Evaluation of Health Symptoms After a Law Enforcement Operation

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Report: Evaluation of Health Symptoms After a Law Enforcement Operation: HHE 2019-0114-3358
• Personal Author:
  Chiu, Sophia ; Hornsby-Myers, Jennifer ; Trout, Douglas B.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a law enforcement agency that was concerned about illnesses among multiple law enforcement officers (LEOs) from multiple agencies who participated in a law enforcement operation to take a subject into custody and execute a search warrant at a residence. We visited the law enforcement agency, interviewed employees, and reviewed information about the operation including work and health for participating LEOs, forensic laboratory results for evidence collected, and environmental testing results of samples taken at the residence. LEOs found illicit drugs, guns, and explosive devices in the residence during the operation. Forensic laboratory testing showed the presence of cocaine, marijuana, and low explosive black powder in the residence. Environmental samples did not detect the presence of bioterrorism agents and toxins tested. Twenty-five of 38 LEOs who participated in the operation experienced health symptoms over the course of several days, although none became acutely ill during the operation. The symptoms and timing of symptom onset suggests a cluster of LEOs with influenza-like illness. The most common symptoms were fatigue, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, and headache. Some LEOs wore gloves, respirators, long-sleeved clothing, and eye protection during the operation. LEOs reported having facial hair while wearing a respirator or putting on and taking off a respirator while wearing potentially contaminated gloves. We recommended including health and safety considerations when planning law enforcement activities, conducting a job safety analysis with occupational safety and health experts or others with expertise on personal protective equipment and law enforcement work, ensuring all components of a respiratory protection program are implemented, keeping LEOs up-to-date on all new policies and procedures, encouraging all employees to get an annual seasonal flu vaccine, promoting hand hygiene practices, and following guidance available from NIOSH and other public health agencies to minimize potential work-related exposure to illicit drugs.
• Subjects:
  Case Reports Communicable Diseases Emergency Responders Explosions Explosive Agents Influenza, Human Law Enforcement Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Police Protection Case Studies Clinical Symptoms Emergency Responders Explosives Guns Illicit Drugs Infectious Diseases Influenza Influenza-like Illness Law Enforcement Operation Law Enforcement Workers Occupational Hazards OSHA Region 2 Police Police Officers Respiratory Symptoms Search Warrant Execution Vaccines

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• Source:
  Cincinnati, OH: 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 2019-0114-3358, 2019 Oct ; :1-24
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE201901143358
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering ; OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  24 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Tyrawski, Jennifer ; Iverson, Christopher
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057473
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2021-100211
• Citation:
  NIOSH [2019]. Evaluation of health symptoms after a law enforcement operation. By Chiu S, Hornsby-Myers J, Trout D. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2019-0114-3358. https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE201901143358
• Editor(s):
  Hamilton, Cheryl
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  922120 - Police Protection - (NAICS)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:48bd842a7c3084e513c21382bf731f5cbf20e7caf9737ad8390c1a3c6b265a6ce7359723daaade65ec9269c85ae0a85bbccd30bce9cf2b52a8a016d78ba9b795
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/82567/cdc_82567_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 494.21 KB ]