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Page last reviewed: 11/20/2006 |
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- Anthrax.
OSHA eTool. Discusses anthrax topics, including who is at risk for anthrax exposure and what to do in case of an anthrax threat.
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Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is the intentional use of micro-organisms to
bring about ill effects or death to humans, livestock, or crops. The use of
micro-organisms to cause disease is a growing concern for public health
officials and agricultural bodies. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001
and the subsequent bio-terrorist releases of anthrax have led to an increased
awareness of workplaces as possible terrorist targets. Specific OSHA Safety and
Health Topics Pages are
available on Plague,
Ricin,
Smallpox,
Tularemia and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
(VHFs). There is also an OSHA Anthrax
eTool.
There are currently no
specific OSHA standards or directives for bioterrorism.
OSHA Standards
This section highlights OSHA
standards, preambles to final rules (background to final rules) and directives (instructions for
compliance officers) related to bioterrorism. For additional information, see the
Emergency Preparedness and Response Safety and Health Topics Page.
Note:
Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have
OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and
enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that
are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different
standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement
policies.
General Industry (29
CFR 1910)
Construction Industry (29 CFR
1926)
- 1926 Subpart
D, Occupational health and environmental
controls
- 1926.65,
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
Preambles to Final Rules
Directives
Hazard Recognition
Due to the potential exposure to deadly
micro-organisms a bioterrorism incident poses a considerable health risk to
those exposed and "first responders". These responders may include public health
officials, law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and the military. There are an unlimited number of potential biological agents that could be used in bioterrorism attacks, although some are more
deadly and likely to be used than others. Biological agents include bacterial agents, toxins, and viruses.
The following links provide information about
recognizing bioterrorism hazards. For more information about specific agents,
see OSHA's Anthrax
eTool and Botulism,
Plague,
Ricin,
Smallpox,
Tularemia, and
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)
Safety and Health Topics Pages.
-
Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases. Centers for Disease
Control (CDC). Provides an A-Z listing of biological agents with bioterrorist
potential. Includes
links to fact sheets for many of the agents.
- Recognition
of Illness Associated with the Intentional Release of a Biologic Agent.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) 50(41);893-7, (2001, October 19). Provides guidance to healthcare and laboratory workers
in identifying a bioterrorism-related disease outbreak.
- Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, Seventh Edition [2 MB PDF, 254 pages]. US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), (2011, September). Contains specific information on a number of potential bioterrorist agents.
- Defense Against Toxin Weapons [230 KB
PDF, 60 pages]. US Army Medical Research Institute
of Infectious Diseases, (1997). Discusses many biological
toxins, including ricin, botulisum, and others.
- "Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism." Emerging Infectious
Diseases
5.4(1999, July-August). Contains
articles on a wide range of issues related to bioterrorism.
- Kozayrn, Linda B. "Knowledge Key to Combating Chemical, Biological Warfare." American Forces Information Service News
Articles. Advises service members to be aware of and educate
themselves about the growing chemical-biological threat.
Emergency Response
The following references detail the development of methods to determine exposure to biological
agents; provide first response information; and link to federal, state, and local contact
information in the event of an emergency.
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Biological and Chemical Terrorism: Strategic Plan for Preparedness
and Response -- Recommendations of the CDC Strategic Planning Workgroup.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (MMWR) 49(RR04);1-14, (2000, April 21). Outlines steps to improve
public health and health-care response in the case of a biological/chemical
attack.
- Emergency Preparedness and Response: Report an Emergency.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Provides
links for local health departments; as well as emergency contacts and procedures
for health departments, health-care workers, and emergency responders.
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Emergency Preparedness and Response: Preparation and Planning. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). Includes national, state, and local-level
strategies for preparation and planning for bioterrorist events.
- Interim Bioterrorism Readiness Plan Suggestions. Association
for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC),
Bioterrorism Working Group, (2002, April). Summarizes suggestions by APIC Bioterrorism Advisors,
infection control practitioners (ICPs),
members, and agency liaisons to facilitate preparation of bioterrorism readiness
plans for individual and regional institutions.
- Annas, George J. "Bioterrorism,
Public Health, and Civil Liberties." New England
Journal of Medicine 346.17(2002, April 25): 1337-1342. Discusses possible government responses to bioterrorism
and how they would affect public health policy/practice and civil
liberties.
- Hawley, Robert J., and Edward M. Eitzen, Jr. "Biological
Weapons - A Primer for Microbiologists." Annual Review of
Microbiology 55(2001, October): 235-253. Provides background on bioterrorism and discusses
decontamination, protective measures and other key response issues.
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Hospitals and Community Emergency Response – What You Need to Know. OSHA Publication 3152, (1997).
Assists hospitals in preparing for response to an emergency. It presents legal requirements,
preplanning and training recommendations, relevant standards and some additional resources.
Control
Due to the time lapse between exposure and the
onset of symptoms following a bioterrorist attack, such attacks are
difficult to determine and control. With the rapid transit network in
the US, people could be exposed in one area and then return home
before developing symptoms, potentially
exposing hundreds of other people. The following references provide
ways to prepare for responding to a bioterrorist attack, including
state and federal disease surveillance and epidemiology, stockpiling
vaccine for emergency use, mass vaccination of first responders, and
training for medical personnel.
- Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-139, (2002, May).
Identifies actions that a building owner or manager can implement without
undue delay to enhance occupant protection from an airborne chemical, biological, or radiological attack.
- Public health response to biological and chemical weapons: WHO guidance.
World Health Organization (WHO), (2004). Addresses public health issues surrounding a chemical/biological
attack, and provides risk management
principles for planning a response to such an attack. Also describes international sources of
assistance.
- Biological Warfare: A Nation at Risk – A Time to Act [413 KB PDF, 6 pages]. National Defense University,
Institute for National Strategic Studies No. 58, (1996, January).
Provides insights on the prospect of biological warfare. Examines the issue from the perspective of
US enemies. Suggests what preparation needs to be done in the future
in defense against bioterrorism.
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Bioterrorism Readiness Plan: A Template for Healthcare Facilities [95 KB PDF, 34 pages].
Association for Professionals in
Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) Bioterrorism Task Force and CDC Hospital Infections Program Bioterrorism Working Group, (1999, April 13).
Aids individual healthcare institutions in the preparation of bioterrorism readiness plans.
- "Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism." Emerging Infectious
Diseases
5.4(1999, July-August). Contains
articles on a wide range of issues related to bioterrorism.
- Kaufman, Arnold F., Martin I. Meltzer, and George P. Schmid. "The Economic Impact of a Bioterrorist Attack: Are Prevention and Postattack Intervention Programs Justifiable?"
Emerging Infectious
Diseases
3.2(1997, April-June). Includes cost analyses of bioterrorist attacks with
Bacillus anthracis, Brucella melitensis,
and Francisella tularensis.
- Secretary Thompson Testifies on Bioterrorism Preparedness. US Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), (2001, October
3). Includes statements made by DHHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson before the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies concerning
bioterrorism preparedness.
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HHS Accelerates Bioterrorism Research. US Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), National Institutes of Health, (2001, December
6). Provides information regarding initiatives to accelerate bioterrorism research and help
strengthen the nation's ability to deal with the public health threat posed by bioterrorism.
Preparedness for Bioterrorism
Additional Information
Related Safety and Health Topics
Pages
Other Resources
- Emergency Preparedness and Response. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
-
Center
for Biosecurity. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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Products. Iowa State University (ISU), Center for Food Security and
Public Health. Includes both human and animal disease
information in fact sheets, wall charts, PowerPoint presentations,
and other resources.
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.
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