FS-6700-7 (11/99)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Work in Suspected Hantavirus
Environment
Forest Service
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS (JHA)
References-FSH 6709.11 and -12
(Instructions on Reverse)
7. TASKS/PROCEDURES
GENERAL HOUSEHOLD
PRECAUTIONS IN AREAS
AFFECTED BY HANTAVIRUS
CLEAN-UP OF RODENTCONTAMINATED AREAS:
GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS IN
AREAS AFFECTED BY
HANTAVIRUS
1. WORK PROJECT/ACTIVITY
8. HAZARDS
4. NAME OF ANALYST
Rick LaBorde
2. LOCATION
3. UNIT
Inyo National Forest
5. JOB TITLE
Mammoth / Mono
6. DATE PREPARED
Wilderness Steward
2/18/2016
9. ABATEMENT ACTIONS
Engineering Controls * Substitution * Administrative Controls * PPE
Eliminate rodents and reduce the availability of food sources and nesting sites used by rodents inside buildings.
Follow the recommendations in the section on Eliminating Rodents inside the Home
Keep food (including pet food) and water covered and stored in rodent-proof metal or thick plastic containers with
tight-fitting lids.
Wash dishes and cooking utensils immediately after use and remove all spilled food.
Dispose of trash and clutter.
Exposure to the
hantavirus; spread Use spring-loaded rodent traps in the home continuously.
by infected rodents' As an adjunct to traps, use rodenticide with bait under a plywood or plastic shelter (covered bait station) on an
saliva, urine, & feces ongoing basis inside the house.
Note: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved rodenticides are commercially available. Instructions on
product use should always be followed. Products that are used outdoors should be specifically approved for
exterior use. Any use of a rodenticide should be preceded by use of an insecticide to reduce the risk of plague
transmission. Insecticide sprays or powders can be used in place of aerosols if they are appropriately labeled for
flea control.
Prevent rodents from entering buildings. Specific measures should be adapted to local circumstances.
Use steel wool, expansion foam or cement to seal, screen, or otherwise cover all openings into buildings that have
a diameter >1/4 inch.
Place metal roof flashing as a rodent barrier around the base of wooden, earthen, or adobe dwellings up to a height
of 12 inches and buried in the soil to a depth of 6 inches.
Place 3 inches of gravel under the base of homes or under mobile homes to discourage rodent burrowing.
Reduce rodent shelter and food sources within 100 feet of buildings outbuildings, or woodpiles, elevate wood at
least 12 inches off the ground.
Exposure to the
Store grains and animal feed in rodent-proof containers.
hantavirus; spread
Near buildings, remove food sources that might attract rodents, or store food and water in rodent-proof containers.
by infected rodents'
Store hay on pallets, and use traps or rodenticide continuously to keep hay free of rodents.
saliva, urine, & feces
Do not leave pet food in feeding dishes.
Dispose of garbage and trash in rodent-proof containers that are elevated at least 12 inches off the ground.
Haul away trash, abandoned vehicles, discarded tires, and other items that may serve as rodent nesting sites.
Cut grass, brush, and dense shrubbery within 100 feet of the home.
Place spring-loaded rodent traps at likely spots for rodent shelter within 100 feet around the home, and use
continuously.
Use an EPA-registered rodenticide approved for outside use in covered bait stations at places likely to shelter
rodents within 100 feet of the home.
Areas with evidence of rodent activity (e.g., dead rodents, rodent excreta) should be thoroughly cleaned to reduce
the likelihood of exposure to hantavirus-infected materials. Clean-up procedures must be performed in a manner
that limits the potential for aerosolization of dirt or dust from all potentially contaminated surfaces and household
goods.
Persons involved in the clean-up should all ways wear rubber or plastic gloves, ear protection and an N-100
classifed respirator (if needed).
Exposure to the
Spray dead rodents, rodent nests, droppings, or foods or other items that have been tainted by rodents with a
hantavirus; spread
general-purpose household disinfectant. Soak the material thoroughly, and place in a plastic bag. When clean-up
by infected rodents'
is complete (or when the bag is full), seal the bag being careful not to exhaust the air towards the face when
saliva, urine, & feces
closing, then place it into a second plastic bag and seal. Dispose of the bagged material by placinig in outside
garbage container, burying in a 2- to 3-foot-deep hole or by burning. If these alternatives are not feasible, contact
the local or state health department concerning other appropriate disposal methods.
