The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has unveiled new safety and health guidance for protecting workers from avian flu. The new document, which updates avian flu guidance by OSHA in 2004, alerts employees and employers about the hazards of occupational exposure to avian influenza from infected birds and provides practical recommendations on ways to avoid infection.
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The guidance provides separate recommendations for poultry employees and those who handle other animals, and for laboratory employees, healthcare personnel, food handlers, travelers, and U.S. employees stationed abroad. The primary focus of the guidance is on good hygiene, including using gloves and hand washing, as well as respiratory protection for those who work with infected animals or individuals.
The guidance also includes useful links to websites with additional information, and a list of technical articles and resources, including a history on flu pandemics, symptoms and outcomes of various strains of the avian flu, a summary of the bird importation regulations, and details on the transmission of the virus.
The new guidance is available on OSHA’s website
Additional Resource:
Health and Safety: The Avian Flu Scare—15 Ways Employers Can Prepare Early