Book Report: "World War C - Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and How To Prepare for the Next One" by Sanjay Gupta, MD

As an industrial hygienist, we found this book a fascinating read.  So you can understand why we say "as an industrial hygienist" let's discuss what industrial hygiene is.  "Industrial Hygiene (IH) is a science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation of protection from those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health, and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community."  To learn more about IH click here.

 

Air Quality Sampling tools for the IH

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most significant environmental factor of modern times it was interesting to read the number of meetings and the decisions made.  The book goes through discussions with many of the people making the decisions during COVID and was interesting how then Vice President Mike Pence understood the need to let the scientists do their job.  The section of the book covering how vaccinations work especially these newer mRNA vaccines and how they help the immune system repel invaders was informational and understandable.

Part 2 of the book, gives common sense recommendations for becoming pandemic-proof.  Becoming pandemic P.R.O.O.F. is actually an acronym for:

• P - Plan ahead.
• R - Rethink and rewire risk in your brain.
• O - Optimize health.
• O - Organize Family
• F - Fight for the future of us.  

Obviously, part 2 goes into each of these giving recommendations.  These recommendations came from the "hundreds of hours of the writer's conversations with experts from all disciplines of our society."  Some of these recommendations are for our country but others are recommendations many of us could put into place for ourselves.   One of our favorite chapters was the chapter on "Rethink and Rewire Risk in Your Brain."  Obviously, at the beginning of this pandemic, very few of us had the knowledge of how to evaluate the risk involved.  But now we do.  The section specifically on avoiding traps was very interesting because of how many of us have these traps and how many friends and clients when discussing COVID had these traps.

If you're into reading readable scientific books we recommend reading this one.

Future Environment Designs Training Center's Pandemic Policy, Updated Policy 06/19/21!

Future Environment Designs Training Center (FEDTC) recognizes that the safety and health of our clients and their family are our shared concerns.  We also recognize that our clients need to renew licenses that are necessary to perform work in the field and that in-person classes are required by law.  FEDTC always reserves the right to refuse to train anyone we feel may be too ill to attend a course.  We will and can hold a private class at a mutually beneficial time after they have gotten better for these individuals.  Until this pandemic has ended we will follow the following procedures to reduce the potential interactions that could increase the risk of spreading disease (on June 19, 2021, we have modified our procedures based on the revised Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Policies and that we were immunized on April 18, 2021 (Pfizer 2 shots).  This policy will remain in effect until the pandemic is over (revisions are underlined):

Social Distancing Policy:
During training classes, the instructor and the students will be requested to:

• All students & instructors before they leave home should take their temperature (it should be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and document absence of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, and muscle aches.  They should also check the CDC website for other symptoms at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.  If possible, take the CDC self-check found at the site.  If you are ill or your temperature is above 100 degrees Fahrenheit they should call to reschedule the course.
• All students upon arrival will be asked what their temperature was before they left home, and do they have any of the symptoms of shortness of breath, new or change in cough, sore throat, and muscle aches.  We will also use a contactless thermometer to measure forehead temperature.  If students answer yes to any questions or the thermometer measurement is above 100 degrees Fahrenheit the student will not be allowed to attend training and must reschedule.
• All students will also, be asked if they are vaccinated and to show proof of vaccination (we recommend students use the NYS Excelsior Pass App).
• All students will be encouraged to bring and wear a face-covering during the training (FEDTC will provide face coverings, when available).  Students who prove they are vaccinated do not need to wear masks or social distance as per the CDC.
• FEDTC will be using our larger training rooms and advising students to sit at least 6 feet from each other and avoid person-to-person contact such as shaking hands.
• Instructors will perform all training at least 6 feet from students, will wear face coverings during training, and we are immunized.
• Cover coughs and sneezes using tissues or into the elbow of your sleeve.  To prevent droplets containing germs from entering the air or contaminating your hands.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing "Happy Birthday" twice).
• Use waterless hand sanitizer where soap and water (which are preferred) are not available.
• Instructors will avoid any unnecessary travel and cancel or postpone any courses they are feeling unwell or shall use a face covering while training.
• Instructors will be provided with a kit to help with the recommended procedures.

Pandemic Kit:

The pandemic kit each instructor will be provided with will include:

• Tape measure
• Surgical masks, when available
• N95 Disposable Respirators, when available
• Hand Sanitizers, when available
• Tissues
• Cleaning Disinfectant Wipes for cleaning tables
• Forehead Thermometer

Training Courses:

At the beginning of the course we will go over the basic steps for personal protection & prevention.  This will include a slide set and video regarding basic information on protection and prevention before the course begins.

FEDTC feels these steps will help reduce the risk of spreading disease and still enable students to refresh training in accordance with current regulations.  Should you have any questions feel free to give us a call.  Be safe! 

OSHA Publishes Guidance Documents for Pandemic Influenza

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have published five documents dealing with pandemic influenza. The documents are:

• “Healthcare Workplaces Classified as Very High or High Exposure Risk for Pandemic Influenza” – OSHA designed this fact sheet to assist healthcare workplaces and to protect these workers from exposure to pandemic influenza. Using the Occupational Risk Pyramid (at left) it defines who are very high or high risk and recommends engineering controls, administrative controls, work practices, and PPE to protect these workers.
• “What Employers Can Do to Protect Workers from Pandemic Influenza” – this fact sheet recommends engineering controls, administrative controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• “Protect Yourself Pandemic Flu Respiratory Protection” – this quick card defines who needs a respirator based exposure risk, defines minimum level of protection as N95 respirator, states that surgical masks are not respirators, and OSHA requirements for a respiratory protection program.
• “How to Protect Yourself in the Workplace during a Pandemic” – this quick card lists suggested precautions and actions workers should take to reduce risk of becoming ill with pandemic influenza.
• “Respiratory Infection Control: Respirators Versus Surgical Masks” – this fact sheet defines the difference between respirators, such as filtering facepiece (used to be known as dust masks) and half mask respirators, and surgical masks, which are a physical barrier to protect users from hazards, such as splashes of large droplets of blood or body fluids. NIOSH certifies all respirators, including filtering facepieces, visit their website for recent warnings for respirator users (www.niosh.gov). NIOSH does not certify surgical masks to prevent inhalation of small airborne contaminants. Only surgical masks cleared by the Food and Drug Administration have been tested for their ability to resist blood and bodily fluids.

Pandemic Flu

April 18, I attended a joint American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)/American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) local chapter meeting at On the Border: Mexican Grill & Cantina in Hicksville, NY regarding the Pandemic Flu presented by Susan V. Donelan, M.D., Director of Healthcare Epidemiology Department from Stony Brook University Medical Center. Ms. Donelan's presentation was very interesting. One important point I took from the meeting was the need for businesses to make plans where 40-60% of their work staff may be sick, tending to someone who is sick, or may not come in because of concerns of getting sick. With statistics like that it is no wonder that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a "OSHA Guidance Update on Protecting Employees from Avian Flu Viruses." Avian Flu is a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus that is spreading across eastern Asia and other countries. This virus has not been able to spread from human to human, yet. However, health officials just figure it is only a matter of time before that occurs. The document contains recommendations for poultry employees and those who handle other animals, and for laboratory employees, healthcare personnel, food handlers, travelers, and workers stationed abroad. The document's focus is on good hygiene as well as respiratory protection. On my current contract it is interesting that some of the schools I monitor have already included Pandemic Planning into their Emergency Plans. Has your business developed a plan for handling 60% of your staff being out of work? If a Pandemic is going to occur, and the only question is when, what are you waiting for?