After the above items have been removed, mop floors with a solution of water, detergent, and disinfectant. Spray
dirt floors with a disinfectant solution. A second mopping or spraying of floors with a general-purpose household
disinfectant is optional. Carpets can be effectively disinfected with household disinfectants or by commercial-
PRECAUTIONS FOR
WORKERS WHO HANDLE OR
ARE REGULARLY EXPOSED
TO RODENTS
Exposure to the
hantavirus; spread
by infected rodents'
saliva, urine, &
feces.
PRECAUTIONS FOR FIELDGOING PERSONNEL IN AREAS
AFFECTED BY HANTAVIRUS
Exposure to the
hantavirus; spread
by infected rodents'
saliva, urine, &
feces.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR
WORKERS CLEANING
BUILDINGS WITH HEAVY
RODENT INFESTATIONS
Exposure to the
hantavirus; spread
by infected rodents'
saliva, urine, &
feces.
grade steam cleaning or shampooing.
To avoid generating potentially infectious aerosols, do not vacuum or sweep dry surfaces before mopping.
Disinfect countertops, cabinets, drawers, and other durable surfaces by washing them with a solution of detergent,
water, and disinfectant, followed by an optional wiping-down with a general-purpose household disinfectant.
Rugs and upholstered furniture should be steam cleaned or shampooed. If rodents have nested inside furniture
and the nests are not accessible for decontamination, the furniture should be removed and burned.
Launder potentially contaminated bedding and clothing with hot water and detergent. (Use rubber or plastic gloves
when handling the dirty laundry; then wash and disinfect gloves as described in the section on Eliminating Rodents
Inside the Home.) Machine-dry laundry on a high setting or hang it to air dry in the sun.
Persons who frequently handle or are exposed to rodents (e.g., mammalogists, pest-control workers) in the
affected area are probably at higher risk for hantavirus infection than the general public because of their frequency
of exposure. Therefore, enhanced precautions are warranted to protect them against hantavirus infection.
A baseline serum sample, preferably drawn at the time of employment, should be available for all persons whose
occupations involve frequent rodent contact. The serum sample should be stored at -20C.
Workers in potentially high-risk settings should be informed about the symptoms of disease and be given detailed
guidance on prevention measures.
Workers who develop a febrile or respiratory illness within 45 days of the last potential exposure should
immediately seek medical attention and inform the attending physician of the potential occupational risk of
hantavirus infection. The physician should contact local health authorities promptly if hantavirus-associated
illness is suspected. A blood sample should be obtained and for warded with the baseline serum through the state
health department to CDC for hantavirus antibody testing.
Workers should wear a half-face air-purifying (or negative-pressure) respirator or PAPR equipped with HEPA filters
when removing rodents from traps or handling rodents in the affected area. Respirators (including positivepressure types) are not considered protective if facial hair interferes with the face seal, since proper fit cannot be
assured. Respirator use practices should be in accord with a comprehensive user program and should be
supervised by a knowledgeable person. (Contact Julie Watt for location of the hanta suit)
Workers should wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling rodents or handling traps containing rodents. Gloves
should be washed and disinfected before removing them, as described above.
Traps contaminated by rodent urine or feces or in which a rodent was captured should be thrown away but can be
disinfected with a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution. Dispose of dead rodents by placing carcasses with
trap in a plastic bag containing a sufficient amount of a general purpose household disinfectant to thoroughly wet
the carcasses. Seal the bag being careful not to exhaust the air twoards the face when closing and dispose of it by
putting in a outside garbage container, burying in a 2 to 3 foot deep hole or by burning.
Persons removing organs or obtaining blood from rodents in affected areas should contact the Special Pathogens
Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, [telephone (404)639-1115) for detailed safety precautions.
Persons engaged in outdoor activities such as camping or hiking should take precautions to reduce the likelihood
of their exposure to potentially infectious materials.
Avoid coming into contact with rodents and rodent burrows or disturbing dens (such as pack rat nests).
