Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HHE-80-183-991: Naval Biosciences Laboratory; Oakland, California

Abstract

Laboratory procedures and employee work practices were studied at the Naval Biosciences Laboratory (SIC-8071) in Oakland, California, on September 23 to 24, 1980, and on January 18, 1981. An unidentified individual requested the evaluation on behalf of approximately 100 affected workers after several cases of illness were reported subsequent to exposure to human pathogens under study at the laboratory. The physical layout, cleanliness, hoods, and other specialized equipment were found to be in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, and appropriate for the handling of hazardous infectious organisms. Questionnaire responses regarding employee training and work practices revealed that adequate laboratory safety training was given to the laboratory technicians but not the facility guard personnel who routinely entered the laboratory rooms. It was also determined that medical surveillance had not included all personnel categories and had not been performed at regular intervals. The authors conclude that guards at this laboratory may have been at increased risk of exposure to infectious organisms. They recommend the adoption of standardized and appropriate medical surveillance policies, consistent hiring policies for lab personnel, employee training, environmental monitoring, and care in the use of formaldehyde (50000) as a disinfecting agent