Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CUTS

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27(a)(3a)(1): The employer did not furnish to each of its employees employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to its employees and which will provide reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, safety or health of its employees: a.)Employees of the Town of East Greenbush were exposed to the hazard of being infected with the rabies virus through possible direct contact with saliva of rabid animals (eg, raccoons, fox, opossum, cats, dogs or others) being introduced into open cuts or wounds in the skin or via mucous membranes which can occur when Department of Public Works workers pick up and remove road kill or other dead animals. The employer had not developed and implemented an effective rabies control training program dealing with, but not necessarily limited to, the proper handling practices of removing road kill; the personal protective equipment needed; the etiology and modes of transmission of the disease; decontamination of equipment and personal hygiene (hand washing); avoidance of animal/saliva contact; and follow-up procedures in the event of an exposure incident.s