Health Hazard Evaluations (HHE) at Coffee Processing Facilities

A severe lung disease called obliterative bronchiolitis occurred in five workers at a coffee processing facility that roasted, ground, and flavored coffee. Two of the cases were summarized in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (MMWR 62(16):304-307). NIOSH investigators recently published an article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine about a health hazard evaluation at this facility (AJIM 2015;58(12):1235-1245). NIOSH is working with a number of coffee processing facilities through the HHE Program. NIOSH HHE investigators have developed a coffee processing webpage with interim recommendations; these recommendations may change as we learn more over the coming year.