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Evaluation of Potential Employee Exposures to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a Zoo’s Elephant Exhibit
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2018/05/01
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Source: Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2017-0096-3318, 2018 May; :1-19
[PDF-730.04 KB]
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Description:In April 2017, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health received a health hazard evaluation request from the occupational health and safety manager at a zoo. The request stated concerns about employee exposures to elephants with active tuberculosis (TB) disease. In May 2017, we conducted a site visit and toured the elephant facility, interviewed employees who worked with elephants, observed work practices, evaluated the zoo's occupational health protocols, and assessed the ventilation systems in the elephant barn and indoor exhibit. We also reviewed occupational health records provided by the zoo's occupational health provider. We returned in July 2017 and participated in a TB meeting hosted by the zoo at the request of the local health department. After reviewing the occupational health protocols, we determined that the zoo's Tuberculosis Exposure Plan needed improvement, specifically to clearly define employee exposure classifications. We also found that the Tuberculosis Monitoring Program and Respiratory Protection program needed better record keeping. We observed employees properly donning and doffing personal protective equipment. However, we also observed employees not wearing N95 respirators properly. We interviewed seven employees who worked with elephants. No employees voiced concerns about their health or working around elephants with TB disease. The ventilation systems assessment confirmed that the ventilation within the elephant barn and indoor exhibit were adequate. We recommended that the zoo assign a designated person to ensure adequate record keeping for the Respiratory Protection Program and Tuberculosis Monitoring Program. We recommended to clearly define parts of the Tuberculosis Exposure Control Plan and ensure employees adhere to the Respiratory Protection Program. We also recommended that N95 respirators be available to any employee who works with the elephant herd.
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Pages in Document:26 pdf pages
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Contributor:McClelland, Tia;Tomasi, Suzanne E.;Wortham, Jonathan;
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NIOSHTIC Number:20053125
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Citation:NIOSH [2018]. Health hazard evaluation report: Evaluation of potential;employee exposures to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a zoo’s elephant;exhibit. By Reynolds LE, Martin SB, Harvey RR. Morgantown, WV: U.S.;Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and;Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH HHE;Report No. 2017-0096-3318,;
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Federal Fiscal Year:2018
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Peer Reviewed:False
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Resource Number:HHE-2017-0096-3318
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