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Information for Employers Providing Personal Protective Equipment to Reduce Exposure to Novel Influenza A

What to know

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed in some cases to reduce the risk of exposures, especially for workers in direct contact with animals or their secretions. Employers should provide appropriate PPE at no cost as well as training on its proper use. Employers should consider implementing controls to reduce the risk of heat related illness and injuries for workers wearing PPE in hot environments.

Implementing Personal Protective Equipment

Workers should be trained on, and demonstrate an understanding of:

  • When to use PPE
  • What PPE is necessary
  • How to maintain PPE
  • How to properly put on, use, remove, and dispose of PPE according to local and state regulations and authorities
  • The limitations of PPE

Training should be in a language that the employee understands.

Persons who need protection from novel influenza A viruses should wear appropriate PPE in addition to the PPE required for normal duties and other hazards (for example, waterproof apron, hearing protection). Appropriate PPE depends on a site-specific hazard assessment and the hazards identified. PPE may be required by OSHA standards found at 29 CFR part 1910, Subpart I (Personal Protective Equipment) and 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection). Even when not required, elements of these standards may be effective methods of protecting workers from influenza A viruses.

Enable the safe use of PPE

Safely put on and remove PPE

While wearing PPE

  • Inform workers to avoid touching themselves above their chest, especially eyes, mouth, or nose, especially after touching any contaminated material.
  • Inform workers not to eat, drink, touch their phones, smoke, vape, chew gum, dip tobacco, or use the bathroom until PPE has been removed.

After removing PPE

  • If possible, provide shower facilities so workers can shower at the end of the work shift and put on clean, uncontaminated clothing. If there are no shower facilities on site, instruct workers to clean up as much as possible, put on uncontaminated clothing, leave straight from work to shower, and put on clean clothing afterward.
  • Provide a location for workers to leave all contaminated clothing and equipment at work, to be cleaned there and not removed from the facility where it is used until cleaned and disinfected. Workers who work at multiple farms should have different equipment, PPE, and work clothing for each location.

Cleaning reusable PPE

  • Provide appropriate facilities, equipment, and supplies to properly clean reusable PPE. All reusable PPE should be set aside, then cleaned and disinfected after every use. Reusable PPE includes boot covers, boots, goggles, face shields, waterproof aprons, elastomeric half mask respirators, powered air purifying respirators, helmets/hard hats.
  • Generally, it is recommended that reusable respirators be cleaned and disinfected immediately after removing. Elastomeric components vary among manufacturers and react differently to cleaning and disinfection solutions and procedures. The respirator facepiece components such as facepiece, valves, and straps require maintenance including cleaning, disinfection, and inspection prior to reuse.
  • To clean and disinfect reusable PPE:
  1. Select an EPA registered disinfectant with label claims for avian influenza
  2. Clean reusable PPE until visible dirt is removed
  3. Disinfect reusable PPE according to the disinfectant and PPE manufacturer's instructions
  • Employers should launder washable PPE and other garments (for example, coveralls and clothing) onsite, when possible, following these instructions:
    • Wash laundry onsite with standard laundry detergent, and completely machine-dry at the highest temperature suitable for the material.
    • Wear disposable gloves and protective outerwear when handling soiled laundry.
    • Use separate storage and transport bins for clean and dirty laundry.
    • If no laundry facilities are onsite, clothing to be laundered at home should be transported in a plastic bag. It should be kept separate from household items, washed separately, and then thoroughly machine-dried at the highest temperature suitable for the material.
  • OSHA provides additional information on methods for preventing and reducing contamination on personnel and PPE.

PPE specifications to protect against novel influenza A viruses

When selecting and purchasing PPE, it is important to select items that provide the level of protection needed. This includes PPE that prevents novel influenza A viruses from coming in direct contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth, or being inhaled. The PPE should also protect the hair, skin, and clothing from contact with viruses that could later be transferred to the eyes, nose, or mouth and cause infection. The following information will help you select PPE that provides protection against novel influenza A viruses. You should consult the manufacturer or supplier to understand what specifications PPE meet. Search NIOSH PPE-Info for more information on these standards.

