In 2006 an article was published on pandemic awareness:

Many organizations have planned for disasters, some with an impressive array of activities including practice drills, tabletop exercises, and extensive implementation plans. While all of these activities are essential to minimizing the impact and costs of natural disasters for terrorist activities, they will prove inadequate for pandemic events such as an outbreak of a new strain of influenza.

Experts say a pandemic will feel more like a war or a severe economic crisis than an earthquake, hurricane, or act of terrorism. As a result, a pandemic threat requires a unique approach to planning and a different set of skills and preparation than traditional disaster preparedness activities.
 
“Organizations that depend upon existing, on-the-shelf disaster plans will pay a heavy price during a pandemic event,” said Bob Blitzer, an ICF International vice president in emergency management. “Within a few days, the organization will realize that it is unprepared to respond to the needs of its employees, its customers, and its community.”

U.S. federal officials who have been planning for potential pandemic events have made it very clear that this is a unique threat, unlike any natural or man-made disaster.

“The pandemic threat is different…the significant mobility of human populations means that every corner of the globe and every element of society are likely to be touched. This widespread effect has ramifications not only for the health and well being of populations, but for the national and economic security of the nations, and the functioning of society. Once this fundamental premise is recognized, the scope and scale of the measures necessary to prepare for a pandemic become apparent.”1

It also is apparent to the experts involved in planning for a pandemic event that relying solely on the health and medical communities to respond to this kind of a crisis is unrealistic and potentially dangerous. Officials point out that the vast majority of the actions that will be taken will occur from nontraditional sources. Federal support will be substantially less than in the case of traditional disasters, and because of the scope of the problem, traditional “mutual assistance” agreements with neighboring communities and states will be virtually useless.

“They all think the cavalry is going to arrive and do all the ‘heavy lifting,’” said Anita Tallarico, an ICF senior vice president describing state and local agencies and the business community. “However, government officials emphasize that local communities must prepare to be able to help themselves for at least three days.”

The President’s Implementation Plan clearly states that the primary burden of responding will fall on nongovernmental institutions. “More than 85 percent of critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector. Therefore, sustaining the operations of critical infrastructure under conditions of pandemic influenza will depend largely on each organization’s development and implementation of plans for business continuity while facing staffing shortages and the need to protect the health of its workforce.”2

This will require a major “shift in thinking” for businesses that are not accustomed to taking care of health needs for employees while simultaneously trying to sustain business operations with limited staff and absence of other normal support services for an extended period of time.

“When we go in and work with a client on a training exercise and help with planning,” said Blitzer—who formerly headed up the Weapons of Mass Destruction response operations at the Federal Bureau of Investigation—“the client quickly realizes that its traditional way of thinking about disaster planning is completely inadequate. Once stakeholders realize how quickly a pandemic outbreak occurs, and the fact that it is inevitable that another one will occur in our lifetime, their thinking changes.”

Here are just a few of the assumptions federal officials make as they plan for a pandemic event. These assumptions also must be incorporated into planning efforts in the private sector and by state and local agencies.

• Susceptibility will be universal.
• Civil disturbances and breakdowns in the public order may occur.
• Typically, illness rates will be highest among school-aged children (about 40 percent) and decline with age. Among working adults, an average of 20 percent will become ill during a community outbreak. Actual illness rates by age, however, will depend on the characteristics of the new virus and may vary from these rates.
• Risk groups for severe and fatal infection cannot be predicted with certainty, but are likely to include infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with chronic or immunosuppressive medical conditions.
• In a severe pandemic, absenteeism rates of 40 percent or higher may result from individual illness, the need to care for ill family members, and fear of infection.
• Typically, the risk of transmission (viral shedding) will be greatest during the first two days of illness. Children will play a major role in spreading the disease.
• On average, infected persons will transmit infection to approximately two other people.
• Isolation and quarantine measures are likely, as are mandatory restrictions on domestic and international travel.
• Epidemics will last six to eight weeks in affected communities.
• Multiple waves of illness are likely to occur, with each wave lasting two to three months.

Things are now closer than anyone ever thought it would happen.  On 23 rd April 2009 the world began to become aware of a very strange new version of swine flu H1N1 in Mexico with limited cases in Texas and California. By the morning of the 24th of April, we began hear that there were hundreds of sick and 20 or so dead. By late in the day, we have learned that over 1,000 are now reported ill and over 60 are reported dead. There are solid reasons to suspect that this new Mexican Swine Flu is NOT a naturally occurring event but instead is an Advanced Biological Warfare recombination DNA genetically engineered virus.