Do not use cabins or other enclosed shelters that are rodent in-fested until they have been appropriately cleaned
and disinfected.
Do not pitch tents or place sleeping bags in areas in proximity to rodent feces or burrows or near possible rodent
shelters (e.g., garbage dumps or wood piles)
If possible, do not sleep on the bare ground. Use a cot with the sleeping surface at least 12 inches above the
ground. Use tents with floors.
Keep food in rodent-proof containers.
Promptly dispose of in a outside garbage container, bury (or-preferably-burn followed by burying, when in
accordance with local requirements) all garbage and trash, or discard in covered trash containers
Special precautions are warranted for cleaning buildings with heavy rodent infestations (e.g. piles of feces or
numerous dead animals). Persons conducting these activities should contact the responsible local, state, or
federal public health agency for guidance. These precautions may also apply to vacant dwellings that have
attracted numbers of rodents while unoccupied. Workers who are either hired specifically to perform the clean-up
or asked to do so as part of their work activities should receive a thorough orientation from the responsible health
agency about hantavirus transmission and should be trained to perform the required activities safely.
A baseline serum sample, preferably drawn at the time these activities are initiated, should be available for all
persons conducting the clean-up of buildings with heavy rodent infestation. The serum sample should be stored
at -20 C.
Persons involved in the clean-up should wear coveralls (disposable if possible), rubber boots or disposable shoe
covers, rubber or plastic gloves, protective goggles, and an appropriate respiratory protection device, such as a
half-mask air-purifying (or negative-pressure) respirator with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or a
ELIMINATING RODENTS
INSIDE BUILDINGS AND
REDUCING RODENT ACCESS
Exposure to the
hantavirus; spread by
infected rodents'
saliva, urine, & feces.
10. LINE OFFICER SIGNATURE
Previous edition is obsolete
(over)
powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) with HEPA filters. Respirators (including positive-pressure types) are not
considered protective if facial hair interferes with the face seal, since proper fit cannot be assured. Respirator
practices should follow a comprehensive user program and be supervised by a knowledgeable person.
Personal protective gear should be decontaminated upon removal at the end of the day. If the coveralls are not
disposable, they should be laundered on site. If no laundry facilities are available, the coveralls should be
immersed in liquid disinfectant until they can be washed.
All potentially infective waste material (including respirator filters) from clean-up operations that cannot be burned
or deep buried on site should be double bagged in appropriate plastic bags. The bagged material should then be
labeled as infectious (if it is to be transported) and disposed of in accordance with local requirements for
infectious waste.
Workers who develop a febrile or respiratory illness within 45 days of the last potential exposure should
immediately seek medical attention and inform the attending physician of the potential occupational risk of
hantavirus infection. The physician should contact local health authorities promptly if hantavirus-associated
illness is suspected. A blood sample should be obtained and forwarded with the baseline serum through the state
health department to CDC for hantavirus antibody testing.
Rodent infestation can be determined by direct observation of a or inferred from the presence of feces in closets or
cabinets or on floors or from evidence that rodents have been gnawing at food. If rodent infestation is detected
inside buildings, rodent abatement measures should be completed. The directions in the JHA on Special
Precautions should be followed if evidence of heavy rodent infestation (e.g., piles of feces or numerous dead
animals) is present or if a structure is associated with a confirmed case of hantavirus disease.
Before rodent elimination work is begun, ventilate closed buildings or areas inside buildings by opening doors and
windows for at least 30 minutes. Use an exhaust fan or cross ventilation if possible. Leave the area until the
airing-out period is finished. This airing may help remove any aerosolized virus inside the closed-in structure.
Second, seal, screen, or otherwise cover all openings into the home that have a diameter of >1/4 inch. Then set
rodent traps inside the house, using peanut butter as bait. Use only spring-loaded traps that kill rodents.
Next, treat the interior of the structure with an insecticide labeled for flea control; follow specific label instructions.
Insecticide sprays or powders can be used in place of aerosols if they are appropriately labeled for flea control.
Rodenticides may also be used while the interior is being treated, as outlined below.
