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You can address your concerns to the IBT Safety and Health Department at (202) 624-6960, or ibtsafety@teamster.org.

The IBT Safety and Health Fact Sheet, Avian influenza (bird flu): Protecting workers from exposure addresses risks and protective measures for Teamster members in various occupations.

The following information on avian flu is available through several federal agencies, private-public collaboration, and international organizations:

• The official U.S. government website for information on pandemic and avian influenza includes information for Workers and Business & Industry.

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a website on Avian Flu, including publications, fact sheets, and quick cards for various occupations, both in English and Spanish.  The website includes the following publications:

OSHA Guidance Update for Protecting Workers against Avian Flu Viruses-English (Nov. 14, 2006),

OSHA Guidance Update for Protecting Workers against Avian Flu Viruses-Spanish (Nov. 14, 2006),

Avian Influenza: Protecting Poultry Workers at Risk (Dec. 13, 2004),

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides information for worker preparedness at Avian Influenza: Protecting Workers from Exposure.
• The United states Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Directive 6800.1, 5/10/06, Ensuring the Protection of Employees Involved in Highly Pathogenic Influenza Control and Eradication Activities, specifies APHIS policy to ensure the safety of employees engaged in highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) control and eradication activities. The policy is based on the degree of risk known to be associated with various levels and types of exposures to HPAI viruses and should be considered complementary to avian disease control and eradication strategies as determined by State government, industry, or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

• The Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) Avian Influenza Joint Task Force, a joint effort of the public sector and private poultry companies, has developed a document, Interim Guidance for Implementation of CDC and OSHA Avian Influenza Recommendations (Oct. 17, 2005). This document provides practical guidance related to human AI infection prevention and control, including related to training of workers, basic infection control, use of personal protective equipment, decontamination measures, vaccine and antiviral use, surveillance for illness, and appropriate evaluation of persons who become ill.
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has online resources for various occupational groups,
  • For protection of health-care workers involved in the care of patients in the United States with known or suspected avian influenza A (H5N1), see

Avian Influenza: Resources for Health Professionals,

• CDC provides guidance for protection of persons involved in activities to control and eradicate outbreaks of avian influenza among poultry in the United States. Activities that could result in exposure to avian influenza-infected poultry include euthanasia, carcass disposal, and cleaning and disinfection of premises affected by avian influenza. See CDC’s Interim Guidance for Protection of Persons Involved in U.S. Avian Influenza Outbreak Disease Control and Eradication Activities.
• For airline flight crews and personnel who must interact with persons suspected of having H5N1 avian influenza, see the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Airline Flight Crews and Persons Meeting Passengers Arriving from Areas with Avian Influenza.
• For personnel who clean, maintain, or remove baggage/packages from commercial and cargo airlines about appropriate precautions related to avian influenza A (H5N1), see Guidelines and Recommendations:  Interim Guidance for Airline Cleaning Crew, Maintenance Crew, and Baggage/Package and Cargo Handlers for Airlines Returning from Areas Affected by Avian Influenza A (H5N1).

·         The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries has a website on Pandemic and Avian Influenza.

• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s website on Avian Influenza provides information on biosecurity, safe food handling, contact information for State Departments of Agriculture, Wildlife, and Public Health, etc.
• For additional biosecurity guidelines, consult the State biosecurity websites.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the global response to human cases of H5N1 avian influenza and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic. Information on this page tracks the evolving situation and provides access to both technical guidelines and information useful for the general public.