OSH Answers Fact Sheets

What is avian influenza? Influenza, commonly called "the flu", is a contagious disease caused by viruses that mainly infect the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat, and lungs. Many varieties of influenza viruses exist. Some viruses infect only humans, others only birds, pigs or dogs. Some can infect more than one animal (called "cross-species"). In birds, this disease is called avian influenza or the "bird flu". Avian influenza has been around for over 100 years. It was first reported...

What does the legislation state about temperature conditions at work? In some cases, legislation provides a range of acceptable temperatures for specific circumstances. In other cases, occupational health and safety jurisdictions use the Threshold Limit Values® for heat stress or cold stress as published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Some Canadian jurisdictions have adopted these TLVs as occupational exposure limits and others use them as guidelines....

What is West Nile virus? West Nile virus is a microorganism belonging to the Flavivirus genus and is carried by infected mosquitos. West Nile virus has been commonly found in humans, birds and other animals in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia and the Middle East. The virus first reported in Canada in 2002. How is West Nile virus transmitted? West Nile virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected...

What are wildfires and forest fires? Wildfires and forest fires are any fire that occurs in forests, brush, shrubs, and grasslands. These fires are a natural part of the ecosystem and help maintain forest diversity and health. In this document, we will use the term wildfire to refer to either wildfires, wildland fires, or forest fires. What causes wildfires? Wildfires are most often started by lightning strikes or by human activity. Between early April and late October, many regions of Canada...