Protecting the Outdoor Worker: Vector-Borne Diseases         Instructor: ADOSH Trainer Jenny Mandeville

Arizona is the home to the Aedes aegypti mosquito that can potentially carry 3 serious diseases, Zika, Dengue, and Chikunguya.  Also the Culex mosquito makes Arizona it's home, and it carries West Nile Virus, Yellow Fever and St Louis Encephalitis.  These serious diseases can be be debilitating, and even cause death. 

Signs and Symptoms of the vector-borne diseases will be presented to help employers and employees understand the onset of the diseases and when to isolate themselves from others to help prevent the spread.  Complications such as Guillain Barre Syndrome and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever will be discussed.

Employers have a duty to assess the workplace for hazards that are likely to cause serious injury, illness or even death. Once the hazard is identified, the employer must determine if controls can  be applied to protect the employee from the hazard. The heirarchy of controls demands that first engineering controls be considered, then administrative or work practice controls and lastly, personal protective equipment.

What can be done to help protect employees from these vector-borne diseases?  A lively discussion on the topic will help employers understand their responsibility and some of the safeguards that can be implemented.

A CD with training resources will be distributed to each attendee so that each can take back the information and train their own employees.