Not all organizations are prepared to face natural disasters and emergencies when they strike. And unfortunately, the thought of safety and preparedness in these times isn’t of much importance to some. Even small emergencies can have huge repercussions in a business if caught unprepared. Here are some pointers to follow to be ready for the unimaginable. Image source: theprepperjournal.com Develop a plan and write a checklist of likely hazards in the workplace. Go around the building, re-evaluate, and check if all electrical cords are in good working condition and with no bare wires exposed, if the facility’s wiring up to code, if boxes and reams of paper litter the area, if there are any fire extinguishers, if the shelves are installed in a way that it won’t fall on people, and other cares. Be pensive, as much as possible, to not miss anything on the checklist. Wiring should be well-checked, too, as many offices have data centers and areas that house telephone lines, computer servers, equipment, and other electronics. Be conscious of these areas, especially looking above suspended ceilings, under raised floors, and other important areas. Stairways, hallways, and other passageways should be remembered when considering safety issues. It’s best to have a generator on site in case a power outage occurs during a disaster. Beware of glass doors and windows in case of tornadoes. In addition to these pointers, it is vital to address the needs of the physically challenged individuals in the office. Preparations such as storing extra medicine, spare wheelchair, and cane near the workplace would be a great idea. Make sure that all workers are aware of the evacuation plan for them how to respond to the situation while helping others. Image source: healthcarebusinesstech.com Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders currently serves as the Director of Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management of the Federal Occupational Health, Program Support Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration, and is also the acting Chief of Safety for the department. Learn more about Captain Martin Sanders here.
0 Comments
Accidents happen and most of the time, the people involved and the ones around them have little to no clue how to respond. These crucial moments could result in loss of life, which could have been prevented by first aid. While the response of 911 is quick, it’s still vital knowledge of first aid is useful as accidents can befall anyone.
It is important for everyone to have even the most basic first aid training so they could be of help in times of emergency. In the event of an accident, responders may not be there sooner than the people who witnessed it happen. First aid training is meant for assisting the injured person, keeping him of her safe until professional help arrives. It is a big contribution to their community, their workplace, and especially their home.
Image source: rec.mcmaster.ca
First aid training also increases safety, as it prevents casualties by teaching predictive behavior in situations where accidents are most likely to happen. First aiders can also assist in relieving pain, given that some injuries require simple solutions such as a band-aid or application of an ice pack.
Image source: startupdope.com
Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D. is an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He currently serves as the Director of Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management for Federal Occupational Health, Program Support Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. He is also the acting Chief of Safety for the Department of Health and Human Services. Visit this link for more about Captain Sanders.
Biosecurity is an umbrella term that encompasses steps and safeguards that prevent the introduction, transmission, and propagation of deleterious agents to humans, animals, and plants. It is composed of various procedures and standards that ensure the health of human beings and the productive continuation of agricultural goods. Image source: pixabay.com Biosecurity draws tools from legislation, law enforcement, policymaking, and whatnot to address growing concerns about the quality of food resources. It has been increasingly necessary to reassess existing regulatory systems and policies to make sure that everything takes into account the global context of these problems. Biosecurity also establishes countermeasures to the possibility of bioterrorism. There must be clear structural continuity and coordination among the various policy-making bodies on all levels, both international and local. The different state agriculture departments, though, officially manage the release of specific regulations and guidelines that govern the management of livestock and other agricultural productions. The health of citizens in connection with the quality of the food source is an indispensable interest that has to be monitored always to guarantee optimal safety. Other than the agricultural context of biosecurity, the proper management of pathogens and toxins stored and kept in laboratories of diversified uses and implementations is also a valid concern. There are a number of unlegislated codes that are followed by scientists and other specialists as standard professional procedures. They provide ways of handling and classifying levels of access to such hazards that ascertain the prevention of the appropriation of such agents and toxins in illegal acts. Image source: commons.wikimedia.org Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., is an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). His field of expertise includes biological safety, field medical operations, biosecurity, occupational safety and health, infectious disease epidemiology, environmental health services, and occupational health and wellness programs. To learn more about his professional work, visit this blog.
This theory about bad air vapors as the source of diseases came from the Middle Ages. Its viability as a theory remained strong for quite some time, as evidenced by the famous competition with the relatively new germ theory in the 19th century. For generations, the miasma theory held sway over medical circles. The airborne particles of rotting matter gave out a distinct putrid smell that according to experts was the cause of illnesses. Epidemics and pandemics like cholera and the bubonic plague were initially traced back to miasmatic theory. Image source: wikipedia.org The communicability of diseases was not generally acknowledged during those times since miasma theory proposed that the environment itself gave rise to the cause of such maladies. General pollution of water, air, and other dire hygienic circumstances were believed to be the underlying reasons for the progression of ailments within the locale. What is ultimately interesting with the miasma theory is that it enabled the pivotal sanitary reforms that would eventually revolutionize public health and the measures that would be put in place to prevent the spread of various diseases. After the improvements, the number of affected individuals dramatically dropped thus strengthening the theory’s validity. The world had to wait for the findings of the German bacteriologist Robert Koch before the germ theory officially replaced the old one. Contagionism increasingly dominated epidemiology research and studies in the remainder of the 19th century, giving weight to germ theory and its belief that specific microorganisms caused specific diseases by surviving and developing inside their hosts. Image source: wikipedia.org CaptainMartin Sanders, Ph.D, is an alumnus of the University of California, Davis, where he received his zoology degree in 1990. He finished his doctorate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1997. He is certified by the American Biological Safety Association as both a biological safety professional and a registered biosafety professional. To know more about the range of his professional work, visit this page.
|
|