Health, Safety, & PPE Module 1 | P a g e

Table of Contents

Overview ......................................................................................................................... 2

Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction Lesson Overview ......................................................................................... 4

Introduction Lesson Contents.......................................................................................... 5

Roles & Responsibilities .............................................................................................. 6

Regulations.................................................................................................................. 8

Health and Safety Training ........................................................................................ 10

Personnel Safety Briefings ........................................................................................ 11

Personal Protective Equipment ................................................................................. 12

Protection Levels ....................................................................................................... 13

Eye and Face Protection ........................................................................................... 14

Respiratory Protection ............................................................................................... 15

Air Purifying Respirators ............................................................................................ 16

Dermal Protection...................................................................................................... 17

Hand Protection......................................................................................................... 18

Head and Hearing Protection .................................................................................... 19

Foot Protection .......................................................................................................... 20

Planning Lesson Overview............................................................................................ 21

Planning Lesson Contents ............................................................................................ 22

Health and Safety Plan.............................................................................................. 23

Job Hazard Analysis.................................................................................................. 24

Hazard Assessment .................................................................................................. 25

Operations Lesson Overview ........................................................................................ 26

Operations Lesson Contents......................................................................................... 27

Site Security & Control Measures.............................................................................. 28

Protecting HPAI Responders..................................................................................... 29

Handling Infected Animals......................................................................................... 30

Hazard Controls......................................................................................................... 31

Work Zones ............................................................................................................... 32

Donning PPE Guidelines ........................................................................................... 33

Safety While Wearing PPE........................................................................................ 35

Heat Stress................................................................................................................ 36

Equipment Disposal, Cleaning and Disinfection ........................................................ 37

Doffing PPE Guidelines ............................................................................................. 38

Personal Hygiene ...................................................................................................... 40

Mental Health ............................................................................................................ 41

Summary....................................................................................................................... 42
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 2 | P a g e

Overview

Welcome to the Health, Safety, and Personal Protection Equipment Module of the 

online Carcass Management Course. The purpose of this module is to introduce 

guidance for implementing health and safety measures during carcass management 

activities. In an animal disease emergency, the primary focus is responder safety while 

performing tasks. While completing this module, you may encounter references to 

Emergency Management Tools, Secure Transport, and to Biosecurity, which are 

broadly covered in their own separate training modules. These modules are found in the 

Introduction Modules, beginning with the Orientation Module.

Effective management of animal carcasses and associated materials is a critical 

component of a successful response during an animal health emergency. Carcass 

management measures contain, treat, or destroy contaminated or potentially 

contaminated materials in order to:

 Prevent spread of a disease outbreak to protect the nation’s agricultural industry

 Protect the environment by preventing carcass waste products from 

contaminating soil, water, and air 

 Protect decaying carcasses from insects and scavengers which can transport 

pathogens to other locations 

 Safeguard public health by removing potentially contaminated food products from 

the human food supply 

 Safeguard animal health by removing potentially contaminated feed from the 

animal feed supply
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Objectives 

This module presents information in three different lessons: 

 Introduction

 Planning

 Operations

Upon completing this module, you should be able to: 

 Recognize hazards associated with carcass management

 Understand organizational and personnel responsibilities associated with hazard

management

 Describe the underlying principles in a job hazard assessment

 Understand health and safety hazards, contamination sources, and potential

routes of exposure

 List the types of hazard management measures

 Recognize personal protective equipment (PPE) and how it protects against

hazards
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 4 | P a g e

Introduction Lesson Overview 

Agricultural emergency responders are needed in situations that threaten animal health, 

such as the natural occurrence or intentional introduction of a highly contagious foreign 

animal disease, or the contamination of food animals with chemical or radiological 

agents. Initially, the risk to human health and/or the difficulty of preventing the spread of 

contaminants to other animals or people is unknown. 

