Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-95-0328-2630, OshKosh B'Gosh, Byrdstown, Tennessee.
Authors
Seitz-TA; Mortimer-V
Source
NIOSH 1997 Mar; :1-17
Abstract
In response to a request from the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) and the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), an investigation was begun into the ventilation system at OshKosh B'Gosh (SIC-2361), Byrdstown, Tennessee after an employee was diagnosed with cavitary tuberculosis. The company had about 263 workers at the time of the study, including 238 sewers and 25 staff personnel, seven of whom worked directly in the warehouse. An epidemiologic evaluation had documented positive skin tests among 75% of the workers. An initial evaluation measured air flow rates and air movement. A more detailed ventilation assessment was made to document conditions likely to occur during the period that an employee with tuberculosis at the site was infectious. This necessitated using a tracer gas evaluation to quantify the extent and speed of contaminant dispersion and contaminant removal rate. The tracer gas evaluation showed an excellent air mixing and a low air change rate. The authors conclude that ventilation conditions were favorable for tuberculosis transmission; bacteria would be able to spread quickly and uniformly throughout the facility, and remain suspended for hours before being removed from the air. The authors recommend that improvements be made in the general ventilation.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-95-0328-2630; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-4; Disease-transmission; Respiratory-system-disorders; Infection-control; Infectious-diseases; Ventilation-systems; Garment-workers
Document Type
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies
NTIS Accession No.
PB97-187405
Identifying No.
HETA-95-0328-2630
Priority Area
Respiratory-system-disorders
Source Name
Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HETA-95-0328-2630, 17 pages, 11 references
