Zika Virus and OSHA’s Worker Safety and Health Activities

Some workers in areas with active Zika virus transmission through mosquitoes may spend considerable time outdoors or near standing water where mosquitoes breed. Others, particularly those in healthcare, may have exposure to the Zika virus through contact with blood or other body fluids of sick individuals. Workers may also be exposed to levels of potentially hazardous chemicals, such as during mosquito control operations, that are not associated with the general population’s use of consumer-grade insecticides. OSHA and CDC/NIOSH recently developed interim guidance for protecting workers from occupational exposure to Zika virus and related chemical hazards. Consistent with other CDC guidance, the control and prevention recommendations focus on reducing worker risk of Zika infection by preventing mosquito bites, particularly through reassignment of job tasks away from mosquitoes, elimination of mosquito breeding areas, and use of protective clothing and insect repellant. The guidelines also recommend use of universal and standard precautions in healthcare facilities and laboratories to prevent bloodborne transmission of Zika virus to workers in these environments. This presentation will provide the audience with an overview of Zika transmission and symptoms. It will also explain how the interim OSHA/NIOSH guidance fits within the conventional industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls.