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2020 Annual Report 
Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Requests

100 

80 

60 

40 

20 

0 

260 HHE Requests 

Top 3 Sectors by HHE Request in 2020 

98 

Services Healthcare and Wholesale and Al l Others 

Social Assistance Retail Trade 

Source: NIOSH Program Records 

120 

58 Site Visits and DeQlo~ments 

d 9 

178 24 

Workplaces States 

mlll~ 

146 

Cities 

~ Approx. 118,000 

Miles Traveled 

States visited 

in 2020 
By the Numbers 

Outreach 

r~~p:// I HHE webpage viewed 20,305 times 

HHE Reports downloaded 21,806 times 

~ 12 New HHE reports published 

~ Most downloaded report of 2020 

ll_ J..' (3,600 downloads) 

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New 

Jersey, University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey. 

This HHE report evaluated HEPA filtration and the 

potential for reducing the risk of tuberculosis 

transmission. 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/

pdfs/1995-0031-2601.pdf

56 Presentations 

43 Peer-reviewed 

publications 
~ tu ~ 

~ .. 

Highlighted HHE Final Reports from 2020

Evaluation of Occupational Exposures to Illicit Drugs 

at Forensic Sciences Laboratories 

Findings

● Cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, 

and methamphetamine were 

found in the air, on surfaces, 

and on employee hands. 

● Work practices and 

conditions may have 

contributed to unintentional 

employee exposures. 

● Employees reported 

several past incidents of 

skin, breathing, or mucus 

membrane exposure. 

Photo by NIOSH 

Recommendations

~ 

Some specific actions we recommended include: 

Improve the 

perf01mance 

of existing 

ventilated 

workspaces. 

Update laborat01y 

protocols to reduce 

employees' 

exposure during 

handling and 

analysis. 

Adhere to 

existing 

cl earring and 

hygiene 

protocols. 

Train employees on 

laborat01y 

handwashing 

policies. 

This report is available at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2018-0116-3370.pdf 
~ .I 

Evaluation of Coccidioides Exposure and Coccidioidomycosis 

Infections Among Warehouse and Distribution Employees 

Findings

● Employees could possibly 

breathe in dust during indoor 

and outdoor work. 

● Some cases of 

coccidioidomycosis among 

employees occurred during

2014–2019. 

Photo by NIOSH 

Recommendations

Some specific actions we recommended include: 

Keep warehouse 

bays, doors, and 

windows closed as 

much as possible. 

Use a wet 

sweeping method 

or a filtered 

vacuum. 

i When replacing 

equipment, pick 

machine1y with 

closed cabs and 

increased filti'ation. 

Cleanand 

~aintai~ ~in_dow 

air-cond1ti orung 

units. 

~t J

Educate employees 

about 

coccidioidomycosis. 

~ Tell employees 

when respirator 

use 1s reqrnred or 

voluntary. 

--;fl 

---

This report is available at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2019-0074-3376.pdf 
~t J ~ 

Evaluation of Silica Exposures During Dowel Drilling 

Findings

● Silica concentrations for 

some employees exceeded 

occupational exposure limits. 

● Samples of respirable 

dust did not exceed any 

exposure limits. 

● Improvements to the 

respiratory protection 

program could be made. 

Photo by NIOSH 

Recommendations

specific actions we recommended include: 

Train drill rig 

operators on 

proper respirator 

use. 

Improve respirator 

cleaning and 

storage practices . 

...... 

@ Spray the drill rig 

with water at the 

end of each shift. ffi Require high 

visibility safety 

apparel for all 

equipment 

operators. 

•• Explore 

alternatives to 

stepping into the 

live traffic lane. ~ Improve vehicle 

spacing and safety 

within the 

t. work zone. 

This report is available at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2019-0178-3368.pdf 
@

[!] 

Evaluation of Exposures and Respiratory Health at a 

Rubber Manufacturing Facility 

Findings

● 96 volatile organic 

compounds were detected in 

the integrated air samples. 

● 74% of participants 

reported at least one upper 

respiratory symptom in the 

past 12 months. 

● Most local exhaust 

ventilation systems 

throughout the facility 

provided good capture of 

released contaminants. 

Photo by NIOSH 

Recommendations

specific actions we recommended include: 

Ensure all 

ventilati~n ~ts

are funct10mng 

properly. 

Implement a medical 

surveillance program 

for extrusion, 

finishing, or mixing 

employees. 

~ Translate health 

and safety 

communication 

materials to 

languages 

spoken at the 

facility. 

S Encourage 

employees to report 

respirat01y symptoms 

to a designated 

individual at the 

workplace. 

~ e 

e • 

• • • • 

This report is available at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2016-0227-3364.pdf 
 

-• Hea Ith Haza rd® - Evaluation Program ---

The mission of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation 

Program is to respond to requests from employees, 

employers, and union representatives to evaluate 

potential health hazards in their workplace. 

These evaluations are done at no cost to the 

requestor. Once the evaluation is complete, 

recommendations are made on ways to reduce or 

eliminate identified hazards. Health Hazard 

Evaluations can help reduce hazards and create 

more healthful workplaces. 

If you have questions, please contact the HHE 

Program Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST 

Phone: 1-513-841-4382 

@ HHERequestHelp@cdc.gov

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program 

1090 Tusculum Avenue, Mail Stop R-9 

Cincinnati, OH 45226-1988