Respiratory protection: NIOSH Approved® particulate respirator

Any NIOSH Approved® particulate respirator is recommended, for example, an N95® or greater filtering facepiece respirator, elastomeric half mask respirator with a minimum of N95 filters, or powered air-purifying respirator with HE®, PAPR100-N®, or PAPR100-P® filters.

Detailed information on respiratory protection programs, including fit testing procedures, and appropriate respirator selection (for example, particulate vs. combination particulate/gas or vapor cartridge) can be accessed at OSHA's Respiratory Protection eTool. Combination cartridges may be needed when additional gas or vapor hazards such as cleaning chemicals or ammonia from waste products are present. Even when not required, the provisions in OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard are considered best practices for worker protection.

Workers should be trained on, and demonstrate an understanding of the following respiratory protection topics:

  • Conducting a proper user seal check, wearing, and use of respirators
  • Safe removal of respirators
  • Proper respirator storage
  • Safe disposal of disposable respirators
  • How and when to replace a respirator that is damaged, soiled, or causing noticeably increased breathing resistance
  • Cleaning and disinfection of, and recommended respirator cartridge change-out schedule for, reusable respirators
  • Medical contraindications to respirator use
  • Use of only NIOSH Approved® respirators

For information on NIOSH Approved® respirators see The Respiratory Protection Information Trusted Source.

Respirators are designed primarily to be used in workplaces by adults who are part of their employer's respiratory protection program. However, people working with poultry and livestock, including youth workers, may not be familiar with respirators. The risks and benefits of using respirators without proper training and fit testing are uncertain.

For a respirator to be most effective, it must form a seal on the face to keep particles from leaking around the edges. A tight seal should be achieved following the manufacturer's instructions when not fit-tested. Additionally, most respirators will be too big to form a proper seal for youth workers' faces, and some will be too big for people with smaller faces. Individuals who cannot wear a respirator that properly seals to the face should not work near animals confirmed or potentially infected with novel influenza A viruses. They also should not work with materials, including raw milk, that are confirmed or potentially contaminated with novel influenza A viruses.

Outer garments: Fluid-resistant coveralls or fluid-resistant sleeved apron, waterproof apron

CDC recommends disposable or washable fluid-resistant coveralls. Depending on tasks, an optional disposable or reusable waterproof apron can be used over the top of coveralls. Fluid-resistant coveralls protect the underlying clothing and skin from contamination with novel influenza A viruses. Waterproof aprons protect the coveralls and allow for easy removal of gross contamination during PPE removal.

In milking parlors where contamination from cows can only reach the worker from one side, a fluid-resistant coverall might be substituted with a fluid-resistant sleeved apron. However, milking parlors where cows line up on two or more sides that are relatively close together should not use this substitution because splashes could come from behind. It is important to train workers that this modification only provides partial body protection. It makes them more susceptible to transferring the virus from unprotected clothing through direct or indirect contact with their eyes, nose, or mouth, causing infection.

Preferably, fluid-resistant coveralls and sleeved aprons should be made of material that passes:

  • AATCC 42 ≤ 1 g and AATCC 127 ≥ 50 cm H2O or EN 20811 ≥ 50 cm H2O; or
  • ASTM F1670 (13.8 kPa); or
  • ISO 16603 ≥ 3.5 kPA

Eye protection: Safety goggles, face shield

CDC recommends properly fitted unvented or indirectly vented safety goggles. Preferably, safety goggles should conform to ANSI Z87.1 that is marked at least Z87 D3 that indicates protection from droplets and splashes. If safety goggles conforming to this standard are not available, goggles conforming to any ANSI Z87.1 standard are acceptable, but may not provide full droplet and splash protection.

If there is a high potential for a large amount of liquid splashing onto a filtering facepiece respirator (for example, splashing raw milk or exploding eggs), consider the use of a face shield over goggles and respirator to protect the eyes and respirator. When selecting a face shield, make sure it does not change the way the goggles or respirator fit.

