This my be of help:

http://www.helm.org.uk/u...ment_1999.pdf?1283419506

Oops! Typo. I meant 'Might'

And I meant "may"! The English Heritage guidance is I think a reputable source which details appropriate and proportionate controls. It also references the HSE Guidance and relevant legislation.
In short, the necessary controls are nowhere near the precautions associated with asbestos removal.

British Rail had this problem many years ago when we were refurbishing Kings Cross station offices. After a fair amount of panic by all concerned, it was determined that any risk was pretty minimal.

There's plenty on this subject on the web - but a pretty fair summary is contained on the 'Bricks and Brass' website, which says;-

"Anthrax in Plaster
Plaster usually contains horsehair and, before controls were introduced in 1895, could contain anthrax spores. Although there are no recorded cases of infections from this source, when removing plaster you should take reasonable precautions.

English Heritage recommend that you should:

■cover all cuts, abrasions and other wounds with waterproof dressings to prevent infection
■keep hands and fingernails clean and avoid hand-to-mouth contact during work
■wear protective clothing (such as disposable gloves, overalls, eye protection, dust masks) appropriate to the task in hand. Dust masks should provide protection against infectious agents (FFP3 type, European Standard EN 149).
■not eat or drink in work areas and wash hands thoroughly before handling food
■keep first aid kits well-maintained and to hand, and ensure they contain waterproof dressings
■if removing old plaster, ensure that it is disposed of in accordance with local and statutory national controls, and that the generation of dust is minimised (e.g. by vacuum cleaning using a high-efficiency filter instead of dry-brush cleaning).
■keep surrounding areas clean and dust-free
■ensure that personal are informed of the risk and risk management strategy."