USA - Avian Influenza Conference: Protecting Avian Influenza Responders
An avian influenza (AI) response could involve emergency responders, skilled support personnel, veterinarians, personnel from Federal agencies and State departments of agriculture, employees from private industry, and State and local public-health workers.
In an effort to increase preparedness among emergency responders for this potential threat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Worker Education and Training Program (WETP) are jointly sponsoring an Avian Influenza conference, entitled, Protecting Avian Influenza Responders. The conference will be held on September 16-19, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Maryland. An evening conference reception will be held on Monday, September 17, 2007. Registration for this conference ends on Friday, August 31, 2007.
This conference will bring together agencies and organizations that may be involved in an AI response to discuss, coordinate, and participate in a practice exercise for such an incident. The following issues will be addressed and discussed:
• Improving incident communications among participating organizations and agencies (as it relates to health and safety) including injury and illness reporting and surveillance;
• Testing proposed health and safety plans and training programs;
• Identifying shortfalls or needs to ensure that responders are empowered through education and personal protective equipment to conduct their duties in a manner that will prevent acute and chronic injury to themselves, coworkers, and the public; and
• Identifying hazards associated with the AI response and methods to control their impact on responders.
Addressing and keeping as a priority the health and safety of responders will ensure that these possible outcomes are addressed and prevented:
• Responder physical injury from biologic and physical hazards;
• Responder mental injury from duties associated with remediation; and
• The public's physical and mental health; and
• Any adverse economic impact that could result from inadvertent migration of the biologic agent from the work zone by responders.
Addressing these issues will facilitate the rapid control and remediation of the incident; increase efficient use of resources; reduce redundancy of activities; and increase public confidence while ensuring the protection of all parties involved in an AI response.
AGENDA
Sunday (September 16), Evening
Early registration
Monday (September 17), Day 1
8:30-9:00 Welcome
USDA & NIEHS
9:00-9:30 Keynote Speaker
9:30 – 10:30 APHIS Veterinary Services
A historic perspective of APHIS’ response to Avian Influenza outbreaks including case examples from 2004 to present will be presented. Information will be shared on the APHIS Veterinary Services Worker Health and Safety program in the eastern and western regional office and at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and information on the APHIS Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services worker health and safety services.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45 – 12:00 Various APHIS agencies presentations
Insight into USDA/APHIS’ perspective as lead coordinating agency to an avian outbreak will be shared as well as a synopsis of their plan with expected sequence of events. Other topics covered will include: how to prepare participating agencies from training to medical monitoring, what is in place currently to accomplish this, and an example of an AI site specific HASP.
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-4:00 Avian Influenza Game Exercise
A table-top board game exercise will allow the participants to choose a variety of limited resources to deploy during an outbreak. The game moves the players through challenges they identify as the events unfold. The players gain enhanced awareness of the particular health and safety issues they would encounter from the perspective of the role they would likely play during an outbreak.
4:00-5:00 Game report back
Report back on lessons learned (areas that require further discussion will be covered in breakout sessions).
Close for the day
Evening Reception: During a disaster is not the time to exchange business cards! Exchange them at the social!
Tuesday (September 18), Day 2
8:30-9:00 Welcome: John Howard, MD, MPH, JD, LLM, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
This session will address health and safety across the spectrum including how to prepare/protect your workers to deal with AI (wildlife, vets, poultry workers, labs, public health).
9:00-9:45 State and Local panel
Representatives of state and local governments will discuss their avian influenza response plans and training initiatives and concerns about those plans.
9:45-10:30 Industry Panel
Industry representatives will present their avian influenza response plans and their plans to coordinate with federal, state and local responders.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:00 Federal panel
Representatives from federal agencies will discuss aspects of federal preparedness related to responder safety and health during an avian influenza response.
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 International panel
Lessons learned will be shared from recent experiences in other countries.
2:00-2:30 USDA Toolbox/Job Aid
2:30-3:00 NIEHS AI Tool
3:00-3:30 OSHA Disaster Site Worker Course
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-5:00 Breakout sessions on training products and programs
1 . IAFF
2. HMTRI
3. USDA
4. USDA
5. Virginia
5:00 Close for the day
Wednesday (September 19), Day 3
8:30-8:45 Welcome and Instruction
These sessions offer an opportunity for participants to get more in-depth information on specific topics related to an avian influenza response.
8:45-10:15 Breakout sessions
1 . Introduction to the HAZWOPER standard
2. Disinfection and Cleaning
3. Respiratory Protection/PPE
4. ICS/NIMS
5. Setting up/preparing for a local AI response
6. Workshop on APHIS HASP template
7. Introduction to and controlling hazards of carcass disposal
8. EPA’s AI train-the-trainer for on-scene coordinators (Part 1)
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 Breakout sessions
1. Controlling hazards of heavy equipment
2. Back-yard bird issues
3. Controlling hazards during culling operations
4. Delivering training in the field...how to develop and give toolbox talks
5. Critical Stress Management
6. Controlling the health and safety hazards of using pesticides and disinfectants
7. Confined space issues
8. Instituting control zones
9. EPA’s AI train-the-trainer for on-scene coordinators (Part 2)
12:00-12:30 Groups report back to general session (what they found, what went well/what could have gone better). Recommended next steps:
• Training areas not captured?
• Areas needing additional detail?
• Worker groups not covered?
• Establishing a minimum level of training?
• Is there a need for follow on with specific focus?
12:30 Close conference
