U.S. agencies issues rules to protect workers from Zika
U.S.
health and safety officials issued new guidelines on Friday to help protect
workers from exposure to Zika, a mosquito-borne and sexually-transmitted virus
that causes the birth defect microcephaly and other neurological disorders.
The new rules, issued by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, urge employers of outdoor workers to inform them of the risks
of exposure to Zika through mosquito bites and to train them on how to protect
themselves.
Specifically, employers are asked to provide insect
repellents and encourage their use, and to urge workers to wear clothing that
protects their hands, arms, legs and other exposed areas. It also urges
employers to consider providing workers with hats with mosquito netting to
protect the face and neck.
The
guidelines also call on employers to remove standing water from work sites to
reduce mosquito breeding grounds. They also ask employers to consider
reassigning female workers who are pregnant or may become pregnant and male
workers whose partner is pregnant or may become pregnant to indoor jobs to
reduce their risk of mosquito bites.
The guidelines encourage the workers themselves to wear
insect repellant and protective clothing and to empty standing water on job
sites.
From NRCA
Trenton H. Cotney
Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer
Trent Cotney, P.A.
407 N. Howard Avenue
Suite 100
Tampa, FL 33606
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