Remove captured rodents from the traps. Wear rubber or plastic gloves while handling rodents. Place the
carcasses with trap in a plastic bag containing a sufficient amount of a general-purpose household disinfectant to
thoroughly wet the carcasses. Seal the bag being careful not to exhaust the air towards the face when closing and
then dispose of it by putting into outside garbage container, burying in a 2- to 3-foot-deep hole or by burning. If
burying or burning are not feasible, contact your local or state health department about other appropriate disposal
methods. Rebait and reset all sprung traps.
Before removing the gloves, wash gloved hands in a general house-hold disinfectant and then in soap and water.
A hypochlorite solution prepared by mixing 3 tablespoons of household bleach in 1 gallon of water may be used in
place of a commercial disinfectant. When using the chlorine solution, avoid spilling the mixture on clothing or
other items that may be damaged. Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water after removing the gloves.
Leave several baited spring-loaded traps inside the building at all times as a further precaution against rodent
reinfestation. Examine the traps regularly.
Disinfect traps no longer in use by washing in a general household disinfectant or the hypochlorite solution.
Disinfect and wash gloves as described above, and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before beginning
other activities.
NOTE: EPA-approved rodenticides are commercially available. In-structions on product use should always be
followed. Products that are used outdoors should be specifically approved for exterior use. Any use of a
rodenticide should be preceded by use of an insecticide to reduce the risk of plague transmission. Insecticide
sprays or powders can be used in place of aerosols if they are appropriately labeled for flea control.
11. TITLE
12. DATE
JHA Instructions (References-FSH 6709.11 and .12)
The JHA shall identify the location of the work project or activity, the name of
employee(s) involved in the process, the date(s) of acknowledgment, and the name of
the appropriate line officer approving the JHA. The line officer acknowledges that
employees have read and understand the contents, have received the required
training, and are qualified to perform the work project or activity.
Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6: Self-explanatory.
Block 7: Identify all tasks and procedures associated with the work project or activity
that have potential to cause injury or illness to personnel and damage to
property or material. Include emergency evacuation procedures (EEP).
Block 8: Identify all known or suspect hazards associated with each respective
task/procedure listed in block 7. For example:
a. Research past accidents/incidents.
b. Research the Health and Safety Code, FSH 6709.11 or other appropriate
literature.
Emergency Evacuation Instructions (Reference FSH 6709.11)
Work supervisors and crew members are responsible for developing and discussing
field emergency evacuation procedures (EEP) and alternatives in the event a
person(s) becomes seriously ill or injured at the worksite.
Be prepared to provide the following information:
a. Nature of the accident or injury (avoid using victim's name).
b. Type of assistance needed, if any (ground, air, or water evacuation).
c. Location of accident or injury, best access route into the worksite (road
name/number),
identifiable ground/air landmarks.
d. Radio frequencies.
e. Contact person.
f. Local hazards to ground vehicles or aviation.
g. Weather conditions (wind speed & direction, visibility, temperature).
h. Topography.
i. Number of individuals to be transported.
j. Estimated weight of individuals for air/water evacuation.
c. Discuss the work project/activity with participants.
d. Observe the work project/activity.
The items listed above serve only as guidelines for the development of emergency
evacuation procedures.
e. A combination of the above.
Block 9: Identify appropriate actions to reduce or eliminate the hazards identified in
block 8. Abatement measures listed below are in the order of the preferred
abatement method:
a. Engineering Controls (the most desirable method of abatement).
For example, ergonomically designed tools, equipment, and
furniture.
JHA and Emergency Evacuation Procedures Acknowledgment
We, the undersigned work leader and crew members, acknowledge participation in the
development of this JHA (as applicable) and accompanying emergency evacuation
procedures. We have thoroughly discussed and understand the provisions of each of
these documents:
SIGNATURE
b. Substitution. For example, switching to high flash point, non-toxic
solvents.
Work Leader
c. Administrative Controls. For example, limiting exposure by reducing
the work schedule; establishing appropriate procedures and practices.
d. PPE (least desirable method of abatement). For example, using hearing
protection when working with or close to portable machines
(chain saws, rock drills, and portable water pumps).
e. A combination of the above.
Block 10: The JHA must be reviewed and approved by a line officer. Attach a
copy of the JHA as justification for purchase orders when procuring PPE.
Blocks 11 and 12: Self-explanatory.
DATE
SIGNATURE
DATE