HHE report no. HETA-94-0238-2484, U.S. Marshals Service, Los Angeles, California.
Authors
Burton-NC; Boudreau-Y; Seitz-TA
Source
NIOSH 1995 Feb; :1-25
Abstract
In response to a request from the management at the United States Marshals Service (USMS) (SIC-9221), Los Angeles, California, a study was made of possible occupational exposures to tuberculosis in individuals involved in the handling of prisoners. The USMS employed about 107 workers including deputy US Marshals and related operational personnel, guards, and administrative personnel. Seven positive tuberculin skin test (TST) reactions were reported among the USMS staff from January to April of 1994. No known exposure occurred among the employees to tuberculosis (TB). Of 107 USMS employees, 69 (65%) had been tested with TST between January and June of 1994. All 16 indoor measurements of carbon-dioxide (124389) ranged from 425 to 850 parts per million (ppm). Temperature ranged from 74 to 78 degrees-F and relative humidity from 49 to 59%. Pooled standing water was noted in some of the condensate pans and evidence of water leakage was found on the ceiling tiles under the heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. No particulate filters were present in the HVAC units, nor was there a place to install filters. The authors conclude that USMS employees may have an increased risk of occupationally acquired TB infection. The authors recommend that measures be taken, including TB education and surveillance programs, and improvements in the work environment, particularly the ventilation systems.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-94-0238-2484; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-9; Law-enforcement-workers; Indoor-air-pollution; Ventilation-equipment; Infectious-diseases; Disease-transmission; Bacterial-infections; Indoor-environmental-quality
Document Type
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies
NTIS Accession No.
PB95-219804
Identifying No.
HETA-94-0238-2484
Source Name
Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HETA-94-0238-2484, 25 pages, 17 references
