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Swine flu tips to stop spread of illness

Stopping the Spread of Germs at Work
How Germs Spread
Illnesses like the flu (influenza) and colds are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu and colds usually spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

How to Help Stop the Spread of Germs
Take care to:

• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough

• Clean your hands often

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

• Stay home when you are sick and check with a health care provider when needed

• Practice other good health habits. Eating well and Drinking plenty of Fluids

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze. Clean areas you have touched with a germicidal cleaner.

Clean your hands often
When available, wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- then rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using a gel, rub the gel in your hands until they are dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in the gel kills germs that cause colds and the flu. Make sure you use the sanitizer on both the front and back of your hands and between fingers.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs can live for a long time (some can live for 2 hours or more) on surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and tables.
Clean Plinths, door knobs and handles of equipment after use





Stay home when you are sick and check with a health care provider when needed
When you are sick or have flu symptoms, stay home, get plenty of rest, and check with a health care provider as needed. Your employer may need a doctor’s note for an excused absence. Remember: Keeping your distance from others may protect them from getting sick. Common symptoms of the flu include:

• fever (usually high)

• headache

• extreme tiredness

• cough

• sore throat

• runny or stuffy nose

• muscle aches, and

• nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, (much more common among children than adults).

Vitamin D lighting Is it a good choice for workplace?

I recently had a question regarding lighting in the workplace and if we should add "vitamin D lamps" or desk task lights.
Vitamin D lamps are UVB lights (black lights are UV B)

Ultraviolet band (UV B) B can cause direct DNA damage to the skin. You only need 15 minutes a day of UV B light (commonly known as a black light.) It is the UVB rays that can cause sunburn and DNA damage to the skin causing melanoma. over 90% of melanoma is linked to UV B radiation.
In addition it is the UV B rays that leads to skin aging and it is recommended that individuals having UV B treatment need to have emollients applied after treatments.
In some parts of the world where there is extended dark periods Light therapy is sometimes used for Seasonal Affect disorder, and for limited periods use a sunlamp during the dark months.

Most of the typical fluorescent lamps have little UV B due to the harmful effects. Full spectrum art lamps are available as are grow lamps and reptile lamps but it should be used as a task light and not directly on skin or in the eyes.

Although 10-15 minutes of daily sun in non-peak hours can provide adequate vitamin D, people who use sun protection (which should be most of us) need to look for other sources of vitamin D.
As a treatment it should be conducted by a medical professional as individuals with a vitamin D deficiency need a specific wavelength (> 310 nm to 312 nm) and this is a specific illness with a specific medical treatment.
Fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods are good dietary sources of vitamin D. Salmon is one of the best.
It can be toxic if overdosing, although it is rare to overdose from food sources and not from the sun
UV B rays are blocked by glass, so they do not get through windows.
Vitamin D supplements at currently recommended doses can increase vitamin D levels in the body.
Blood tests (serum concentration of 25 (OH) D is the blood indicator of vitamin D, however Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and it may not reflect the actual amount of vitamin D stored in tissues. If intestines and Kidneys can't process vitamin D, then it may indicate a different illness, and should be evaluated prior to treatment.
UV B rays are linked to macular Degeneration (an illness that causes blindness)
Individuals who need additional Vitamin D or light therapy should have it provided by a medical practioner and have their skin checked regularly as well as eyes if undergoing this type of treament. It should not be provided in a non controlled enviroment.

My treatment for the inability to absorb vitamin D is to take a supplement, and walk outside with the dogs once a day.
I recommend that UV B lamps not be used in a work setting, as it is potentially harmful, it can't be easily monitored or controlled and should be used as a medical treatment, not a general lighting source.

Michigan promotes Ergonomic Standard

Interesting that a state that is one of the hardest hit with recent economic woes is considering an ergonomic standard. Maybe someone gets it that ergonomics isn't a costly benefit, but cost reducing. Although I am not convinced that legislation is the way to go.

