Although widespread outbreak of Ebola in the U.S. is unlikely, Cal/OSHA issued interim guidelines for occupations with the highest risk of exposure: healthcare workers, emergency responders, laboratory staff, mortuary workers, airline flight crews and airport staff, and quarantine operations staff. In 2009, California adopted an occupational health regulation that specifically addresses infectious diseases like Ebola. This regulation, known as the Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard, served as the foundation for the new guidelines, which recommend that employers: 1. Ensure that workers at risk of exposure to Ebola wear gloves, impermeable body coverings, face shields or other eye and face protection, and appropriate respiratory protection. All PPE must be adequate to prevent the passage of bodily fluids to the employee's clothing and skin. NIOSH-approved respirators must be used where infectious aerosols are likely to be present.
展开▼