 Responders must take the appropriate precautions to protect themselves from

exposure to harmful agents

 Responders must ensure that they do not spread the hazard to other people or

animals

 Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to special clothing and equipment

that places a barrier between an individual and a hazard

Figure 1. Members of a Carcass Management Team 
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Introduction Lesson Contents 

This lesson is divided into the following sections: 

 Roles & Responsibilities – Identifies the personnel and their roles in promulgating

and enforcing health and safety measures

 Regulations – Discusses the rules and regulations which govern work health and

safety standards

 Health & Safety Training – Covers the requirements and topics for training

personnel engaged in emergency deployment or response activities

 Personnel Safety Briefings – Includes a discussion on the importance of safety

briefings and the topics that should be included

 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Provides information on the proper

selection and use of PPE to protect the responders from potentially harmful

hazards and prevent the spread of disease agents
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Roles & Responsibilities 

The roles of health and safety response personnel vary depending on the incident and 

may evolve during the incident. The number of personnel and the organizational 

structure are dependent on the size and complexity of the incident. Large-scale 

incidents may involve multiple premises and may cover large areas. 

 The Incident Commander (IC) assigns a Safety Officer (SO) as soon as possible

 The IC initially manages all the premises until he or she delegates the role to an

SO at the Incident Command Post (ICP), or if multiple sites are involved, Site

Safety Officers at each site

 The SO(s) will develop overall incident and site-specific HASPs as required.

 All roles and responsibilities are assigned to available and trained safety

personnel as needed

Refer to the appropriate FADPReP document for additional information. 

Figure 2. Health and Safety Command Structure. 
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Roles and Responsibilities (cont.) 

The APHIS SO is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the responders who 

are APHIS employees. The general contractor on a site has a due diligence 

responsibility to the subcontractors to ensure that they have safety program and are 

adhering to it. The SO has the authority to stop an operation to correct safety or health 

hazards and does the following: 

 Operates out of the ICP advising the IC

 Oversees development of the Health and Safety Plan (HASP)

 Identifies hazards which may occur during the response and seeks ways to

minimize them

 Assesses the need for PPE and assures proper use, cleaning and maintenance

 Provides communication pertaining to health and safety matters

 Performs inspections and ensures safe work procedures are followed

 Provides training and prepares reports

The SO is assisted by the Site Safety Officer and Safety Supervisors (if these positions 

are deemed necessary by the IC), who manage efforts at individual premises ensuring 

safety procedures; conducting safety training; and reporting unsafe conditions and 

injuries. These positions may be delegated the responsibility to stop an operation to 

correct safety or health hazards. 

The Operations Section manages field operations and works closely with the SO to 

ensure safe working conditions. The Logistics Section provides services and support 

and may include a Medical Unit which develops a medical plan and provides first aid. 

Work Supervisors are also responsible for ensuring safety procedures are followed. 

Finally, Responders are responsible for following safe work procedures, using the 

prescribed PPE, reporting unsafe conditions and actions observed, and reporting all 

injuries to their supervisors. 
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Regulations 

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act of 1970) states “each employer shall 

furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free 

from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious 

physical harm to his employees.” 

The OSH Act is codified as regulations in 29 CFR 1960, which covers basic program 

elements for federal employees. The law requires that the employer provide a place of 

employment "which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to 

cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Other requirements include: 

 Operate a Health and Safety Program

 Designate a Health and Safety Manager

 Comply with applicable federal health and safety standards

 Promptly abate unsafe or unhealthy work environments

 Conduct periodic hazard recognition inspections by trained personnel

 Promptly respond to employee reports of unsafe or hazardous work conditions

 Provide health and safety training for all personnel
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 9 | P a g e

Regulations (cont.) 

Additional OSHA General Industry Regulations: 

 1910.120 is specifically for Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response

Operations

 1910.132 is specifically General Requirements, under Subpart I, Personal

Protective Equipment

 1910.134 is Respiratory Protection

 1019.1030 is Bloodborne Pathogens, which would apply ONLY in very specific

situations

Those involved in controlling and eradicating avian influenza in U.S. poultry may wish to 

review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Interim Guidance Documents: 

 Interim Recommendations for Persons with Possible Exposure to Avian Influenza

During Outbreaks Among Poultry in the United States

 Interim Guidance for Protection of Persons Involved in U.S. Avian Influenza

Outbreak Disease Control and Eradication Activities

Figure 3. Carcass Management Team Wearing PPE
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Health and Safety Training 

The OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 

Standard, 29 CFR 1910.120, calls for all personnel involved in an emergency 

deployment to be trained on specific items pertinent to health and safety. 

Training requirements for workplace safety can be found in OSHA’s publication, 

Training Requirements in OSHA Standards. 

 Each employee must receive training before beginning work at the site

 Personnel must be trained on site-specific procedures and the job hazards/risks

specific to their tasks

 The safety officer decides the type of training needed for the various personnel

involved in the deployment or response

All responders working on a deployment should receive the following training: 

 Hazard communication

 How to report an injury

 Emergency communication

 Evacuation procedure

 Shelter in place

 HAZWOPER

 Relevant sections of this HASP (such as medical monitoring)

Other required training may include: 

 Proper and safe use of tools and equipment

 Recognizing permit-required confined spaces

 Using PPE (inspection, donning, doffing, and disposal)

 Using fire extinguishers

 Defensive driving

 Material handling

 Job task training
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Personnel Safety Briefings 

Pre-entry briefings must be held before initiating any emergency response activity. The 

SO holds safety briefings daily, even if the work does not change. Safety briefings might 

include the following: 

 A reminder of the importance of safety

 A review of the past day’s injuries and incidents

 Any procedure changes and accompanying safety procedure changes

 Any changes to the command or supervisory structure

 Any relevant safety-related issues and cautions

All new incoming SOs should be thoroughly briefed by the outgoing officer. Incoming 

safety officer briefings should include the following: 

 How objectives will be accomplished (site activities, operational sequence, and

individual task assignments)

 Personnel roles, responsibilities, and work schedule

 General hazards and how to avoid them during work

 Review of proper donning and doffing of PPE

 Site specific or unique hazards

 Proper mixing techniques for cleaning and decontamination solutions

 Emergency procedures for workers injured on site

 Extreme temperature monitoring (heat stress, frost bite)

 Emergency donning and doffing for injured workers, and explain how a worker

will be transported to seek medical attention
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 12 | P a g e

Personal Protective Equipment 

Responding to an emergency animal disease outbreak can present many risks to 

human health, the environment and other animals. When it is not feasible to render the 

working environment completely safe by containing, reducing or eliminating a potentially 

hazardous agent, it is necessary to protect the responder by using PPE. 

PPE has two important purposes: 

 Protect the responder from potentially harmful hazards

 Prevent the spread of disease agents between animals or locations

The proper selection and use of PPE serves as a biosecurity tool to help isolate a 

pathogen, protecting the responder, the animals, and the public. PPE must be used, 

decontaminated, and disposed of properly to serve these purposes. These purposes 

must be taken into consideration when selecting PPE for a disease emergency. 

Figure 4. Examples of PPE 
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Protection Levels 

OSHA classifies PPE into four different levels, depending on the degree of protection. 

Level C is adequate protection in most animal disease situations, but the Safety Officer 

will make the final determination. General description and discussion of the levels of 

protection and protective gear are found in the OSHA website.

Additional USDA APHIS guidance on selection of PPE for HPAI activities is available in 

this publication, Interim Recommendations on PPE for Selected Activities.

 Level A – Greatest level of skin, respiratory, and eye protection featuring a totally

encompassing suit

 Level B – Highest level of respiratory protection with the same level of skin

protection as level C

 Level C – Includes dermal protection, such as chemical or biological resistant

clothing and air purifying respiratory protection. Used when the concentration and

type of airborne substances are known and the criteria for using air-purifying

respirators are met.

 Level D – Lowest level of protection used for nuisance contamination. Has no

respiratory protection and minimal skin protection

Figure 5. PPE Protection Levels 
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Eye and Face Protection 

Eye/face protection should be worn in accordance with the health and safety plan to 

prevent materials such as manure, dust, mud, and contaminated biological tissue from 

entering the eyes, nose, and mouth. Types of eye/face protection include safety 

glasses, goggles, or full face shields which may reduce exposure from aerosols, dust, 

and manual contact. 

 Goggles protect a responder’s eyes from fluids splashed during cleaning and

disinfection activities

 Face shields provide greater protection when conducting field autopsies,

overseeing composting operations, collecting tissue samples, and during

cleaning and disinfection, if fluids are caustic or irritating to the skin

 Note, neither face shields nor goggles provide eye protection from flying

particles. Refer to 29 CFR 1910.133 for additional information.

Selection of appropriate PPE should be based on a risk assessment. A higher level of 

eye and face protection may be required for zoonotic diseases depending on 

transmissibility of the disease agent. 

