Human Tuberculosis 

Health Hazard Information Sheet 

This document provides information on human tuberculosis (TB) and describes the process to 

follow when personnel are concerned about potential infection. It also explains the steps the 

Agency is taking to ensure that the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection personnel 

are notified when a private establishment employee has active TB disease. 

Background 

FSIS personnel in slaughter and processing establishments work in close proximity to 

establishment employees and have expressed concern regarding acquiring TB from the 

establishment personnel. 

TB is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria can attack any part of the body. 

The symptoms of disease include low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and 

persistent cough. 

A person infected with TB is considered to have either latent TB or TB disease. TB may last for 

a lifetime as an infection and never develop into a disease. Persons with TB disease are sick 

from bacteria that are active in the body, and they usually have one or more symptoms of TB. 

These people are often capable of infecting others. On the other hand, people with latent TB 

infection (without disease) have the bacteria that cause TB in their body, but they are not sick 

because the bacteria are inactive. They cannot spread TB to others while the infection is in the 

latent stage. 

TB is spread from person to person through the air when a person with TB disease coughs or 

sneezes. Prolonged exposure to a person with TB disease usually is necessary for infection to 

occur. 

Treatment for latent TB infection will considerably reduce the risk of developing active TB 

disease. A person with latent TB infection may be given prescribed medication. A more intense 

and lengthy treatment is needed if the person has TB disease. 

Testing and Response 

Because TB is a communicable disease, it falls under the jurisdiction of State or local health 

departments. When establishment personnel test positive for TB disease, the State or local 

public health department often informs establishment management. A State or local public 

health official makes an on-site visit or telephone contact to assess the risk of exposure based 

on proximity of individuals to the affected person and other established criteria and to identify 

plant or inspection personnel to be tested. 

A number of health departments are unaware that there are Federal employees present in 

slaughter and processing establishments, and on occasion, inspection personnel are unaware 

that testing is occurring. 

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Human Tuberculosis 

Health Hazard Information Sheet 

If inspectors do not have an opportunity to be tested by the health department while in the 

establishment after a worker has been diagnosed with TB disease, they can arrange to get a TB 

skin test at their local public health office. The test is quick and simple with results in only a few 

days. The test is usually at no charge. 

Industry Notification of TB Positive Plant Employee 

The Inspector in Charge at each facility should request at their weekly HACCP meetings that 

the establishment notify FSIS management when they become aware that an employee has TB 

disease. Plant managers sometimes have been hesitant to notify FSIS of TB positive 

employees for fear that the Agency would withdraw inspection personnel. Although 29 CFR 

1960 provides the Agency with the authority to withdraw inspection if hazards exist that are 

causing, or are likely to cause, death or serious harm to FSIS personnel, under most 

circumstances, an establishment employee testing positive for TB would not meet this criterion. 

A person with TB disease cannot continue to work in the plant without permission from the 

public health department or their personal physician. With treatment, the employee will no 

longer be infectious and may be back to work in a short time. Any person with latent TB can 

work. Establishment management is responsible for ensuring that their employees do not have 

a contagious disease in a transmissible stage. 

Filing a Claim for TB 

As a Federal Employee it is your right to file a workers' compensation claim at any time under 

the Federal Employee's Compensation Act (FECA). 

How should training for this Health Hazard Information Sheet be recorded? 

Per requirements found in FSIS Directive 4791.1 Section IX, all occupational health and safety 

training is to be recorded using either AgLearn or FSIS form 3530-12. Training records are to 

include the topics covered, date, and employee name. The Agency is to retain all training 

records for a minimum of five years.” 

Resources 

Further information about workers' compensation and claim forms are available on the website 

https://www.ecomp.dol.gov/. 

Refer general TB questions to Curtis Wallis, Team Lead for the Environmental, Safety and 

Health Group. He can be reached at Curtis.Wallis@fsis.usda.gov. 

Refer questions regarding filing claims for workers’ compensation under FECA for TB disease to 

the Workers’ Compensation Branch at 1-800-370-3747. 

CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm. 

The CDC has published a document that provides information about the difference between 

latent TB infection and TB disease. The PDF file can be found: http://tinyurl.com/qjc6t9d. 

FSIS Environmental, Safety and Health Group Page 2 
 

 

Human Tuberculosis 

Health Hazard Information Sheet 

About the ESHG 

The FSIS Environmental Safety and Health Group (ESHG) is devoted to providing a safe and healthful work 

environment for FSIS employees. More information on safety topics can be found on the intranet site 

http://www.tinyurl.com/FSIS-ESHG or by email askemployeesafety@fsis.usda.gov 

FSIS Environmental, Safety and Health Group Page 3