• ANTHRAX THREATS
• HELICOPTER SAFETY
• PROPPING OPEN OF DOORS
• SAFETY AT SEA
• STUDENT WORKSHOP
• TOOL SAFETY

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ANTHRAX THREATS

Background Information and Response Guidelines

BACKGROUND
The guidelines provided here are related to anthrax threats only and are not all inclusive but provide a reasonable variety of potential situations.

In recent years there have been an increasing number of incidents in which letters alleging to contain anthrax have been sent to health clinics, government offices and other locations. While all such incidents to date have proven to be hoaxes, the threat is real. All incidents must be treated as real until proven otherwise! This will minimize the risk in the event of a real incident and protect the crime scene.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Common features of previous anthrax threat letters included: no return address, excess postage, hand written or poorly typed address, misspelling of common words, restrictive marking such as "personal", "confidential", excessive weight or a feeling of a powdery substance. However, it cannot be assumed that future letters will appear at all out of the ordinary.

If a threat letter is received, remain calm! Even if the letter or package really does contain anthrax spores, you are not in immediate danger. Anthrax is not transmissible from person to person. If a suspicious letter or package is unopened and no material is leaking out, or if a letter or package is opened and no powder is contained within (but there is a claim of anthrax), the risk of contracting anthrax is extremely low.

WHAT IS ANTHRAX AND HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease infection which can occur in three forms: cutaneous (skin), the most common form, inhalation, and gastrointestinal.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ANTHRAX?
Symptoms usually occur within 7 days and vary depending on how the disease was contracted.
Cutaneous: Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump resembling an insect bite that develops into a vesicle within 1- 2 days and then a painless ulcer, usually 1- 3 cm in diameter, with a characteristic black necrotic center. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell. Deaths are rare with appropriate antibiotic treatment but occur in about 20% of untreated cases.
Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax results in death in greater than 90% of cases, unless promptly treated with appropriate antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin.)
Intestinal: Gastrointestinal anthrax, characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract, may follow the consumption of contaminated meat. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases.

IS THERE A TREATMENT FOR ANTHRAX? YES ...
Yes, antibiotic treatment should be initiated as soon as possible (Ciprofloxacin.) If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.

RESPONSE GUIDELINES
FOR THE PERSON(S) IMMEDIATELY EXPOSED

You have opened a letter or package that claims to contain anthrax and has powder inside the envelope. The powder may or may not have spilled out onto your desk, the floor, your hands or your clothing.

YOUR FIRST GOALS ARE TO RELAX, REMAIN CALM AND
CONTAIN THE CONTAMINATION AS FOLLOWS:

• Do not disturb the letter any further. Do not pass it around.
• Do not try to clean up the powder or brush it off your clothing.
  
• Stay in your office or immediate work area. This also applies to co- workers in the same room.
  
• Lock the door, if applicable, to prevent others from entering the area and becoming contaminated. Remember you are not in immediate danger.
  
• CALL FOR HELP. This may be to your supervisor, an in- house emergency /response (EOS Safety Committee members) or to 911 depending on your own situation. (SEE LIST OF CONTACTS BELOW)
  
• Keep your hands away from your face to avoid contaminating your eyes, nose or mouth.
  
• If possible (without leaving your workspace), wash your hands.
  
• If possible have the building ventilation system shut down and turn off any fans or equipment that is circulating air around your workspace. (SEE LIST BELOW FOR CONTACTS)
  
• Wait for help to arrive.
  

CONTACTS - EARTH & OCEAN SCIENCES
Any Safety Committee Member or the Departmental Safety Program Administrator

CONTACT - PLANT OPERATIONS (Land and Building Services)
(to shut down air-conditioning, etc.)
- Trouble Calls: 2-2173
- Facility Manager: Denise Toplis (Local: 2-0077; Cell: (604) 250-3883; E-mail: denise.toplis@ubc.ca )

CONTACT - UBC Health, Safety & Environment
T. Bruce Anderson (Biosafety Officer); http://www.safety.ubc.ca, E-mail: anderson@safety.ubc.ca; Phone: (604) 822-7596 Office; (604) 880-0711 Cell)

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HELICOPTER SAFETY

GENERAL

• Before helicopter operations begin, the ground crew should meet with the pilot of the helicopter to establish:
  • Plans and procedures to be used
  • Ground-to-helicopter communication systems
  • Corrective measures required to minimize risks of injury to workers
  • Limitations of the helicopter.
• Loose debris and trash must be removed from landing, hookup and service sites. Anything that can become airborne may strike the rotors or be sucked into the engine intake.
• Only workers authorized by their employer are permitted to work around helicopters.
• Emergency procedures involving helicopters must be regularly reviewed and practiced.