Figure 6. Goggles and Face Shield 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 15 | P a g e

Respiratory Protection 

A respirator is a personal protective device that is worn on the face, covers at least the 

nose and mouth, and is used to reduce the wearer’s risk of inhaling hazardous airborne 

particles (including dust and infectious agents), gases, or vapors. Types of respiratory 

protection range from simple dust masks to powered air-purifying respirators or selfcontained breathing apparatuses. A self-contained breathing apparatus supplies clean, 

non-contaminated air through its own air supply for use in high-risk environments.

 Respirators either purify the air or supply fresh air

 Medical clearance, involving a medical evaluation, is required before a respirator

can be used

 Fit testing is required for those respirators that form a tight seal against the face

 OSHA requires employers to have a written respiratory protection program

 A job hazard analysis will determine specifically which type of respiratory

protection personnel must use

Figure 7. Examples of Face Masks 
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Air Purifying Respirators 

An air-purifying respirator removes contaminants from ambient air prior to inhalation, 

using filters and/or cartridges. Three types are described below: 

 Particulate filtering face piece respirators – sometimes referred to as disposable

respirators because the entire respirator is discarded when it becomes unsuitable

for further use

 Elastomeric respirators – sometimes referred to as reusable respirators because

the face piece is cleaned and reused but the filter and/or cartridges are discarded

and replaced when they become unsuitable

 Powered air-purifying respirators – a battery-powered blower moves the air flow

through the filters

Figure 8. Air Purifying Respirator 
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Dermal Protection 

PPE minimizes skin exposure to protect the responder while preventing the spread of 

disease. Long sleeves and long pants should be worn in the field and aprons or 

coveralls can be worn to provide additional protection. All outerwear must be 

appropriately cleaned and disinfected, or properly disposed of, before leaving the 

contaminated area. 

 Coveralls – A protective outer layer of clothing that is worn over appropriate

undergarments as an initial form of dermal protection. Clean, washable, and

reusable long-sleeved one-piece cloth coveralls are most commonly used but

higher risk situations may require a less permeable, disposable, long-sleeved

one-piece Tyvek® or similar coverall. One of the more protective materials may

be needed when there is a splash hazard, particularly of injurious or corrosive

liquids.

 Apron – A full-length, waterproof, cut-resistant garment worn in front of one’s

clothes and tied at the back. Often worn during field autopsies or when collecting

and cutting tissues that may be contaminated with a disease agent of high

zoonotic risk.

Some situations may require more specific garments. Brightly colored, high-visibility 

vests should be worn when working around vehicles and traffic, such as a quarantine 

checkpoint. A cooling vest may be used under the coveralls during warm weather and 

insulated underclothing may be required during cold weather operations. 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 18 | P a g e

Hand Protection 

Hand protection includes disposable gloves or gloves that can be disinfected. Standard 

disposable latex gloves are recommended for clinical use in the field; however, the SO 

should be consulted for specific guidance. Other types may be substituted under certain 

conditions and for those with latex allergies: 

 Nitrile gloves – Protect against solvents, chemicals, fats, and petroleum products

while providing excellent resistance to cuts, snags, punctures, and abrasions

 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves – Resist degradation, penetration, and

permeation to chemical agents. PVC gloves can be worn as outerwear protection

in more hazardous environments, including cleaning and disinfection activities.

 Butyl rubber gloves – Protect against chemicals such as acids, ketones, esters,

bases, alcohols, amines, and amides

 Neoprene gloves – Provide resistance to heat, punctures, chemicals, acids,

solvents, and grease

 General purpose gloves – Useful when performing activities that do not involve

contact with contaminated material

 Kevlar®, Surgipath® – Used when performing autopsies and cutting tissue

specimens in the field. Should be worn over waterproof gloves.

 Cotton inner gloves – May be worn to absorb perspiration

Hands must be washed or sanitized each time gloves are removed or replaced. 

Figure 9. Types of Gloves 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 19 | P a g e

Head and Hearing Protection 

Head and hearing protection is recommended when working around heavy machinery, 

equipment, supply areas, or loud noises. 

Head protection may include: 

 Hard hat

 Hood

 Disposable head cover/hair bonnet

Hearing protection includes: 

 Ear muffs

 Disposable ear plugs

 Reusable ear plugs

When hearing protection is required to protect responders from hazardous noise levels, 

a baseline audiogram should be in place and a Hearing Conservation program should 

be managed to provide early detection of job-related hearing loss (29 CFR 1910.95). 

