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Tetra Tech Health & Safety
This document is the property of Tetra Tech, Inc. (Tetra Tech), and its subsidiaries. Due to the dynamic nature of the topic, material and guidance presented in this document is subject to change. Any reuse of this document without Tetra Tech’s permission is at the sole risk of the user. The user will hold harmless Tetra Tech for any damages that result from unauthorized reuse. Any person utilizing this instruction should seek competent professional advice to verify and assume responsibility for the suitability of this information to their particular situation.
Training Objectives
General knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Routes of transmission and symptoms
EVD exposure risk
Office protocols to minimize infectious disease transmission
Ebola belongs to a group of diseases called Viral
Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF)
(This group also includes Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever, Dengue
Fever and Marburg Fever)
What is Ebola?
EBOLA VIRUS WITH TYPICAL CURLED FILAMENT
The natural virus reservoir is
unknown but it is suspected the
virus resides in bats and infects
monkeys or other non-human
primates through contaminated
food dropped by bats.
Where does it Come From? Humans eat the
intermediate animal
and can become
infected
Spreads human to
human via bodily
fluids
Routes of Transmission
These bodily
fluids are
contagious!
Ebola is spread
through direct
contact through
broken skin or
mucous
membranes in, for
example, the eyes,
nose, or mouth.
The virus spreads person to person through contact with:
Blood
Vomit
Feces
Urine
Nasal secretions
Sweat
Breast Milk
Semen
• The more symptomatic a person is, the
greater the risk of catching the virus from
their body fluids.
• It is possible to become infected by touching
contaminated objects that have germs
from an infected person on them.
– In these cases, germs may accidentally be
transferred into the nose, mouth or eyes, or enter
the blood stream via cuts on the hands.
Routes of Transmission
The time
between
infection and
when a
person starts
to feel ill is 2
to 21 days
The average is
7-9 days
Incubation Period
Symptoms
About 50% to 90% of cases are fatal. The Zaire strain is the most
lethal strain of Ebola – it is responsible for the current Ebola outbreak.
There is no cure for
Ebola – treatment is
considered
supportive therapy
There is no
vaccination for
Ebola
Drug trials for vaccines
and treatments are
underway
Treatment
Where is Ebola?
Outbreak in Guinea,
Liberia, Sierra Leone –
over 4,500 deaths so far
*Experts expect to see further expansion of EVD in West
Africa before the outbreak is under control.
• Nigeria: several cases reported – spread currently contained
• DRC: different strain of Ebola – contained to one geographic area
• US: 1case transported to Dallas, 2 infections transmitted in Dallas, Texas. 1 case transported to NYC
Highest Risk of Exposure:
• Healthcare Workers with needle stick or mucous membrane exposure to body fluids of an EVD patient
• Laboratory workers processing EVD body fluids without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or standard biosafety precautions
• Direct care of an EVD patient with out PPE
• Participation in funeral rites which include direct exposure to human remains in the geographic area where an outbreak is occurring without PPE.
Exposure Risk: CDC Interim Guidelines
Some Risk of Exposure:
• Household member with contact with an EVD patient
• Other close contact with EVD patient in health care facilities or community settings
Close Contact:
– Being within ~3 feet (1 meter) of an EVD patient
– Being within a patient’s room or care area for a prolonged period of time (e.g., health care personnel, household members) while not wearing recommended Personal Protective Equipment
– Having direct brief contact (e.g. shaking hands) with an EVD patient while not wearing recommended Personal Protective Equipment
– Brief interactions, such as walking by a person or moving through a hospital, do not constitute close contact
Exposure Risk: CDC Interim Guidelines
No Known Exposure:
• Having been in a country in which an EVD outbreak occurred within the past 21 days with no exposure or symptoms
• Public health authorities will now maintain daily contact with all travelers from the three affected countries for 21 days
Exposure Risk: CDC Interim Guidelines
For the majority of Tetra Tech operations, employees are not at risk of infection with EVD.
