Health Hazard 

Evaluation Program 

2018 Annual Report 

Photos by NIOSH

Ll.J':"" HealthHazard rT1:. Evaluation Program 
International Work

Location: Guyana

2,859 miles traveled

Requestor: Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)

Concern: Worker exposure to mercury in gold processing

Impact: The NIOSH team provided exposure prevention, 

treatment, and policy recommendations impacting more than 

500 employees.

221 HHE Requests

& 32 Site Visits

29

Workplaces

18

States

29

Cities

approx. 22,562

Miles Traveled

States visited 

in 2018
••• 

Outreach

HHE webpage viewed 61,140 times

34 New HHE reports

Reports downloaded

20,299 times

234 Facebook posts

Reached 165,900 people

31,891 Page “likes”

l ) From 45 different

countries

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• • • 

88 Presentations

20 Peer-reviewed

publications
 

 

 

 

 

 

(8) 

Evaluation of Exposure to Metals,

Flame Retardants, and Nanomaterials 

at an Electronics Recycling Company

Findings

 Some flame retardants were in the

air, on employees’ hands, in their

blood, and in their urine

 Metals were found outside of the

processing area

 Dry sweeping and eating/drinking

in the processing areas likely

contributed to exposures

 Three employees had

elevated blood lead levels

Photo by NIOSH

Publication: Chemosphere

Article title: Field evaluation of sequential hand wipes for flame

retardant exposure in an electronics recycling facility

Article available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.027

Recommendations

Wash your hands with a 

lead-removing product

Use respirators in the

disassembly and shredding areas

Supply outdoor air to the

office ventilation system

Instead of dry sweeping, use wet 

cleaning methods or vacuuming

HHE report available here: https://go.usa.gov/xExQ2
Characterizing Exposures During Laser

Tattoo Removal in a Hospital

Dermatology Center

Findings

• Low levels of acetone,

isopropyl alcohol, and xylene

were measured in air samples

• Particle concentrations were

higher in the air around the

dermatologist and close to the

laser tattoo removal process

• Laser eyewear needed

replacing

• Improper use of the “laser in

use” signs could lead to

accidental eye exposures

Photo by NIOSH

Publication: Dermatology Times

Article title: Safety recommendations for tattoo removal 

Article available here: https://www.dermatologytimes.com/tattooremoval/7-safety-recommendations-tattoo-removal

 

 

 

. -

~­

-

Recommendations

s 

Report damaged or worn 

protective eyewear to supervisors

Only use respirators certified by

the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health 

Discontinue use of the laser 

masks and molded surgical 

masks for respiratory protection

Operate the “laser in use” signs 

only when the laser is in use

HHE report available here: https://go.usa.gov/xExxz
 

 

 

 

 

 

Opioid 

Investigations 

13 Opioid-Related Investigations in 2018

Take a look at some of the concerns we responded to:

Potential exposure to synthetic opioids and other controlled

substances in crime laboratories

Policies and procedures to address potential exposure to 

fentanyl during airport screening operations

Potential exposure to fentanyl among

medical investigators

Potential exposure to fentanyl and other opioids including

issues related to building ventilation among workers at a jail

Impact of traumatic events and stressors including the marked 

increase in opioid responses among first responders 

Read the full report: https://go.usa.gov/xEEdn

Health effects from unintentional occupational exposure 

to opioids and other illicit drugs among responders 

Read the reports here: https://go.usa.gov/xEEdN
D 

Key Recommendations for

Emergency Responders 

Follow guidance in the NIOSH 

topic page titled “Fentanyl: 

Preventing Occupational 

Exposure to Emergency

Responders” 

. 

D 

s ~­

. - -

Attend periodic trainings to 

discuss prevention methods

• • • -:-~ 

,,, 

Coordinate joint training

opportunities with other local 

emergency response agencies

Develop new or modify

existing policies and procedures 

for responses involving

illicit drugs

Report possible exposures to 

and health effects resulting

from exposure to illicit drugs 

to supervisors 
Evaluation of Exposure to a New Cleaning

and Disinfection Product and Symptoms 

Among Hospital Employees

FFindings indings

 Chemicals from the cleaning

product were detected in all

full-shift air samples

 Employees reported previous

splashes and spills of the

cleaning product that resulted

in skin or eye irritation

 Employees reported no ventilation in some

bathrooms they cleaned

Photo by iStock/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 

® 

. -

-

Publication: American Journal of Infection Control

Article title: Health problems and disinfectant product 

exposure among staff at a large multispecialty hospital

Article available here: https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-

6553(17)30295-X/fulltext

Recommendations

Wear extended cuff nitrile gloves or 

rubber gloves and goggles or a face

shield when using cleaning supplies

Do not use a spray bottle to 

apply disinfectant products 

Report symptoms to a

healthcare provider 

s s• 

Report patient rooms or 

bathrooms with no ventilation 

to supervisors

HHE Report available here: https://go.usa.gov/xExER
 

 

~t J ---

s s• 

. -

-

Ergonomic Evaluation of Pharmacy Tasks

Findings

 Adjustability features

available for some equipment

were not used regularly

 Capping and uncapping

medicine bottles required

repetitive movements and

awkward wrist postures

Photo by NIOSH

 Employees reported hand and

neck symptoms consistent with

work-related musculoskeletal

disorders

 Repetitive motion injuries were

the most common recordable

injury among pharmacy

department employees Photo by iStock/Getty Images

Recommendations

Utilize adjustable workstations Alternate between computer work 

and repetitive pharmacy tasks 

Increase training on 

musculoskeletal disorders 

and ergonomics 

Report work-related health and 

safety concerns to supervisors

HHE Report available here: https://go.usa.gov/xEczM
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ProfessiOiial~ Re1Stic 'Ollsive~ 

Useful~ imely Helprul Effective 

Followback Program

After an evaluation, we conduct mailed surveys, phone

calls, and return visits to get feedback from the workplace

about their experience.

Here are some words that employers, employees, and 

union representatives used to describe their experience 

and interactions with NIOSH investigators: 
Nfi6t Controll,ng Health HuardsWhenWork,ng woth Nanomaten.,ls 

Qu.,.1,0ns t0A,kBeloreV0uStart 

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INUOUIO 

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Dampness and M old Assessment Tool 

School Buildings 

Form & Instructions 

PHYSICALLY BOUND/ ENCAPSULATED 

·=--··===·----

New Specialty Publications New Specialty Publications

New Poster: 

 Controlling Health Hazards 

When Working with

Nanomaterials: Questions to 

Ask Before You Start

View online:

https://go.usa.gov/xPhyC

New Fact Sheets:

 What Wildland and Structural 

Fire Fighters Need to Know 

about Rhabdomyolysis

 Rhabdomyolysis in Wildland 

and Structural Fire Fighters: 

A Patient Population at Risk

View online:

https://go.usa.gov/xPhJF

New Indoor Environmental 

Quality Assessment Tools:

 Dampness and Mold in 

School and General Buildings

View online:

https://go.usa.gov/xEmjf
--• HealthHazard® - Evaluation Program 

D 

-Our MissionThe 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 healthier workplaces.

cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/ HHERequestHelp@cdc.gov

Facebook.com/

health.hazard.evaluation.program/

1-513-841-4382

Monday—Friday

9 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. EST

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Program

1090 Tusculum Ave, Mail Stop R-9

Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998