelines to mitigate

exposure


Field Pack Considerations


Footwear: ◦Shoes/Boots

Sturdy Slip-resistant Puncture-resistant

◦BootiesHand:

◦Single-use gloves Latex*, Nitrile, etc.

◦Reusable heavy work gloves


Properly Removing Gloves


Respiratory:◦“Where respirator use is not required”◦Section 5144 (c)(2)(B)

“Employers not required to include in written program those EE’s whose only use involves voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks)”

◦N-95◦Activated-charcoal embedded


Body: ◦Single-use

“Tyvek” ◦Coveralls◦Pants


Eye Protection: Safety Eyewear◦Sensitivity to airborne agents

◦Application of “pest repellent”

Sanitizing Wipes◦In absence of soap & water


Insect Repellant◦Flea infestations◦“DEET”

Tape◦Enclosure of seams

Probe ◦Minimize contact:

Bio Hazards Chem Hazards Physical Hazards

Questions?

Public Administrator / Public Guardian Occupational Exposure Awareness Presented by Anna Levina,...

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