• Give prompt care to any wounds sustained

during work with human remains, including

immediate cleansing with soap and clean

water. Workers should also be vaccinated

against hepatitis B, and get a tetanus booster

if indicated.

• Never wear PPE and underlying clothing if it is

damaged or penetrated by body fluids.

• Ensure disinfection of vehicles and equipment.

Ergonomic Considerations

• Lifting or moving heavy objects, particularly

when done repetitively, can result in injuries to

the workers involved. Human remains that

have been in water for some time are likely to

be even heavier than normal. Having more

than one person involved in lifting the human

remains will help to reduce the potential for

injury. Following appropriate lifting techniques will also help to protect people, as will

the use of mechanical lifts or other devices

when available. 

Myths

• There is no direct risk of contagion or infectious disease from being near human remains

for those who are not directly involved in

recovery or other efforts that require handling

the remains.

• Viruses associated with human remains (e.g.,

hepatitis B and C, HIV, various bacteria, etc.)

do not pose a risk to someone walking nearby,

nor do they cause significant environmental

contamination.

General Precautions

The following precautionary measures can help

employers and employees remain safe and

healthy while handling human remains.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Hand Protection. When handling potentially

infectious materials, use appropriate barrier

protection including latex and nitrile gloves

(powder-free latex gloves with reduced latex

protein content can help avoid reaction to

latex allergies). These gloves can be worn

under heavy-duty gloves which will, in turn,

protect the wearer from cuts, puncture

wounds, or other injuries that break the skin

(caused by sharp environmental debris or

bone fragments). A combination of a cut-proof

inner layer glove and a latex or similar outer

layer is preferable.

• Foot Protection. Footwear should similarly

protect against sharp debris. 

• Eye and Face Protection. To protect your face

from splashes of body fluids and fecal material, use a plastic face shield or a combination

of eye protection (indirectly vented safety goggles are a good choice if available; safety

glasses will only provide limited protection)

and a surgical mask. 

Hygiene

• Maintain hand hygiene to prevent transmission of diarrheal and other diseases from fecal

materials on your hands. Wash your hands

with soap and water or with an alcohol-based

hand cleaner immediately after you remove

your gloves. 

FactSheet

Health and Safety Recommendations for

Workers Who Handle Human Remains 

Employers and workers face a variety of health hazards when handling, or working near, human remains. Workers directly involved in recovery or other efforts

that require the handling of human remains are susceptible to bloodborne viruses

such as hepatitis and HIV, and bacteria that cause diarrheal diseases, such as

shigella and salmonella.
• The smell of human decay is unpleasant; however, it does not create a public health hazard.

Additional Information

• For more information on this, and other healthThis is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

related issues affecting workers, visit OSHA’s

Web site at www.osha.gov. More detailed guidance addressing this topic can be found on the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) Website at http://www.cdc.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

DSTM 9/2005