Walk-through survey report of University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Elliott L ; Little A
• Description:
  Occupational exposure to Q-fever was assessed at the University of Colorado Medical School (SIC-8221) in Denver, Colorado, from September 22 to 24, 1980. Sheep, the suspected carrier of the causative agent Coxiella-burneti, (C-burneti), were used for research. Only the animal handlers were subject to medical surveillance. Handlers received preemployment physicals and had available voluntary serum banking and pre-exposure rabies tests. Primate colony workers had an annual physical and tuberculin tests every other year. Several potential problems existed in the supply and exhaust ventilation system. No samples from fan filters contained C-burneti organisms. Poor work practices were noted, including smoking, open doors in biohazard areas, and carelessness in dress. There were no documented plans for emergencies or laboratory accidents. The authors conclude that the outbreak of Q- fever is related to the manner of transporting sheep through the buildings, faulty ventilation in the holding suite, and poor work practices among research personnel. The authors recommend eight safeguards against biological hazards, including establishment of criteria for purchased animal quality, improved husbandry among suppliers, better monitoring of animals, worker precautions in handling animals or soiled bedding, a medical surveillance program for all personnel exposed to animals or biological hazards, safety orientation and training for all workers, establishment of emergency and accident procedures, and assumption of infection in all animals subjected to surgery or necropsies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Content Notes:
  in NTRL, no pdf
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Preceptorship Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Staff Development Surveys And Questionnaires Workplace

  More +
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Region-8; Health-surveys; Workplace-studies; Air-contamination; Health-services; Industrial-processes; Control-methods; Occupational-health-programs; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Diseases
• Series:
  Industry Wide Field Studies
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8
• 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:
  1-12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00111630
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB82151051
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, IWS 131-11, 1981 Feb; :1-12
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1981
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  8221 - Colleges and universities - (SIC)
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/233334/cdc_233334_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]