Try to prevent fogging of goggles and face shields. A manufacturer's anti-fog coating may help maintain clear vision. Employers and workers should be aware that under certain conditions, some PPE can alter or decrease ability to see clearly and peripheral vision. Under these conditions, workers should work in pairs if possible. They should also pay close attention to their surroundings for hazards such as animal movement, clothing snags, cuts or punctures, and slips, trips, and falls.

Foot protection: Boot covers or boots

CDC recommends reusable boot covers or boots that can be cleaned and disinfected. Only consider using disposable boot covers in areas where they will remain intact. Disposable boot covers are highly susceptible to rips and tears in many agriculture environments.

Head and hair protection: Head cover or hair cover

CDC recommends a disposable head cover or hair cover. If hard hats are required for impact protection, they should be able to be cleaned and disinfected after each use. When selecting a hard hat, make sure it does not change the way the goggles or respirator fit.

Hand protection: Gloves, outer work gloves

CDC recommends disposable gloves with optional outer work gloves. Disposable gloves protect the hands from contamination with novel influenza A viruses. Outer work gloves (for example, gloves for cold protection, manual shoveling, handling live poultry) can be worn over the inner disposable gloves to protect the inner glove and the hands. Outer work gloves should be considered contaminated unless they are able to be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer's instruction and disinfectant product label.

Preferably, disposable gloves should conform to ASTM D5250 (vinyl examination gloves), ASTM D6319 (nitrile rubber examination gloves), or ASTM D6977 (chloroprene examination gloves). If thicker reusable gloves are required, rubber gloves should be waterproof and not have linings. Thicker gloves should be able to be cleaned and disinfected after each use. Use gloves conforming to ASTM D3578 (latex rubber examination gloves) as a last resort, as an employee may not know they have a latex allergy until a reaction occurs. If latex allergies are present, avoid latex.

Information on Hot Working Environments

Agricultural work is often carried out in hot and sometimes humid environments. Employers and workers should be aware that certain circumstances can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries, including:

  • Wearing PPE and certain clothing ensembles
  • Increased temperature and humidity
  • Increased physical activity

For example, PPE can reduce the wearer's exposure to fresh, cooling air; limit evaporation from skin; and decrease a worker's ability to drink and rehydrate. When work must be carried out in hot and/or humid environments, it is important to educate workers about symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and consider implementing additional controls to protect workers. These might include:

  • Provide training that covers both PPE and heat stress and explains to employees why the prescribed PPE is necessary while also discussing the risks of heat-related injury associated with wearing PPE.
  • Provide training on the symptoms, risk factors, first aid, and prevention of heat-related illnesses, and provide frequent reminders and messaging to reinforce the training.
  • Adjust shifts so that work can be completed in the coolest part of the day (for example, night shift), and suspend work when temperatures are too hot.
  • Modify work/rest schedules to increase frequency and duration of rest periods that provide workers enough time to safely remove PPE, cool down, and fully hydrate.
  • Provide a cool, shaded location for rest breaks with sufficient supply of potable <15°C (59°F) water and electrolyte packets or sports drinks if workers have been sweating for several hours.
  • Make cool, wet towels, cold packs, or wearable personal cooling systems (for example, ice vests) that can be applied to the skin available during rest breaks to aid in quicker, more efficient cooling.
  • Work with a healthcare provider to conduct screening of all workers for medical conditions and medications (including over the counter, herbal, and prescription) that would place them at increased risk of heat-related illness.
  • Ensure workers do not work alone and use the buddy system to observe one another for symptoms of heat-related illness.
  • Acclimatize new and returning employees by gradually increasing time working in hot conditions over 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Increase ventilation with cooler, drier outside air when possible. This can reduce the amount of novel influenza A viruses in the air and reduce the temperature and humidity. However, its value for evaporative cooling likely would be limited due to fluid-resistant PPE.

For more on this topic visit:

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool and AIHA Heat Stress App (Apple App Store and Google Play Store) are useful resources for planning outdoor work activities based on how hot it feels throughout the day.

N95 and NIOSH Approved are certification marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States and several international jurisdictions. HE, PAPR100-N, and PAPR100-P are certification marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States.

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)