At a glance
Use the hierarchy of controls to prioritize control solutions to occupational hazards. In addition to elimination, engineering, and personal protective equipment (PPE), administrative controls can protect workers from Histoplasma. Below are examples of different administrative controls available to prevent histoplasmosis exposure by level.
Administrative Controls
Posting health risk warnings
Areas known or suspected to be contaminated with Histoplasma should be posted with signs to warn people of the health risk. These might include:
- Bird or bat roosts
- Attics
- Buildings that contain accumulations of bat or bird droppings
Each sign should provide the name and telephone number of a person to contact with questions about the area. In some situations, fences or locks may be needed to prevent people from entering.
Hazard communication and training
Before starting an activity that could disturb any material that might be contaminated by Histoplasma, workers should understand:
- The potential risks
- How to protect themselves
Employers should inform and train workers on potential work hazards and associated safe practices, procedures, and protective measures. A written hazard communication program about histoplasmosis should include:
- What histoplasmosis is and what causes it
- Signs and symptoms of histoplasmosis
- Treatment for histoplasmosis
- Risk factors for developing symptomatic histoplasmosis
- Where Histoplasma lives
- Jobs and activities with risks for Histoplasma exposure
- How to prevent Histoplasma exposure