Here is what we know of the virus so far. This virus has already gone international having crossed the border from Mexico to America. All schools in Mexico City have been canceled, millions of students told to stay home due to Mexican Swine Flu. Sick victims of this strange new virus are currently reported in California and Texas. Over 60 deaths reported in Mexico (could be substantially higher considering the state of Mexican health care and reporting).

Young healthy adults seem to be the most at risk. This is similar to the deadest killer flu in history, Spanish Flu in 1918. Most if not all nations with advanced biological warfare programs have been interested in recreating the Spanish Flu DNA sequence and several are reported to have done so.

The new Mexican Swine Flu has elements of DNA from the following: avian flu, human flu Type A, human flu Type B, Asian swine flu, and European swine flu. A strange combination never seen before and having less than 1/10% chance of being a natural event. Human and animal viruses from four or more continents suddenly recombine in a new flu during a non-flu season that spreads from human-to-human with a 10% fatality rating.

One of the questions I get asked most often is, what constitutes an OSHA 10-Hour training session.  This is a difficult question to answer.  That’s because OSHA has specific requirements about what should be taught during the first four (4) hours of the class, and then leaves the other six (6) hours as electives that most closely fit the company’s or organization’s needs.

Generally a 10-hour class will include the following:

·        Introduction to OSHA, Inspections, Citations and Penalties

·        Means of Egress and Fire Protection

·        Electrical Safety

·        Walking & Working Surfaces

Additional you can elect any of the following:

·        HazCom

·        Machine Guarding

·        Bloodborne Pathogens

·        PPE

·        Recordkeeping

·        Health & Safety Programs

·        Fall Protection

·        Material Handling

·        Ergonomoics

Why do you need OSHA 10-Hour training and an OSHA 10-Hour Card?  Many organizations are using the OSHA 10-Hour as a way of saying our people are trained.  Some companies require vendors to show that their employees have had and OSHA 1-Hour before they can commit to work on-site.  There are many training companies which offer OSHA 10-Hour for both Genreal Industry and Construction.  Make sure the electives you need are included in their training.  Or have a class designed around your needs. 

Having employees trained is a good step in creating that Safety Culture, reducing your recordables, and reducing your workers comp cost, which brings more money down to that bottom line.  So Let’s Get Safe Out There!

While the safety incidents have decreased in the workplace, they are increasing at an alarming rate off-site.  Homes dafety has becoming a focus of The National Safety Council and the Home Safety Council.  This site will continue to provide home safety tips as part of the a way to reverse this trend. 

 As the spring enters there are more opporuntites for floods accross the US.  Associated with these floods are the possibility of fires.   The US Fire Administration provides helpful hints for preventing fires after floods. 

A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year. Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you and your home. The U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after a flood. You can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a fire casualty by being able to identify potential hazards and following the outlined safety tips.

Types of Fire Related Hazards Present During and After a Flood
•Generators are often used during power outages. Unless generators are properly used and maintained, they can be very hazardous.
•Alternative heating devices used incorrectly create fire hazards. Proper use and maintenance can decrease the possibility of a fire.
•Leaking above ground gas lines, damaged or leaking gas or propane containers, and leaking vehicle gas tanks may explode or ignite.
•Pools of water and even appliances can be electrically charged. This can result in a dangerous electrical fire.
•Appliances that have been exposed to water can short and become a fire hazard.
Chemical Safety
•Look for combustible liquids like gasoline, lighter fluid, and paint thinner that may have spilled. Thoroughly clean the spill and place containers in a well-ventilated area.
•Keep combustible liquids away from heat sources.
Electrical Safety
•If your home has sustained flood or water damage, and you can safely get to the main breaker or fuse box, turn off the power.
•Assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. This includes cable TV feeds.
•Be aware of and avoid downed utility lines. Report downed or damaged power lines to the utility company or emergency services.
•Remove standing water, wet carpets and furnishings. Air dry your home with good ventilation before restoring power.
•Have a licensed electrician check your home for damage.
Generator safety
•Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines when using generators.
•Use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. CO fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.
•Use the appropriate sized and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires.
•Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord may go unnoticed.
•Always refuel generators outdoors.
•Never connect generators to another power source such as power lines. The reverse flow of electricity or ‘backfeed’ can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.
Heating safety
•Kerosene heaters may not be legal in your area and should only be used where approved by authorities.
•Do not use the kitchen oven range to heat your home. In addition to being a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes.
•Alternative heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least 3 feet away.
•Make sure your alternative heaters have ‘tip switches.’ These ‘tip switches’ are designed to automatically turn off the heater in the event they tip over.
•Only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer and follow suggested guidelines.
•Never refill a space heater while it is operating or still hot.
•Refuel heaters only outdoors.
•Make sure wood stoves are properly installed, and at least 3 feet away from combustible materials. Ensure they have the proper floor support and adequate ventilation.
•Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpets, furniture or other combustible items.
and Remember…
•Do not use alternative heating devices to dry clothes or furnishings.
•Be careful when using candles. Keep the flame away from combustible objects and out of the reach of children.
•Never thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or other open flame. Use hot water or a device, like a hand-held dryer, evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
•Some smoke alarms may be dependent on your home’s electrical service and could be inoperative during a power outage. Check to see if your smoke alarm uses a back-up battery and install a new battery at least once a year.
•Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home.
•All smoke alarms should be tested monthly. All batteries should be replaced with new ones at least once a year.
•If there is a fire hydrant near your home, keep it clear of debris for easy access by the fire department.

