(A-2) Emergency Response: (7) What personal protective equipment is recommended for emergency responders in the event of a suspected anthrax threat? The type of personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for effective protection depends on different response situations, what is known or unknown about the situation, and the potential risk. Please be aware that emergency response to an anthrax spore release is covered by the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER), so the PPE that is selected and used must be consistent with the standard. The standard is performance-oriented and requires the selection and use of PPE to be proportional to the anticipated risk of exposure and appropriate to the nature of the anticipated hazard.?Recent releases and contamination have generally been associated with mail sent through the US Postal Service (USPS). When mail-handling equipment has already been locked and tagged out, thus providing a reliable assurance that anthrax will not be reaerosolized due to equipment start-up or operation, workers responding to these types of releases have worn modified Level C protection with a full-face tight-fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR). However, activities which may result in spore release, such as removal of a suspect contaminated mail item, or after releases where the agent or method of disbursal is unknown, and/or the release is ongoing will require higher levels of protection.?OSHA's recommendations concerning prudent work practices and PPE for emergency responders are addressed in?Anthrax in the Workplace?Risk Reduction Matrix. (8) For those security personnel who may be asked to secure a room or area because of potential contamination:?What personal protective equipment should be supplied and worn? What should such personnel do to prevent access to that area or prevent exposed persons from leaving the area? If an exposure to anthrax spores is suspected, proper emergency response protocols should be followed. Individuals not specifically trained to handle situations involving anthrax should not be in or near the potentially contaminated area. Emergency responders should secure affected areas.?If security personnel secure the area they are considered emergency responders. Depending on the tasks that they are likely to perform, these individuals may be first responders at either the "awareness" or "operations" level. See the responses to?Question #1?and?Question #2?for information regarding the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Security personnel who will not take any actions other than to cordon off the affected area and/or initiate the emergency response sequence are considered "first responders at the awareness level." Security personnel who are required to close doors, physically isolate the area, or take any other defensive action are considered "first responders at the operations level".?For additional information about emergency responders and training levels, please refer to?Inspection Procedures for 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65, Paragraph (q): Emergency Response to Hazardous Substance Releases. OSHA Directive CPL 02-02-073, (2007, August 27). Also available as a 444 KB?PDF, 119 pages. Updates enforcement procedures for compliance officers who need to conduct inspections of emergency response operations. It defines additional terms and expands on training requirements for emergency responders and other groups such as skilled support personnel. This OSHA instruction revises CPL 02-02-059, issued April 24, 1998. (A-3) Mail-Related Work Practices: (9) It is standard procedure for the post office employees to use compressed air to clean the mail processing machines (address/zip code reader optics). Is this acceptable? If not, what cleaning method is acceptable? The US Postal Service (USPS) has banned the use of compressed air ("blowout") as a method of machine maintenance because compressed air has a high risk potential for aerosolizing anthrax spores.?Other employers should also avoid practices like dry sweeping and blowing off machinery with compressed air; instead employers should use wet-clean, mop, or vacuum methods. When vacuuming mail handling and sorting equipment is chosen, an industrial vacuum that is equipped with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter should be used. Do not use a standard industrial vacuum or a "HEPA" equipped home-style vacuum.?Additionally, proper procedures and work practices should be followed during maintenance of machinery in order to protect workers from other potential injuries.?(10) Should mail-handling facilities take air and/or surface samples for traces of anthrax? No. Routine sampling is not recommended, unless an employer has a reason to suspect that anthrax contamination has occurred. If there is a suspected exposure or contamination, established emergency response procedures must be followed.?(11) What is the safest way to handle individual letters or packages? Be on the lookout for suspicious envelopes or packages. (11.1) DO NOT open suspicious mail. (11.2) Open all mail with a letter opener or other method that minimizes skin contact with the mail and is least likely to disturb contents. (11.3) Open mail with a minimum amount of movement. (11.4) DO NOT blow into envelopes. (11.5) DO NOT shake or pour out contents. (11.6) Keep hands away from nose and mouth while working with and opening mail. (11.7) While opening mail, turn off fans, portable heaters, and other equipment that may create air currents. (11.8) Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling mail. (11.9) More information is available in OSHA's?Workplace Response to Anthrax Threat: OSHA Recommendations for Handling Mail. (12) What do I do if I come across a suspicious piece of mail? (12.1) DO NOT open the package or letter. (12.2) DO NOT shake, empty, or otherwise disturb its contents. (12.3) Put the package down and do not handle it further. (12.4) DO NOT touch or try to clean up the substance. (12.5) Alert others nearby. (12.6) DO NOT remove ANY items from area. (12.7) Leave the area and gently close the door. (12.8) Wash hands well with soap and water. (12.9) Contact your supervisor, designated responder or other appropriate authority. (12.10) Limit movements within the building to prevent spread of substance. (A-4) Employee Exposure: (13) Is an employer obligated to pay for pre-exposure anthrax tests (i.e. blood, titer, etc.)? Employers are not legally required to offer or pay for anthrax exposure tests. Employees may wish to contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to obtain information about low-cost or no-cost testing and treatment at (404) 639-3534.?(14) Should I visit my doctor if I have a fever, congestion, or flu-like symptoms? If you have not been present in an area where there is a potential for exposure to anthrax spores, the chance of anthrax infection is remote, and antibiotic therapy is usually not indicated. Anthrax is not spread by person-to-person contact. Therefore, there are no recommendations to immunize or treat contacts of persons with clinical anthrax illness, such as household contacts, friends, or coworkers, unless they were also exposed to the same source of infection.?The CDC recommends the anthrax vaccine for employees working in laboratories involved in testing for anthrax, workers who decontaminate sites known to be contaminated with anthrax, and workers who typically work in areas with high naturally occurring concentrations of anthrax (e.g., wool-sorters).?Further information may be obtained on-line at the CDC's?Emergency Preparedness and Response; or CDC's newly established toll-free CDC Public Response Hotline. For English, call (888) 246-2675.?(15) Should I get an anthrax vaccination? At this time, vaccination against anthrax for the general public to prevent disease is not recommended. Further information can be obtained on-line at CDC's Anthrax: Prevention - Vaccine?page. (16) Should I start taking preventive antibiotics? The CDC strongly recommends against the use of preventive antibiotics for the general population. Unless there is strong or compelling evidence to suggest that you may have been exposed to anthrax, you should not take preventive antibiotics. However, if you are concerned, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider.?(17) What types of businesses would be expected to prepare for terrorist attacks? Terrorist activity is unpredictable, though current anthrax contamination has been primarily isolated to mail handling facilities. For more information regarding potential anthrax exposures in a workplace, refer to OSHA's?Anthrax in the Workplace?Risk Reduction Matrix. See more from topic source: https://www.osha.gov/html/a-z-index.html