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.
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
“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.
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
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
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
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
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
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
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
Hanta Virus:• Deer mice
◦West U.S.Rural SettingsContact with:
◦Urine◦Droppings◦Saliva
• Fresh viral loads• Extremely rare in LA County
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
Plague:• Infected flea bite (Ground squirrels)• 3 cases in LA County since 1979• High elevations/Mountains
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
“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”
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
“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
N e g l i g i b l e Fa c t o r s
Field Pack Considerations
Field Pack Considerations
Footwear: ◦Shoes/Boots
Sturdy Slip-resistant Puncture-resistant
◦BootiesHand:
◦Single-use gloves Latex*, Nitrile, etc.
◦Reusable heavy work gloves
Field Pack Considerations
Properly Removing Gloves
Field Pack Considerations
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
Field Pack Considerations
Body: ◦Single-use
“Tyvek” ◦Coveralls◦Pants
Field Pack Considerations
Eye Protection: Safety Eyewear◦Sensitivity to airborne agents
◦Application of “pest repellent”
Sanitizing Wipes◦In absence of soap & water
Field Pack Considerations
Insect Repellant◦Flea infestations◦“DEET”
Tape◦Enclosure of seams
Probe ◦Minimize contact:
Bio Hazards Chem Hazards Physical Hazards
Questions?
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