OSHA Inspection: KANSAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD

Issued

Apr 3, 1995

Abate by

Sep 30, 1995

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
(a) The Kansas Air National Guard did not adequately maintained hanger
1107, on
McConnell Air Force Base, in a clean and sanitary condition.  Bird feces
in the hanger
expose employees to a variety of illnesses, including but not limited to,
ornithosis,
encephalitis, newcastle disease, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and
histoplasmosis.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  OSHA issued a Hazard Information Bulletin on Contracting
Occupationally Related Psittacosis on August 8, 1994 which outlines
procedures to be followed.
Precautions to protect workers from contracting this disease through
inhalation include at a
minimum the following:
*Providing respiratory protection suitable for the purpose intended (HEPA
filter) and
establishing a respirator program.
*Assuring adequate ventilation in the work area.
*Establishing a psittacosis training and prevention program which includes:
- A description of the signs and the symptoms associated with the
psittacosis disease.
- Instructions on how to recognize psittacosis infected avian species; and
- Good housekeeping and work practices procedures.
*Instructing workers to immediately report to the employer any indications
that a bird may
be infected.
*Instructing workers to immediately report to the employer the development
of any
adverse signs and symptoms consistent with psittacosis.