BP oil spill Deepwater Horizon response: NIOSH health hazard evaluation of wildlife cleaning and rehabilitation workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Niemeier, Maureen T. ; Trout, Douglas B.
• Description:
  In June and July 2010, the National Institute (or Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated potential exposures and health effects of workers involved in Deepwater Horizon response activities due to the BP oil spill. The evaluation included on-shore wildlife cleaning and rehabilation workers in AL, FL, LA, and MS. NIOSH investigators assessed site factors and surveyed workers to collect information on demographics, job duties, occupational exposure to oil and other agents, and health symptoms experienced. Birds were the most common type of wildlife being treated and rehabilitated at rhe centers. For nearly all health outcomes, more injuries and symptoms were reported among wildlife cleaning workers than among a comparison group. Among the must commonly reported health conditions, scrapes and cuts were reported by 67 percent of workers, and itchy or red skin or rash were reported by 46 percent. Occupational factors unique in oiled wildlife cleaning and rehabilitation likely contributed to the health conditions reported. These factors included: skin contact with oil on the wildlife and in cleaning water; skin exposure to detergents and cleaners; persistenr wet skin; and, frequent handling and awkward lifting and moving of wildlife and cages. An occupational health concern common among al! Deepwater Horizon response workers was heat stress from work in a hot and humid environment. NIOSH recommended continuing heat stress management plans and use of protective equipment to minimize skin and mucus membrane contact with oil and oil-contaminated water, measures to reduce ergonomic hazards, housekeeping to prevent slippery surfaces, and encouraging workers to report and seek care for health concerns and injuries. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Detergents Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Heat Stress Disorders Hot Temperature Occupational Health Oil And Gas Industry Safety Skin Skin Diseases

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Wildlife Cleaning-compounds Environmental-exposure Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Health-hazards Health Hazard Heat Heat-exposure Heat-stress Humans Injuries NIOSH NIOSH-HHE Oil-industry Oil-refineries Oils Oil Spill Safety Safety-practices Skin-disorders Skin-exposure Skin-infections Skin-irritants Skin-lesions Workers

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• ISSN:
  1535-2242
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; Florida ; Louisiana ; Mississippi ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  39-45
• Volume:
  29
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20039208
• Citation:
  Wildl Rehabil Bull 2011 Jan; 29(1):39-45
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Wildlife Rehabilitation Bulletin
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9c43116c051885060870014d7a81e02ee5e0260bd0fa9a66e4999f9a8120be72656e1f0155b49bd525bbdc2b057e2ce29de91fabe2d32452ac271c2d33c323b6
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/192639/cdc_192639_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.94 MB ]