| Bioterrorism | ||
Bioterrorism is the intentional
or threatened use of an infectious agent (a virus or bacteria) or toxin
(e.g., botulinum toxin) to produce illness or death in people, animals,
or plants.
Employers and employees whose jobs would not ordinarily involve exposure to infectious agents could be exposed through acts of terrorism. Conventional thinking is that terrorists are likely to target places where large populations can be found such as large buildings, sporting events, or mass transit systems. Recent events have shown that there is a wider range of physical locations that could be targeted and this expands the range of employees who could be exposed.
If your workplace is a potential terrorism target the hazard should be included in your overall accident prevention program.
The following agencies have resources available to assist employers and employees in preparing for and responding to bioterror attacks.
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries |
Washington State Department of Health |
Northwest Center for Public Health Practice |
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) |
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) |