Environmental Health

The South San Francisco Fire Department manages and maintains emergency plans and training of City staff and community members. Through public education events and training sessions, the Fire Department focuses on activities that will prepare the community to take care of itself in the period immediately following a local disaster.  The  Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)  program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced. Prior to this assignment I never really ...

What do you personally find most troubling about climate change? I think all things associated with climate change are of huge concern, but after reading the fact sheet I find " Climate change will have the largest health impact on vulnerable populations" to be the most troubling. Low-income and people of color are already at a huge disadvantage in terms of access to healthcare, health education, etc. , so that the fact that vulnerable populations will be even more impacted is very concerning to me, personally.  As a public health professional, what do you think needs the greatest attention right now? What I believe needs the greatest attention is education pertaining to climate change. Majority of the population/world knows very little about climate change and the impact it has on overall health. I think if more educational opportunities were provided to the greater population, more individuals would understand the dangers associated with climate change ...

When i first started watching the video and saw her little jar of waste I thought to myself "well that is just impossible." As the video went on and she explained the various ways in which people can live a Zero Waste Life it actually seemed pretty doable, it just takes a bit more effort. She made a great point when she talked about how people do not take the time to look at their own waste and what it consists of- I sure do not do it. With that being said, i think i will take a closer look at my trash and figure out what i can eliminate/substitute. For instance, using reusable bags/containers/jars. I use way too many plastic baggies for my snacks when i could and should be using jars and reusable containers. I also need to take composting anf recycling more seriously as i tend to forget that things that are recyclable and reusable can be repurposed. Whether or not I can live a totally Zero Waste Life is questionable, but I can definitely try harder. 

1) Consider your workplace or a workplace of one of your family members. Are there chemical, biological, radiological or ergonomic issues? Using the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls, how might you address the issues? How are they being addressed in reality? I work in an office, meaning that we are sedentary for majority of the day. I have noticed how this has impacted my joint health,  and how my back begins to hurt after sitting for a long period of time. Overtime I developed a herniated disc in my lower back and had to address this to my employer. When looking at the hygiene hierarchy of controls, my employer and I utilized administrative controls, and replaced my sitting desk with an adjustable standing desk. I am lucky enough to have an employers who recognizes the importance of ergonomics, however, i do not believe these issues are being address properly across the workforce, primarily due to lack of funding/knowledge.   2) What might be the barriers to ...

  Pneumoconiosis  (Black Lung) The CDC is working closely with NIOSH to monitor the health and safety of coal miners, a subgroup that is extremely affected by pneumoconiosis. In 1995, NIOSH established a recommended exposure limit for coal mine dust and updated databases that thoroughly describe the risks and health effects related to the exposures associated with coal mine dust. NIOSH also operate the Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program which was implemented to prevent coal workers from contracting  pneumoconiosis. Through this program, the health of coal miners is monitored during quaterly visits to ensure they are not exceeding the exposure limit put in place in 1995. I think implementing programs where they monitor the health and safety of workers is crucial and would be beneficial for all companies. 

OSHA has an alliance with AIHA, in which they developed a training/educational programs for both employers and workers.  What I thought was really cool is that these two organizations joined forces and created "1 page cheat sheets" that both employers and employees can use to identify hazards, methods of control, and other useful resources that are related to occupational safety.  When looking at one of the cheat sheets (Quick tips for job health and safety on safe patient handling and mobility), it appears to be a comprehensive list that prompts the reader to ask themselves questions related to their daily tasks/machinery in which they are using to ensure that not only are they safe, but the people in which they are working with are safe as well. Although cheat sheets may seem a bit juvenile, they could be extremely beneficial for those whose job requires them to be "always on the go."