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NIOSH Interim Guidance on Health and Safety Hazards When Working with Displaced Domestic Animals |
October 2005 |
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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides the following interim guidelines for preventing injury and illness among workers performing animal rescue and recovery efforts in the response hurricanes. These materials were developed by NIOSH for hurricanes Katrina and Rita but may be applicable for other hurricane responses. This guidance is based on best available information as of October 14, 2005 and will be updated as additional information is available. Only workers who have received proper training in animal restraint, handling, and care should work directly with displaced animals. Employers, response leaders, and volunteer coordinators should ensure that only trained, properly equipped workers are assigned to tasks involving direct animal handling and care. BackgroundEvacuations due to natural disasters and other emergencies may result in a large number of displaced domestic animals. Animals may be abandoned in residences, facilities, or outdoors. Many disaster shelters cannot accept pets because of state health and safety regulations. Displaced animals may be without food, water, supervision, and medical care for days or even weeks. Fear, panic, separation anxiety, and other behavioral disorders are common in displaced animals. They may exhibit unpredictable or aggressive behavior. Displaced domestic animals may present a number of occupational safety and health hazards to emergency response and animal rescue workers. Workers at greatest risk include emergency responders (firefighters, police, and military personnel) and animal rescue workers including animal handlers, animal shelter workers, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians and assistants. However, all workers involved in the evacuation process and early clean-up and remediation efforts are at risk. Potential Health and Safety Hazards When Working with Displaced Domestic Animals
Animal Bites and ScratchesAnimal bites and scratches can result in significant
worker injury. Serious bite wounds may require surgical repair. Secondary
infections are a significant hazard from bite wounds; they can result
in serious joint or systemic infection. Even minor skin damage can
result in infections and illnesses. Scratches and injuries from contaminated
equipment are also of concern. Bites from dogs, cats, ferrets, and
other mammals may present a risk for rabies (see rabies information below).
Resources on bite prevention are available at: Rabies and Other ZoonosesZoonoses are infectious diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. Rabies is the primary zoonosis of concern. It is a potentially fatal viral disease. It is contained in saliva and is most often transmitted by the bite of an infected mammal. It is preventable by vaccination. Information on the prevention and control of rabies is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/. Domestic animals may transmit other zoonoses to workers. Animal feces, and contaminated skin, fur, surfaces, and cages present a risk of infection. Dogs and especially cats may pose a risk for ringworm which is a skin infection caused by a fungus. Cat feces pose a risk of transmission of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection. Some pet rodents (such as hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs) can transmit lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). LCMV may be transmitted from exposure to urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material of infected rodents. Toxoplasma and LCMV may cause birth defects in an unborn child if a pregnant woman becomes infected. Information on the prevention and control of animal-related infectious diseases is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/pets/index.htm. Sharps-Related InjuriesWorkers may be at risk of sharps-related injuries from needles, syringes, broken glass, and scalpels. Information on the prevention of sharps-related injuries is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/#prevent. Heavy LiftingAnimal rescue and handling involve tasks that require lifting and moving heavy, awkward loads. Workers may lift large animals, and supplies and equipment such as carriers, kennels, cages, food, and bedding material. Heavy lifting may result in sprains, strains, tears, and other lifting injuries. Information on musculoskeletal injuries and their prevention is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ergonomics/. Dermatologic ConditionsFrequent hand washing, bathing of animals, or exposure to substances on animals’ fur may result in a variety of dermatologic rashes, lesions, and other conditions. Information on skin exposure and effects is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/. Animal AllergensExposure to animals or animal products can cause asthma and allergies. Animals or animal products such as dander, hair, scales, fur, saliva, and body wastes contain allergens that can cause both respiratory and skin disorders. Information on the prevention of asthma in animal handlers is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/animalrt.html. Latex AllergyFor some workers, exposures to latex and latex products may result in skin rashes; hives; flushing; itching; nasal, eye, or sinus symptoms; asthma; and (rarely) shock. Information on the prevention of latex allergies is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/latex/. NoiseExcessive noise levels that damage hearing may be generated by large numbers of crated, barking animals in enclosed spaces or loud equipment. Information on noise and hearing loss prevention is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/. Pesticide ExposureDisplaced animals may be treated with pesticides to reduce and prevent flea and tick infestations. Health and safety information on pesticides is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/health_fs.htm. Guidance to prevent injuries and illnesses from working with displaced domestic animals
Recommendations for WorkersWorkers can reduce their risk of the occupational hazards associated with displaced domestic animals by taking the following steps: Sanitation and Hygiene
Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
Animal Bites and Scratches
Other Hazards
Recommendations for EmployersEmployers should protect their workers from the hazards associated with working with displaced domestic animals by taking the following steps:
Related CDC ResourcesInterim Guidelines for Animal Health and Control of Disease Transmission
in Pet Shelters After a Hurricane Animals
in Public Evacuation Centers Hand Hygiene in Emergency
Situations Protect Yourself from Animal- and Insect-Related Hazards After a Natural
Disaster NIOSH Alert: Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings NIOSH Alert: Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers NIOSH ALERT: Preventing Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in
the Workplace Other Related ResourcesNational Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV)
Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control AVMA Disaster Preparedness and Response Guide
Page last updated: September 4, 2008
Page last reviewed: September 4, 2008 Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Education and Information Division |
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