Consider possible job function impairment, effectiveness, cost, and biosecurity risks 

when choosing proper head and hearing protection. 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 20 | P a g e

Foot Protection 

Foot protection for field use should include rugged impermeable boots made of rubber 

or waterproof plastic material with shallow treads that can be disinfected or discarded. 

 High pull-on boots worn over stocking feet are preferable to overshoes or over

boots

 Safety boots with steel toes and midsoles provide extra protection from puncture

wounds and crushing

 Boots must fit well and be comfortable

 For operations involving avian influenza, secure coverall legs over the boots with

duct tape (or similar), leaving enough excess fabric around the knees to allow full

mobility

Figure 10. Foot Protection 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 21 | P a g e

Planning Lesson Overview 

This lesson contains information to help you plan for Health and Safety measures which 

must be instituted during a response to an animal health emergency. Planning is 

essential to ensure that the carcass management task is carried out safely. Moreover, 

proper planning protects the workers, the general public, and the environment. 

Important considerations include: 

 Preparing a site specific health and safety plan

 Using a job hazard analysis to identify risks associated with the job tasks

 Deciding on the actions necessary to ensure responder safety during a response
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 22 | P a g e

Planning Lesson Contents 

This lesson presents information related to the following topics: 

 Health and Safety Plan (HASP) – Defines policies, practices, and procedures for

safe and healthful working conditions

 Job Hazard Analysis – Identifies hazards and risks associated with job tasks by

focusing on the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment

 Hazard Assessment – Matches the type and degree of risk with the selection of a

given protective measure
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 23 | P a g e

Health and Safety Plan 

APHIS has safety professionals, within the Emergency Management, Safety and 

Security Division (EMSSD) and Veterinary Services program, which can help response 

teams develop a site-specific health and safety plan (HASP), for an outbreak 

emergency response. Refer to the APHIS EMSSD website for more information. 

HASP Facts: 

 The HASP is prepared to meet regulatory requirements

 The primary goal is to define policies and procedures outlining safe and healthful

working conditions for personnel and the public during field activities

 The HASP encompasses most health and safety procedures that may be needed

in a particular investigation/response

 All personnel performing field activities should be required to read and

understand the HASP and follow the policies and procedures

 A copy should be maintained in all vehicles assigned to the field team

 The HASP is developed for specific conditions, purposes, and personnel and

must be amended if conditions change
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 24 | P a g e

Job Hazard Analysis 

A job hazard analysis (JHA) identifies hazards associated with job tasks before they 

occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the 

work environment. Ideally, after hazards are identified, steps are taken to eliminate or 

reduce them to an acceptable level of risk. 

For a JHA to be effective, management must demonstrate its commitment to health and 

safety by promptly correcting any uncontrolled hazards identified. It is important that 

management and employees collaborate in the process of identifying and correcting 

hazards because employees are on the worksite every day and most familiar with 

potential hazards. Important steps include: 

 Plan the work

 Identify and evaluate the hazards

 Control the hazards

 Implement the work

 Provide feedback (for work plan revision)

If responders are involved in many different or complex processes, professional help 

conducting a JHA may be needed. Review the OSHA 3071, 2001 (Revised) Job Hazard 

Analysis booklet for further guidance. 

APHIS employees may visit the APHIS intranet site for additional guidance. 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 25 | P a g e

Hazard Assessment 

Once the hazards are identified through the JHA, measures to protect personnel from 

those hazards must be implemented. Measures may include: 

 Administrative controls (don’t allow personnel to enter the hazardous area)

 Engineering controls (e.g., mechanical ventilation to remove airborne hazards)

 Personal Protective Equipment

It is necessary to properly match the type and degree of risk with the selection of a 

given protective measure. The first step in making this match is to conduct a thorough 

risk assessment. An effective risk assessment establishes: 

 Composition, magnitude of hazard

 Length of time PPE will perform at known level of protection

 Exertion level, extent of physical work to be performed while wearing PPE

Based on the information provided by the risk assessment, the Incident Commander 

and/or Safety Officer can make informed decisions and take the appropriate actions to 

ensure responder safety during a response. 

