overview

As of October 31, 2001, CDC issued interim recommendations to assist personnel in developing a comprehensive program to reduce potential cutaneous or inhalation exposures to B. anthracis spores among workers, including maintenance and custodial workers, in work sites where mail is handled or processed. Such work sites include post offices, mail distribution/handling centers, bulk mail centers, air mail facilities, priority mail processing centers, public and private mailrooms, and other settings in which workers are responsible for the handling and processing of mail.

These interim recommendations are based on the limited information available on ways to avoid infection and the effectiveness of various prevention strategies and will be updated as new information becomes available. These recommendations do not address instances where a known or suspected exposure has occurred. Workers should also be trained in how to recognize and handle a suspicious piece of mail. In addition, each work site should develop an emergency plan describing appropriate actions to be taken when a known or suspected exposure to Anthrax occurs.

These recommendations address engineering controls, administrative controls, housekeeping controls and personal protective equipment including respiratory protection.

EXCERPT FROM INTERIM CDC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WORKERS WHO MAY BE EXPOSED THROUGH INHALATION

Persons working with or near machinery capable of generating aerosolized particles (e.g., electronic mail sorters) or at other work sites, where such particles may be generated-should be fitted with NIOSH-approved respirators that are at least as protective as an N95 respirator.

Persons working in areas where oil mist from machinery is present should be fitted with respirators equipped with R or P-type filters.

Because facial hair interferes with the fit of protective respirators, workers with facial hair (beards and/or large moustaches) may require alternative respirators (such as powered air-purifying respirators [PAPRs] with loose-fitting hoods).

Workers who cannot be fitted properly with a half-mask respirator based on a fit test may require the use of alternative respirators, such as full facepiece, negative-pressure respirators, PAPRs equipped with HEPA filters, or supplied-air respirators. If a worker is medically unable to wear a respirator, the employer should consider reassigning that worker to a job that does not require respiratory protection.

In addition, the use of disposable aprons or goggles by persons working with or near machinery capable of generating aerosolized particles may provide an extra margin of protection.

In work sites where respirators are worn, a respiratory-protection program that complies with the provisions of OSHA [29CFR1910.134] should be in place. Such a program includes provisions for obtaining medical clearance for wearing a respirator and conducting a respirator fit-test to ensure that the respirator fits properly. Without fit testing, persons unknowingly may have poor face seals, allowing aerosols to leak around the mask and be inhaled. (See December 11, 1998, MMWR, available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00055954.htm

Reference

For additional CDC Health Alerts, Advisories, and Updates refer to: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/index.asp

WARNING: The information contained in this Tech Brief is dated and was accurate to the best of Moldex's knowledge, on the date above. It is not meant to be comprehensive, nor is it intended to be used in place of the warning/use instructions that accompany Moldex respirators. Outside of the USA, check with all applicable and local government regulations.

©2003-2010 Moldex-Metric, Inc. All Rights Reserved.