BOARDING AND DEPLANING

Approach Method - normally used on flat ground

• Stay well clear of the helicopter, but within the pilot's line of sight, until the helicopter has landed.
• Wait for a signal from the pilot to approach.
• Walk in a crouched position when approaching or leaving the helicopter as blade tips may come within 5 feet of the ground.
• Never approach or leave the helicopter from the rear or go near the tail rotor.
• Stay within the pilot's range of vision.

Wait Method - often used with sidehill helipads

• Crouch down at the front or side of helipad within pilot's range of vision.
• Wait for helicopter to settle and the pilot's signal before climbing onto helipad.
• When deplaning, crouch down and give all clear signal to the pilot and wait until the helicopter has flown away.

ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS

• Hold onto hard hats unless chinstraps are used.
• Do not smoke near the helicopter.
• Carry tools and equipment horizontally at or below waist level (never upright or over shoulder).
• Wear radio headsets designed to attenuate noise. If these are not available, use hearing protection.
• Follow pilot's instructions regarding seating and storage of cargo.
• Flammable or explosive materials must not be carried inside the helicopter.
• Tools and equipment must be secured before take-off.
• Never throw anything out of helicopters when in flight.
• Close doors gently and latch. Be sure that nothing is hanging out.
• Exit to low side and remain within pilot's range of vision.
• Carry all loose cargo out of the landing area and secure until helicopter has departed.

SLING WORK

• Cargo nets, slings, chokers and load lines must be inspected at frequent intervals.
• The pilot must be informed of the approximate weight of the load.
• Wear hard hats with chinstraps, eye protection, and high visibility clothing.
• Stay clear of areas where helicopter is landing sling loads.
• Stay within the pilot's range of vision at all times.
• Any synthetic sling used must be substantially shorter than the load line to prevent rebound into the rotors.

FUELING AREAS

Fueling areas must:

• be located on unused roads, landings or open areas well away from main traffic routes and regular landing and loading areas
• be large enough to accommodate the helicopter fuel truck, tanks and any other necessary equipment or vehicles
• be visibly identified, posted with "no smoking" signs and maintained free of open flames and flammable materials such as paper and cloth debris
• have fire fighting equipment readily available and properly maintained
• containers used to carry, transfer or store fuel in fueling areas must be properly grounded or bonded.

HELICOPTER PAD CONSTRUCTION

Helipads must be:

• able to safely support the weight of the helicopter
• long enough to allow the positioning of both skids in complete contact with the pad surface
• wide enough to allow approximately 2 feet of pad beyond each skid for worker access/egress (one step up into the helicopter or room to walk along the pad to reach ground level)
• effectively secured
• free of all loose debris which can be picked up by rotor-wash. All material around the pad must be secured to prevent dislodgment when the helicopter lands.
• marked with high visibility paint to direct the pilot's landing approach
• numbered with high visibility paint or otherwise marked to allow easy identification from the air. Ribbons must not be used.

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PROPPING OPEN OF DOORS & REMOVAL OF PET ROCKS FROM EOS MAIN AND SOUTH

It has been noted that a large number of rocks have been brought into both EOS MAIN and SOUTH in order to prop open doors.

THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS AND THE ROCKS WILL HAVE TO BE RETURNED TO THEIR NATURAL HABITAT.

Therefore, everyone is being asked to remove any rocks you happen to come across in the building (while avoiding lifting heavy loads!)

PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ADOPTING ANY MORE ROCKS AND BRINGING THEM INTO ANY OF THE EOS BUILDINGS!

Thanks for your cooperation

** SHOULD YOU NEED TO DISPOSE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF ROCKS SUCH AS THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH RESEARCH PROJECTS (i.e., ANYTHING OVER 2 KILOS), PLEASE SEE BRYON CRANSTON WHO WILL ADVISE YOU ON THE PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED.

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SAFETY AT SEA

THE DEPARTMENT OF EARTH & OCEAN SCIENCES ENDORSES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY AT SEA POLICY:

• An EOS Technician is to accompany students and other personnel who are unfamiliar with shipboard safety procedures, at least on their first field trip.
• All new personnel, including students, must be given a copy of the attached excerpt from the Coast Guard Familiarization Manual for Supernumeries on CCG Vessels as required reading before embarking on a sea voyage. (A complete copy of the Manual can be obtained from the EOS Main Office, 6339 Stores Road or from the CCG web site.)
• Once on board, the Deck Officer or EOS Technician will gather all personnel and explain the safety procedures and the operation of ship-board machinery.
• Safety apparel must be worn at all times. These include, but are not limited to, steel-toed boots when heavy gear is being used, a hard hat (with chin strap fastened), and a life jacket or floater coat.
• Fire station and abandon ship procedures are to be explained and actual drills performed when appropriate.
• Personnel must never work alone on deck at night, even under well-lit conditions.
• Personnel must be aware of moving lines and cables (particularly when under tension), overhead loads, and operating winches and cranes. These can pose dangerous situations and everyone on deck should stay well clear.

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STUDENT WORKSHOP

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TOOL SAFETY

Hand & Electric

Powder Actuated