495190256

Cal/OSHA Warns Employers about Hepatitis A

Oct. 10, 2017
Workers in certain fields have a higher risk of contracting the virus.

Hepatitis A outbreaks have been reported in San Diego, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles counties in California.

Because of the spread of the highly-contagious liver virus, state-run Cal/OSHA is reminding employers about preventive measures they need to protect their workers.

"Employers must take steps to prevent or reduce the spread of the hepatitis A virus," said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum in a statement. "Preventive measures are essential to protecting workers at risk of exposure."

Symptoms of Hepatitis A range from mild to severe depending on the person, and it can be fatal, according to the agency.

Workers in certain industries to come into contact with the homeless population or those that use illicit drugs are at greater risk for exposure. Employees include those in the health care and laboratory field, those involved with public safety and emergency medical services, sanitation and janitorial workers and people working in homeless services and substance use treatment facilities.

A person can be exposed to the hepatitis A virus after coming into contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated by an infected person, according to Cal/OSHA.

The agency's recommended practices to prevent worker exposure to the virus include:

  • Maintaining a clean and sanitary workplace
  • Sanitizing and cleaning toilet facilities
  • Providing handwashing facilities
  • Providing appropriate personal protective equipment
  • Providing training
  • Offering hepatitis A vaccinations

Additional information and preventative measures can be found on the Cal/OSHA website.

Sponsored Recommendations

April 25, 2025
Environmental audits should be a core part of your EHS program regardless of whether you choose to pursue ISO 14001 certification.
April 25, 2025
Streamline EHS inspections. Conduct, track, and manage inspections effortlessly with customizable checklists, real-time reporting, and actionable insights.
April 25, 2025
A winning business case is based on the ROI of the project. The essential first step is determining your EHS costs today.
April 25, 2025
The use of QR codes can greatly simplify observation, near miss, and incident reporting and improve the quantity and quality of data. The more safety information that is collected...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!