Photography on CDC Facilities
General Administration: CDC-113
Date of Issue: 08/22/2005
Proponents: Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness; Office of Enterprise Communication; National Center for Health Marketing
I. PURPOSE
National security concerns necessitate that strict controls and prohibitions be placed on the photography and filming of the interior or exterior of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[1] buildings and facilities.
This policy establishes permissions and prohibitions for still photographing, filming, or videotaping CDC buildings and facilities. This policy applies to all CDC employees, contractors, and visitors at all locations and sites, both owned and leased.
Because of the sensitive nature of much of the work performed at CDC locations, and in the interest of ensuring the continued security at CDC facilities, it is necessary to limit photography and visual and audio recording of CDC facilities from within the confines of CDC property.
II. ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS
A. For the purpose of this policy, the following abbreviations and acronyms apply:
- NCHM – National Center for Health Marketing
- NCPHI– National Center for Public Health Informatics
- OEC– Office of Enterprise Communication
- OD – Office of the Director
- OHS – Office of Health and Safety
- OSEP – Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness
- PDA– personal digital assistant
B. For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions apply:
- Contractors – Personnel performing specific contractual services on-site or off-site in the furtherance of CDC’s mission.
- Employee – Persons employed by CDC (either civil service or Commissioned Corps).
- Photography – any visual recording, using film or digital means, either still or moving.
- Photographic equipment – any device used to create a visual reproduction of an item. This includes, but is not limited to, digital and film cameras, either still or moving, cellular picture phones, and PDAs.
- Photographic media – refers to the means used to capture and store an image. This includes, but is not limited to, film, memory sticks, videocassettes, and floppy disks.
- Visitor – any person other than those listed in 1 or 2 above granted access to CDC/ATSDR facilities (including guest researchers).
III. POLICY
All photography of the interior or exterior of CDC buildings and facilities from within the confines of CDC property is prohibited unless one or more of the following conditions has been fulfilled:
- The photography is taking place within the confines of the Global Communications Center, the CDC Press Room or the Global Health Odyssey located on the Roybal Campus.
- The OEC, or the NCHM, and OSEP, Physical Security Branch, have approved the photography and the locations to be photographed. Employees from the OEC, and/or the NCHM or OSEP (or dedicated CDC media relations/communication personnel), must accompany the individual or group doing the photography throughout their visit.
- For lab photography, the requesting party shall also receive approval from OHS and the responsible authority for the specific lab. When this approval is granted, OSEP and the OEC, or the NCHM, will concur and make recommendations as identified in the first paragraph.
- The photography is part of the official job/duties of the CDC staff photographers and/or the staff of CDC Connects.
While photography of CDC buildings and facilities from outside the confines of the campus is discouraged and individuals engaging in such behavior may be challenged, CDC cannot prohibit this practice.
At all CDC locations, security personnel will be responsible for ensuring that individuals do not bring photographic devices onto CDC facilities without proper approval. Individuals who do bring photographic equipment and/or photographic media onto CDC facilities should realize that such items will be subject to confiscation at any time during the visit. This restriction does not apply to individuals who meet the conditions identified in Section IV or those in Section V.
Signage will be posted at all entrances to CDC facilities notifying employees, contractors, and visitors of the prohibition on photography.
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES
This section details the responsibilities of noted individuals and organizations regarding this policy.
A. OSEP, Physical Security Branch (Atlanta Area), or Safety Officer/Emergency Coordinator (outside Atlanta), responsibilities related to photography on CDC facilities
- Provide decisions on requests for photography and locations to be photographed in coordination with the, NCHM or OEC.
- Escort visitors and other photographers through locations being photographed.
- Post signage announcing restrictions on photography.
- Ensure that individuals do not bring unauthorized photographic equipment or photographic media onto CDC facilities, or do not do so without proper approval.
- Take possession of photographic equipment and/or photographic media where unauthorized use is suspected (e.g., photography of sensitive areas or materials).
B. Office of Enterprise Communication,* OD, responsibilities related to photography on CDC facilities
- Approve requests for photography with OSEP.
- Approve locations to be photographed with OSEP.
- Take photographs, etc., per exemptions listed in Section VI, such as a CDC employee taking photographs as part of his or her official duties.
- Designate additional media relations/communication staff to escort visitors and other photographers through locations being photographed.
C. Division of Health Communication or Division of Creative Services, NCHM responsibilities related to photography on CDC facilities
- Approve requests for photography with OSEP.
- Approve locations to be photographed with OSEP.
- Take photographs, etc., per exemptions listed in Section VI, such as a CDC employee taking photographs as part of his or her official duties.
- Designate additional media relations/communication staff to escort visitors and other photographers through locations being photographed.
D. Supervisors’ responsibilities related to photography on CDC facilities.
- Assume responsibility for exemptions listed in Section V, such as photography made during social events, birthdays, etc., by colleagues and made in a conference room or other non-sensitive common areas.
- Ensure that employees, contractors and visitors adhere to guidelines delineated in policy, including:
- Securing prior approval for photographic devices to be brought onto CDC’s campus by their employees.
- Verifying that photographs are not taken at unauthorized locations.
- Informing employees that OSEP may remove photographic devices at any time.
- Informing employees that violations of restrictions on photography locations, types of photographic devices, and employees allowed to take photographs, may be cause for disciplinary action.
E. Employees' responsibilities related to photography on CDC facilities.
- Understand and abide by guidelines of this policy.
- Take photographs only as allowed by this policy, including:
- Photographing allowed in Global Health Odyssey and CDC Press Room by approved personnel.
- Photographing allowed in other CDC areas with approval of OSEP, OEC, or the NCHM, and supervisor’s permission.
- Understanding that photographs may be made by other employees during social events, birthdays, etc., but only in conference rooms or non-sensitive common areas.
- Understanding that OSEP may take possession of photographic devices at any time, if unauthorized use is suspected (e.g., photography of sensitive areas or materials).
V. Exemptions
Photography as part of a CDC employee’s[2] official duties (i.e., CDC staff still photographers, videographers and/or the staff of CDC Connects), and the equipment necessary for such, are exempt from the provisions of this policy. However, all photography taken as part of an employee’s official duties must be at the permission of the OEC, OD or the Division of Health Communications or Division of Creative Services, NCHM.
Photographs taken by colleagues at retirements or other social events, will be allowed if the photographs are taken in a conference room or other non-sensitive common areas.
All other requests for exemption will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be granted only under certain circumstances and with appropriate approval by OSEP.
To request permission to take photographs, contact the OEC or the Division of Health Communications or Division of Creative Services, NCHM.
[1] References to CDC also apply to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
* Approval may be granted by either OEC or NCHM along with OSEP.
[2] Does not include contractors, guest researchers, or other long-term visitors.