The negative consequences of providing PPE unsuited to the hazards of a given work 

environment may include 

 Enhanced risk of spreading the disease

 Impaired job performance

 Risk of responder injury, illness, or death
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 26 | P a g e

Operations Lesson Overview 

This lesson contains general procedures in preparing for safe practices during an 

emergency animal response. The following topics will be briefly addressed: 

 Site security and control measures

 Handling farm animals, including infected poultry

 Hazard controls and establishing work zones

 Use of PPE, including donning, wearing, cleaning, disinfecting, and doffing

 Health issues, including personal hygiene and mental health
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 27 | P a g e

Operations Lesson Contents 

This material in this lesson is presented in a step-wise manner that provides detailed 

instructions and key steps based on the criteria and measures instituted during recent 

U.S. animal disease outbreak responses. 

 Site Security and Control Measures – Discusses security procedures, such as

controlling all entrances and exits

 Protecting HPAI Responders – Provides policy and guidance based the

APHIS Directive 6800.1 for APHIS employee engaged in the HPAI response

 Handling Infected Animals – Details procedures and steps to avoid spread of

infectious agents after working with infected animals

 Hazard Controls and Work Zones – Reviews programs and engineering

measures to prevent, reduce, or eliminate exposure to a hazard

 Using PPE – Describes the procedures for the donning, safe wearing, heat

stress monitoring, and removal of PPE by the user

 Health Issues – Prescribes personal hygiene procedures to ensure health of

workers and addresses the mental health aspects of response activities

 Equipment Disposal, Cleaning & Disinfection – Briefly describes safe handling

of potentially infected materials
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 28 | P a g e

Site Security & Control Measures 

All response personnel must follow the security procedures established by the 

command staff. The security team must be alerted to any suspicious activities observed 

during field operations. The incident commander may assign the security officer as a 

member of the command staff or as a member of the operations staff. To maintain 

security while conducting field operations the security officer must: 

 Control all entrances and exits

 Establish a personnel identification system

 Enforce entry and exit requirements

 Use temporary fencing if needed

 Assess the security threat potential to all buildings, dwellings, and sites occupied

by APHIS personnel
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 29 | P a g e

Protecting HPAI Responders 

The APHIS Directive, “Ensuring the Protection of Employees Involved in Highly 

Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Control and Eradication Activities,” establishes 

policy and guidance to ensure the safety of employees engaged in highly pathogenic 

avian influenza (HPAI) response APHIS Directive 6800.1 specifies the following: 

 All persons who have been in contact or possible contact with HPAI must wash

their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15–20 seconds

 All workers involved in environmental cleaning and disinfection, culling, transport,

of HPAI virus-infected poultry must not eat, drink, or smoke while performing

these duties and must be provided with appropriate PPE

 Workers that have potentially been exposed to HPAI must monitor their health for

fever, respiratory symptoms, and/or eye infections for one week after last

exposure. Self-Observation instructions for demobilizing bird flu responders can

be obtained at the CDC website.

 Individuals who become ill should seek prompt medical care and notify the health

care provider’s office or clinic about exposure to HPAI

 Ill persons must practice good respiratory and hand hygiene to lower the risk of

transmission of the virus to others

 Patients or health care providers must report possible human cases of HPAI to

their local or State Department of Health
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Handling Infected Animals 

Some animal diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Classical Swine 

Fever (CSF) are not a threat to public health, but humans can serve as a source of 

exposure for susceptible animals through contaminated skin, clothing, footwear, and 

other fomites. 

 All persons who have been in contact or possible contact with infectious agents

must wash their hands frequently with soap and water

 All workers involved in environmental cleaning and disinfection, culling, transport,

or carcass management of infected animals must not eat, drink, smoke, or visit

the toilet while performing these duties and must be provided with appropriate

PPE

 PPE items must be properly discarded or disinfected according to outbreakresponse guidelines:

o All APHIS employees involved in animal disease control and eradication

activities will shower completely (including a shampoo and expectoration)

at the end of the activity or work shift

o No item of clothing (including shoes and underwear) worn during FMD or

CSF control and eradication activities can be worn home or to any public

places outside of the infected/exposed area

o Proper doffing of PPE should only be done in the decontamination zone
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 31 | P a g e

Hazard Controls 

It is essential to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the responder’s exposure to a hazard, and 

not rely only on PPE. OSHA requires the use of PPE to reduce employee exposure to 

hazards when engineering and administrative controls or work practices are not feasible 

or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels. 

PPE is not a first line of defense, so other steps to eliminate hazards must be taken. 