Michelle Stoffel of  The Chicago Tribune recentley reported  on ways to dispose of common houshold hazardous materials.  We all need to consider the proper way to dispose of this material.  While this article gives the reader places to go in the Chicago area, I am sure you can find similar sites in your area.

It is pretty easy to assume that all the toxic waste dumped into our environment comes at the hands of big, faceless businesses—most of it does. But according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.6 million tons of hazardous waste originates from American households each year.

Dangerous chemicals lurk in old cans of paint or forgotten pharmaceuticals stuffed in the medicine cabinet. Batteries and outdated cell phones are replaced and pitched in the kitchen garbage, only to wind up leaking toxic mercury and lead in a landfill.

But knowing how to properly discard these household items can often be a mystery. If they can’t go in a garbage can, where do these chemically potent waste oddities go?

Batteries

The acid inside batteries turns corrosive and dangerous when burned or pitched in a landfill. About 3 billion batteries are purchased and then discarded each year, so the city’s recycling programs have made it easy to dispose of them. Most Walgreens in the Chicago area accept batteries at their photo counters. Chicago public libraries and many alderman offices (found online at egov.cityofchicago.org) also have bins for disposing of old batteries
PaintIf you’ve ever moved or remodeled a home, you probably have stacks of paint cans in your garage or basement. If you want to get rid of those half-filled cans—or find free paint—many city programs, such as Chicago’s Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility, have a paint exchange. They will take paint off your hands (latex only) or give you paint that others have turned in.

Electronics

Tons of electronic items, such as cell phones, computers, TVs, PDAs and MP3 players, are thrown away each year. Not only do these items contain hazardous materials, but in many cases they still have shelf life. After you replace your old PC or cell phone with a sleek, new model, consider donating your old one. Numerous charities and organizations will gladly take your used electronics. Chicago Computers for Schools (pcsforschools.org) takes donations at its center, 3053 N. Knox Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Chicago-based Recycle Tech Solutions (RTS; recycletech.org or 773-821-9700) will buy old cell phones and donate the money to the charity of your choice. Any electronic device can also be taken to a center accepting household hazardous waste (HHW).

Ink cartridges

Many Walgreens, Cartridge Worlds and Staples will refill ink cartridges for you. If you want to dispose of a cartridge, go to Recycle Tech Solutions, which sells them to a company that will repurpose them.

Medications

Expired or unneeded medications, traces of which have wound their way into our drinking water, perhaps are the hardest thing to dispose of properly. Federal law dictates that a police officer must be present when a pharmacy takes back medication, so most pharmacies do not have take-back programs. However, five police stations around the city have drop-off bins; for more information and locations, call 312-744-7672 or see the City of Chicago recycling Web site: egov.cityofchicago.org/recycling.

Fluorescent light bulbs

All fluorescent lights contain enough mercury to be hazardous. If one burns out, take it to an Ace Hardware or Home Depot. As long as the bulb is intact, the mercury is contained.

HHWThis term applies to anything containing corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients such as paint, cleaners or pesticides.

A few facilities in the area accept HHW year-round. In the city, the Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. Branch St. is open 7 a.m. to noon Tuesdays; 2 to 7 p.m. Thursdays; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (lakecountyil.gov/swalco or 847-336-9340) also has a recycling center at 1311 N. Estes Ave. in Gurnee that takes drop-offs on the second Saturday of every month. In Naperville, Fire Station No. 4, 1971 Brookdale Rd., will also accept HHW on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chicago will host HHW neighborhood collections April 18 in the parking lot of U.S. Cellular Field and May 9 in the North Side DeVry parking lot at 3300 N. Campbell Ave