HAZARDS/International Federation of Journalists

ANTHRAX

Find below links to union guidance, medical factsheets and press releases on anthrax.

USA Protecting Workers from Anthrax Infection Response from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.more

USA NIOSH factsheet Protecting Workers from Anthrax Infection: Response from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. more

USA Department of Labor "Now, more than ever, we must work together to protect the health of our employees." US Department of Labor Secretary Chao. DOL News Release

USA CDC How to handle anthrax and other biological agent threats [12 October 2001] Many facilities in communities around the country have received anthrax threat letters. Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances. The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for handling such incidents.more

USA CDC Recognition of illness associated with the intentional release of a biologic agent [19 October 2001]. here

USA OSHA Anthrax e-tool The US Department of Labor safety arm's webpages give advice on how to protect the workplace from the use of anthrax as a biological warfare agent. more

UK UNISON information sheet: How to handle anthrax and other biological agents [October 2001]
A small number of workplaces around the country have received anthrax threat letters. Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery substances. At present there have been no incidents of deliberate release of Anthrax in the UK. The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for handling such incidents. information sheet

UK Communication Workers Union (CWU) advice to local unions. here

CANADA CAW advice sheet. here

GLOBAL ILO Recommendations, information and links. here

GLOBAL Nature special The latest scientific information about anthrax and other potential bioweapons.here

USA New York State Department of Health communicable disease fact sheet. here

UK BBC anthrax fact file. here

UK BBC anthrax questions and answers. here

SMALLPOX

US RESOURCES • US GOVT WEBSITE

US RESOURCES

AFSCME smallpox guide The Bush Administration has announced its smallpox vaccination policy that will initially call for voluntary vaccination of 500,000 to one million health care workers. A second wave of vaccinations would include up to an additional 10 million health care and other emergency responders. US public sector union AFSCME has prepared an update on Smallpox: The disease, the vaccine, safety and workplace issues.
AFSCME guide

CWA Smallpox vaccination factsheet here

US department of health and human services
Smallpox webpage here