These include: 

 Engineering controls

o Contain or remove a hazard through isolation, enclosure, ventilation, and

substitution to prevent or reduce responder exposure

 Administrative controls and work practices

o Regulate exposure to hazards through enforced policies and directives

o Responder training about reducing hazard exposure and awareness of

personnel roles in a hazardous situation

Figure 11. Example of a Hazard Warning Sign 
Health, Safety, & PPE Module 32 | P a g e

Work Zones 

It is important that a site perimeter, work zones, a Decontamination/Contamination 

Reduction Corridor, and access control points are established to: 

 Reduce the accidental spread of hazardous substances by workers or equipment

 Confine work activities to the appropriate areas

 Facilitate the location and evacuation of personnel in case of emergency

The three major work zones are as follows: 

 Exclusion (Hot) Zone – Area where contamination is present

 Contaminated Reduction (Warm) Zone – Transition area between the

contaminated and uncontaminated area

 Support (Cold) Zone –Uncontaminated area, an appropriate location for the

command post and where PPE donning takes place

Figure 12. Major Work Zones 
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Donning PPE Guidelines 

Donning is the procedure of assembling PPE on the user. Check all PPE for damage 

before donning. Responders should only wear and use PPE for which they have been 

trained. For respirators, responders must also be medically cleared and fit tested prior 

to use. 

In a changing room or other place in the Cold Zone - Support Zone (SZ) lay out PPE. 

Preparing to Don Level C PPE 

 Measure and cut a supply of chemical-resistant tape long enough to fit around

ankles/top of boots, wrists, and over zipper and crotch

 Cut several extra pieces in case one of the pieces accidentally bunches against

itself and becomes unusable

 Put tabs on chemical-resistant tape to assist with removal

 Perform a communications check

 Remove the Tyvek® coveralls or similar protective suit from the cellophane

wrapping and inspect for tears, rips, or other imperfections, and then unzip it

Figure 13. Decontamination Areas & Zones 
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Donning PPE Guidelines (cont.) 

Donning Level C PPE

Level C protection is adequate for most biological exposures that could potentially occur 

in an animal health emergency. 

 Educational material on Donning PPE has been developed by the Center for

Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University

 Refer to Appendix A in the NAHEMS Guidelines: Personal Protective Equipment

for additional detailed information

Figure 14. Example of Donning PPE
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Safety While Wearing PPE 

Safe and effective donning, doffing, and wearing of Level C or greater PPE require 

assistance, and the “buddy system” should always be used. Wearing PPE can create 

responder hazards such as physical and psychological stress, and impaired vision, 

movement, and communication. 

Heat and cold stress can be a serious risk and should be addressed by administrative 

measures such as: 

 Limited work shifts

 Rotations in and out of PPE

 Rest periods, during which fluids are consumed

Responders must be aware of their physical abilities and overall health when engaged 

in activities requiring PPE. Responders must undergo medical clearance and medical 

monitoring by a licensed health care provider to ensure they are physically suited to 

wear respiratory protection while working in an infected environment. 
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Heat Stress 

Personnel need to be aware of the symptoms of heat stress/illness, particularly in high 

temperatures and when wearing PPE. 

Early symptoms of heat illness: 

 Profuse sweating

 Fatigue, thirst

 Muscle cramping

Late symptoms of heat exhaustion: 

 Headache, dizziness & light-headedness

 Weakness, nausea & vomiting

 Cool, moist skin, dark urine

Symptoms of heatstroke: 

 Fever over 104°F, with dry, hot and red skin

 Irrational behavior, extreme confusion

 Rapid, shallow breathing and rapid, weak pulse

 Seizures, unconsciousness
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Equipment Disposal, Cleaning and Disinfection 

Following the handling of potentially infected materials, it is important that all PPE be 

properly disposed or cleaned and disinfected. Important actions include: 

 Removing and placing all disposable equipment in designated containers.

Disposable PPE should be removed without touching contaminated outer

surfaces.

 Remove gloves last. Pull them inside out and dispose in proper containers.

 Cleaning and disinfecting reusable equipment and PPE with authorized cleaning

and disinfecting agents

o Cleaning is the physical removal of organic material (i.e., manure, blood,

feed, and animal tissue). It is important to remove these organic materials

before the disinfection process. Residual organic material can harbor

disease agents and reduce disinfectant effectiveness.

o Disinfection is the killing of disease agents by direct exposure to chemical

or physical agents

o Following cleaning and disinfection return all reusable PPE to storage

If decontamination trailers are used, clearly marked containers should be provided for 

contaminated reusable clothing as well as for contaminated disposable items. 

