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Safety and Health Topics |
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In
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According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-third
of the world's population is infected with Tuberculosis (TB), which kills almost
2 million people
per year. TB causes more deaths than any other infectious agent in the world. In the mid-1980s, a resurgence of outbreaks in the United States brought
renewed attention to TB. An increase in high risk, immuno-suppressed individuals, particularly those infected with HIV,
lead to an increase in TB
cases. Drug-resistant strains of this deadly disease also contributed to the problem.
However, through a broad range of Federal and community initiatives, TB rates have declined steadily
over the past decade. The 14,097 TB cases
reported to
CDC for
2005 represented a 2.9%
decrease from 2004 and a 47% decrease from 1992, when the number of cases
and the case rate peaked during a resurgence in
the United States. Compared with
2004, the TB case rate in 2005 declined
3.8% to 4.8 per 100,000. OSHA
recognizes, however, that continued vigilance is necessary to maintain the gains
achieved so far. OSHA intends to provide guidance to workplaces with less
medical expertise and fewer resources than hospitals, and to use cooperative
relationships with employers, public health experts and other government
agencies to promote TB control.
The following questions link to information relevant to tuberculosis exposures in the workplace.
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What
OSHA standards apply?
Standards | Federal Registers | Directives | Standard Interpretations |
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How do I recognize
tuberculosis (TB) hazards? |
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What are some examples of possible solutions for workplace hazards?
General | Correctional Facilities | Elderly | Foreign-Born | More |
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What additional information is available?
Training | Other Resources |
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In Focus |
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