August 1998
The Director - Features
Turberculosis Risk Update -- Are embalmers at greater risk?
In an effort to discover any evidence that embalmers have a greater risk of contracting tuberculosis than other professionals, a risk assessment study, funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health and NFDA, was conducted at the NFDA Convention in Nashville, TN, in October 1994. The study involved risk assessment questionnaires completed by a number of convention attendees and tuberculin testing.
Tuberculosis Risk Update—Are embalmers at greater risk?, gives a synopsis of the results of the study. The article supplies safety recommendations specifically for funeral home employees regarding tuberculosis prevention. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration may react to this study by specifically including funeral service employees in its proposed Tuberculosis Standard draft and its requirements, including respirator and ventilation requirements.
The article was written by Edward M. Ranier, Lord & Whip, Baltimore, MD. Ranier is NFDA's specialty counsel for occupational safety and health.