For project tasks that may present a risk of exposure, appropriate infection control measures are to be assessed and implemented.
In an abundance of caution, infection prevention and control guidelines are being: implemented in Tt field offices located in Ebola impacted countries
within West Africa
rolled out in offices where there are frequent travelers and visitors
Exposure Risk for Tetra Tech Employees
General Prevention Rules
Stay away from sick people
Pay strict attention to hygiene
• Do not go to funerals or touch dead bodies
• Do not go to hospitals treating Ebola patients
• Do not handle animals or bats
• Do not eat bats or bush meat
In West African Nations impacted by EVD:
• Maintain and support proper hygiene
in the work environment by having
personal hygiene supplies
available (tissues, soap, hand sanitizer,
cleaning supplies, disposable towels)
• Keeping hands clean is one of
the best ways to prevent the
spread of infection and illness!
Protocols to Minimize
Infectious Disease Transmission
Tip: Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. If you need a timer, sing “Happy Birthday” twice!
This is not just about Ebola, there is higher risk of seasonal flu infection
during the next few months.
Protocols to Minimize
Infectious Disease Transmission
• Doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, remote controls, handrails
• Computer keyboards and mice, telephones, microphones
• Tables, chairs, coffee makers, and vending machines
Clean surfaces that are regularly touched
• Clean areas that may have been contaminated with other potentially infectious materials with proper EPA registered disinfectants
Implement regular and thorough cleaning of restrooms
When appropriate, arrangements will be made with professional biohazard service providers to disinfect work areas.
• Stay home if you are sick!
• Employees with signs and symptoms of infectious
disease should remain at home until at least 24
hours after they are free of fever (100°F or
greater) without the use of fever reducing
medications.
• Talk to your supervisors so that appropriate
work arrangements can be made.
Work Practice Controls for Infectious Diseases
• Communicating flu prevention and hand washing information
• Reviewing cleanliness and hygiene of common areas and bathrooms – report concerns to facility management.
• Providing hand sanitizer to employees and in public areas • Stocked First Aid Kits are located in key areas accessible
to employees• Designate a space in the office as an isolation area for
symptomatic individuals• If risks of Ebola or other infectious disease transmission
increases in areas outside of West Africa, more aggressive infection prevention measures will be put in place as appropriate.
What are We Doing to Prepare
• If an employee or visitor in the office is suspected to have been exposed to the Ebola virus and shows symptoms of fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or sore throat, instruct the individual to isolate him/herself in a designated office space.
• If an office isolation space is not available, ask someone in the nearest closed office to vacate his/her space or vacate a close by conference room.
• Immediately notify internal H&S personnel and contact the local department of health unit appointed to handle Ebola.
• Let them know there may be a person infected with Ebola in the office to ensure responders are prepared to take necessary precautions.
• Once patient is removed, the Department of Health will arrange for professional haz-mat team to disinfect office.
• All staff will be provided instructions by Department of Health officials.
Have a Plan – Ebola in the Office
• All travel to Ebola affected countries must have prior operations approval and H&S review–only essential travel will be approved.
• H&S Representatives in conjunction with Tetra Tech’s medical surveillance administrator will conduct a health review and briefing for traveler(s) before departure.
• Employees returning from Ebola affected countries will be required to participate in the CDC /Local Health Department’s active post-arrival monitoring program for 21 days.
• If you develop any Ebola like symptoms: fever (temperature of 101.5°F/ 38.6°C), headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding do not come to work. Immediately call your local health department unit appointed to handle Ebola – Let them know you may be infected with Ebola to ensure proper precautions.
• Inform your supervisor of your health status.
Guidelines for Travelers to and from Ebola
Affected Countries
Airport screenings are taking place both in countries affected by the outbreak and in major international airports
where visitors from affected countries may be arriving.
Expect Delays – Be Patient!
Travel Considerations