M14.4 Blog: Think About It - Website Exploration

The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health has great information on the environmental impacts and preparedness for disaster safety. They give useful information on what to do in a disaster and how to help your loved ones. There are many safety precautions that must be taken in terms of a natural disasters that occur. We hope that we could use this information to prevent natural disasters and provide safety procedures for those in need when a natural disaster hits. Again, the NCDM and Public Health site does help those when it comes to providing safety whenever any natural disaster exists. I think it is definitely important for us help others when it comes to natural disasters as well and hoping we are in a state that is good for all.

In my area, there are many churches and government facilities that have healthcare professionals working there that help my community. They have master plans in what to do in fire and earthquake disasters. They also have ways to network and notify others you are in a safe zone which is great for family members. These facilities also provide for temporary shelter and where to go in case of an evacuation for those who do not have another place to go in case of an emergency. My community in San Bernardino is great to help those in need, especially for safe and protective methods. 

M12.9 Blog: Climate Change

I think what I find most troubling about climate change is global warming and the issue of the earth getting warmer and warmer as the years go by. I think we need to focus more on what global warming is and what we are doing to affect it. I think we need to address this issue with our government as well and implement policies that will help our planet. I think it also needs the greatest attention with our government. We need to start to fund research for global warming as well. It’s sad sometimes that we do not address this issue at hand and we need to force many leaders to help. I think we must make leaders aware that we global warming not only affects the environment but also us as organisms.

I would explain it to a relative by asking them what normal things they do. Many normal things like air conditioning emission lead to the rising of  global warming. Also, I would ask them if they like the heat and if it is something they find bearable to live in. Many people do not appreciate the heat and would like us to limit heat, so I would explain it to my relatives that heat is a problem and show them the statistics of global warming. 

M11.5 Blog about a Zero Waste Life

A zero waste life is a difficult but doable concept but it does a commitment and I think it is manageable to do. There are some small steps you can take to live a zero waste life. I think first every person needs to establish your “why.” Everyone decides to do it but I believe it is difficult to initiate it. Most people need discipline to attempt to make moves to create a zero waste lifestyle, including myself. Some small changes though I can make is assessing my waste first. Seeing how much waste and how much I am contributing to waste. The easiest place for us to start is assessing what kind of waste I am collecting and how to prioritize what waste I have. There are area’s of waste from my lifestyle that I must assess.

Again, I believe it does not happen overnight and I think we should try to first understand the process to understand.I also think we need to commit to having a zero waste life. It is difficult to commit to these things first but I believe it does help. Another things I believe we need to do is try to help others to commit to a zero life and have them help our environment.We must attempt to make a collective effort to change the environment when it comes to creating a zero waste life. We must try to encourage all to limit our waste usage. I also think we can start by educating each other on a zero waste lifestyle by helping each other with limiting waste.

M10.8 Blog about an occupationally-related disease

Byssinosis or "brown lung disease" is an occupational lung disease that is caused by exposure to cotton dust in inadequately ventilated working environments.  Mainly through yarn and fabric manufacture industries it is common in. Cotton dust is directly causes the disease that reach the lungs. Brown lung can result in narrowing of the airways, lung scarring and death from respiratory failure. Affected works should be offered alternative employment or should be taken out of the conditions. Continued exposure leads to development of persistent symptoms and measures should be taken to prevent this. It is a scary thought that workers can be affected by this. We hope that these workers are helped in these conditions and change happen to help them.

M10.5 Blog about an occupational safety and health organization

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It provides resources to keep workers safe in the workplace. The organization assures safe and healthful working conditions for men and women and sets the standard for training, outreach, education, and assistance. In relation to my personal health and safety, I appreciate what OSHA does. it protects workers, employers, and all by creating regulations and enforces them in the workplace. The website provides safe workplace and protects the people from injury and illness. Also, there is protection on the job. Many of the regulations OSHA provides are in my office and my organization follows them to that standard. We follow them to ensure we are safe.

M10.2 Blog about MSDS and ToxNet

I work in a lab and we have a MSDS on the chemical sulfuric acid. These are the current health risks associated with the chemical:

• Eye Contact: Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Cold water may be used. Get medical attention immediately. 
• Skin Contact: In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. Cold water may be used.Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention immediately. 
• Serious Skin Contact: Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek immediate medical attention. Inhalation: If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Get medical attention immediately. 
• Serious Inhalation: Evacuate the victim to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. If the victim is not breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 
• Ingestion: Do NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband. Get medical attention if symptoms appear. 
• Serious Ingestion: Not available.

Chemical carcinogens are any substance or radiation that promote carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. Chemicals found in my workplace I would be trained on personal protection and in case of a large spill as well. I would also take special courses about the chemical and ensure that I fully equipped with handing this chemical. These are the personal protection precautions:

• Engineering Controls: Provide exhaust ventilation or other engineering controls to keep the airborne concentrations of vapors below their respective threshold limit value. Ensure that eyewash stations and safety showers are proximal to the work-station location. 
• Personal Protection: Face shield. Full suit. Vapor respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Gloves. Boots. 
• Personal Protection in Case of a Large Spill: Splash goggles. Full suit. Vapor respirator. Boots. Gloves. A self contained breathing apparatus should be used to avoid inhalation of the product. Suggested protective clothing might not be sufficient; consult a specialist BEFORE handling this product.

There are no discrepancies in the MSDS and ToxNet reporting. If anything the ToxNet database is much more elaborate on the health effects of the chemical. Here is the information about the chemical: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~ajpHga:3

The potential dangers of this chemical is just handling and usage. You must use the proper chemical protection when handling it in the lab. The MSDS was an adequate tool for a worker to gain understanding of the risks. We want to make sure that we are protected when using this chemical and if there is a spill. The MSDS is a simple and useful tool for anyone to use and I liked that it is available for any person.

Watch M10.1 Video

1) There are chemical, biological, radiological or ergonomic issues in my workplace. I work in an office and I am always exposed to supplies in the office that can have chemicals laced with it. I also use a computer every day so there are electronic exposure to radioactive waves. I would like to hope that we are careful about our exposures to chemicals and would wish that my office would be aware. We are always trying to limit our computer usage though. There are no hygiene issues where I work though, but I would like to let office heads know about the exposures. My manager is aware of the exposures and encourages us to get out of the office from time to time to limit our exposures and get some sunlight. 

2) Some barriers to workers exercising their rights to a healthy and safe workplace would be the hierarchy discouraging change. Many head officials do not see it as a priority or show that they care, so they will not change. Also changing these policies in such a short period of time can be difficult. Creating policies can be hard as well. Another barrier that can be difficult to cross would be making the public care about these. The public are mostly unaware or do not care of environmental issues in the workplace. I think it is our job as healthcare professionals to make others care.