Evaluation of Potential Employee Exposures During Crime and Death Investigations at a Country Coroner's Office

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a health hazard evaluation (HHE) request from managers at a county coroner's office in Ohio. The request concerned possible health hazards associated with work practices in several sections including the autopsy suite of the coroner's office during post-mortem examinations and various sections of the crime laboratory during the analysis of evidence related to criminal investigations. We evaluated the facility on October 7, 2011; October 20, 2011; and January 10-12, 2012.