San Francisco to regulate private biological agent detectors
Some firms have begun selling building owners and companies untested devices designed to detect anthrax and other biological agents, but city officials are worried that these will generate false alarms; in San Francisco city officials estimate that responding to a false alarm generated by a biological agent detector could cost as much as $700,000; legislation has been introduced to regulate these devices; the bill would require those who have biological agent detectors to pay an annual fee and owners would also be fined as much as $10,000 for false alarms; if passed, owners would have ninety days to register with the city
As fears of biological attacks grow, some firms have begun selling building owners devices designed to detect anthrax and other biological agents, but city officials are worried that these will generate costly false alarms.
In San Francisco city officials estimate that responding to a false alarm generated by a biological agent detector could cost as much as $700,000.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors president David Chiu has introduced legislation designed to minimize the potential “civil unrest, business disruptions, prolonged facility closure, and mental health consequences” generated by these false alarms.
Chiu said, “Many of these devices have not been tested, have not been set to any national standards, and could create false alarms. There have been false alarms in other parts of the country that have led to unnecessary responses.”
His bill proposed that San Francisco begin to impose regulations on these devices, similar to those in New York City.
The bill would require those who have biological agent detectors to register with the city and pay an annual fee of $1,700 for the first device and $200 for any additional ones. Building owners would also be fined as much as $10,000 for false alarms.
If passed, owners would have ninety days to register with the city.
“In a post-9/11 world, we need to be safe and we need to make sure that we don’t create unnecessary public alarm when there is no need,” Chiu said.
The bill is based on a recommendation by the city’s Department of Public Health, which found hundreds of companies marketing these devices to companies, building owners, and public institutions at prices that range from a few hundred dollars to thousands.
Officials currently do not know how many buildings have these detectors installed.
