October 31, 2001—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has included on its Web site an “OSHA Fact Sheet and References on Worker Health and Safety for Anthrax Exposure.” The page answers such questions as:
- What is Anthrax?
- Who Can be Exposed to Anthrax?
- How Can Employers Prevent and Control Exposure and Infection?
The OSHA site also contains information and resource links for health care employers and emergency responders, such as resources about how hospitals can plan and prepare for terrorist events.
Additional technical information about controls such as personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators) and decontamination to limit exposure and prevent secondary infection in the event that anthrax is released, can be found on links listed on the OSHA site.
For additional assistance about specific aspects of worker health and safety associated with potential anthrax exposure, OSHA recommends that people contact the following hotlines or helplines:
- To report suspicious letter or package: Call 911 (police), then contact your local FBI Field Office
- For vaccination information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccine Information National Immunization Hotline (English): 800/232-2522; (Spanish): 800/232-0233; US Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program Information Line: 877/438-8222 (877-GET-VAC). For state and local response planning:
- Department of Justice State & Local Domestic Preparedness Helpline: 800/368-6498, 9-6 EST (non-emergency technical assistance)
- Centers for Disease Control, Emergency Preparedness & Response Branch Hotline for State Health Officials: 770/488-7100 (24-hour line)
- Health and Human Services, Office of Emergency Preparedness, National Disaster Medical System: 301/443-1167 or 800/USA-NDMS
- To locate most state public health laboratories, and for general worker health and safety information: call OSHA: 800/321-OSHA (6742).