Figure 15. Decontaminating Footwear 
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Doffing PPE Guidelines 

Doffing is the procedure for removing PPE. Attention should be paid to the donning 

sequence to allow doffing to occur without cross contamination and pathogen spread. 

The outerwear needs to be decontaminated and removed, or disposed of in such a way 

that prevents exposure of the responder’s skin and inner clothes to any pathogen. 

Doffing Level C PPE

1. Begin doffing in the Hot Zone - Exclusion Zone (EZ) by dry brushing off exterior

of PPE.

2. Enter the Decontamination Corridor and continue the decontamination procedure

to allow for safe doffing. Appropriate decontamination is performed on a

responder’s PPE as well as equipment before returning to the Cold Zone –

Support Zone (SZ).

3. Remove all chemical-resistant tape from the coveralls, including gloves, boots,

and zipper (and face piece, if applied). Dispose of tape in provided containers.

Figure 16. Example of Doffing PPE (Click on Image to Enlarge It) 
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Doffing PPE Guidelines (cont.) 

4. Unzip the protective coveralls.

5. Remove the outer gloves.

6. Reach inside the hood and roll it back, touching only the inside of the coveralls.

This step is easiest with the assistance of a team member.

7. Pull the protective coveralls off the shoulders (turning the suit inside out) to

ensure any residual contamination is kept away from the body.

8. Sitting on a stool, remove boots and place them in a designated container.

9. Peel the protective coveralls down from head to toe and step out of the coveralls

10. Dispose of coveralls in a provided container.

11. Remove scrub suit, disposable underwear, and socks and place in a designated

container.

12. Remove the respirator and inner gloves. Place the respirator in a designated

container. Dispose of gloves in a provided container.

13. Take a complete shower, including a shampoo, and change to freshly laundered

clothing.

Refer to Appendix A in the NAHEMS Guidelines: Personal Protective Equipment for 

additional detailed information. 
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Personal Hygiene 

Personal hygiene procedures must be followed to ensure the zoonotic disease agents 

are not contracted by workers and further transported from the infected site. 

 No clothing worn in the livestock or poultry facility should be worn home

o Clothing should be laundered separately in detergent and hot water

o Shoes do not have to be discarded if they are inside boots that are

disinfected or covered by disposable shoe covers that remain intact

 Do not touch face, mouth or nose with gloves or before disinfecting hands

 Gloves should be worn while removing other protective clothing and removed last

o Remove gloves by turning them inside out

o Immediately wash hands after removing gloves

 Following work activities or end of shift, thoroughly shower and wash hair with

soap and warm water

 Put on clean clothes and shoes
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Mental Health 

It is critical to take into account the toll that an animal health emergency can take on 

mental health. The effects of depopulation efforts can significantly affect the health of 

responders, livestock and poultry owners, and others impacted by the outbreak and 

response efforts. 

 Personnel should receive training on how to effectively deal with the stress of

mass animal mortalities and be aware of mental health counselors available

 Physical, as well as mental and emotional, stress can occur before, during, and

after participation in mass carcass management efforts

 If evidence of undue stress is observed, report it to the incident command post,

refer the individual a mental health counselor, and, if possible, shift him or her to

less traumatic roles in the carcass management effort

 Encourage responders to take frequent breaks, eat nutritious meals and drink

plenty of water, get adequate sleep, and engage in leisure activities that provide

opportunities for detachment and stress relief

The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC), has developed resources specifically for emergency and disaster 

responders, planners, health professionals, and the general public. For further 

information, refer to Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event. 
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Summary 

Congratulations! You have completed the Health, Safety, & PPE Module of the 

Introduction Modules. In this module, you have learned to: 

 Recognize hazards associated with carcass management

 Understand organizational and personnel responsibilities associated with hazard

management

 Describe the underlying principles in a job hazard assessment

 Understand health and safety hazards, contamination sources, and potential

routes of exposure

 List the types of hazard management measures

 Recognize the different types of PPE and how they protect against hazards

Please click here to download the certificate of completion for this module. You can 

enter your name on the certificate and save or print it for your records. Proceed to 

Home Page to begin the next module, Biosecurity.