The state's regulators voted unanimously to advance it on January 14, despite opposition from the business community. Its supporters maintain the rule will reduce preventable injuries that cost employers millions in worker's compensation and lost time. Opponents argue it will raise the cost of doing business at a time many employers are struggling because of the state’s ailing economy.

The unanimous vote by the General Industry Safety Standards Commission and the Occupational Health Standards Commission increases the odds that efforts to derail the standard won’t succeed this time round.

According to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG), the proposed standard would “assess risk factors that may contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and establish a minimal rule for training.” It also would apply only to businesses in general industry, not construction, DLEG said.

Public hearings will be held before the rule can be formally adopted by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). It could be in place in as little as six months.

Now in draft form, it requires:
• All employees to be given ergonomics training covering occupational risk factors for MSDs, symptoms, and reporting procedures
• Employers to be responsible for involving employees; assessing risk factors; and eliminating, reducing or controlling ergonomic hazards "where economically and technically feasible"
• Employers with an existing "effective ergonomic program" to be examined for prior compliance with the requirements

The Michigan Worker’s Compensation Bureau estimated that ergonomics-related hazards accounted for some 40 percent of the claims paid in the state in 2006 and 2007.

Ergonomics in a nutshell

Back to the basics.
Your mother was right, sit up straight and don't sit so close to the TV. Sadly we sit badly and have a monitor squarely in our faces for many of us. I would be unemployed if we all sat up and took frequent mini breaks. I run into cases where good posture and stretching a few times an hour isn't the solution. But since no one but me reads this, I will spare myself the effort and my wrists from the work.

The language of Ergonomics

Lately this blog has focused on safety, time to get back on to straight ergonomics. One of the challenges for people interested is what is ergonomically correct. You see it in a lot of places. Car sets and controls are ergonomically designed? What does that mean? Didn't they think of drivers before? Anyway, ergonomics focuses on risk factors.
The language of ergonomics is not the medicalese or engineering speak I sometimes encounter. There is a subtle difference. Posture is ad ducted trochanters or radial nerve impingement. It is compression of the radial nerve, or non neutral posture and position. Using the risk factors as a basis for descriptions is the ergonomically correct language.

Risk factors Reminder
Awkward postures
Static postures
Contact Stress
Frequency/Repetition & Duration
Force
Vibration
Temperature Extremes
Psychosocial Issues

peanut butter recall

January 19, 2009: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is conducting a very active and dynamic investigation into the source of the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. At this time, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state partners have traced sources of Salmonella Typhimurium contamination to a plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which manufactures peanut butter and peanut paste—a concentrated product consisting of ground, roasted peanuts—that are both distributed to food manufacturers to be used as an ingredient in many commercially produced products including cakes, cookies, crackers, candies, cereal and ice cream. In addition, PCA peanut butter is distributed to and institutionally served in such settings as long-term care facilities and cafeterias.

The FDA has notified PCA that product samples originating from its Blakely, Georgia (Ga.), processing plant have been tested and found positive for Salmonella by laboratories in the states of Minnesota and Connecticut. Connecticut and Minnesota have reported to FDA that samples of King Nut peanut butter tested in those states are a genetic match to the strain of Salmonella associated with the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. The results from the Connecticut Department of Health Laboratory are from an unopened container of King Nut peanut butter. FDA wishes to acknowledge the Connecticut laboratory, Infectious Disease Section and Department of Consumer Protection as well as health officials in Minnesota for their efforts.
King Nut is a distributor of PCA product. This information, along with the results available from laboratory testing and the CDC epidemiological analysis, have now led FDA to confirm that the source of this outbreak is peanut butter and peanut paste produced by PCA at its Blakely, Ga. processing plant.

On January 18, PCA expanded its previous voluntary recall to include more products and lot numbers relating to peanut butter and peanut paste products manufactured on or after July 1, 2008, at its Blakely, Ga., plant because of potential Salmonella contamination. The peanut butter products being recalled are sold by PCA in bulk containers ranging in size from five (5) to 1700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35-pound containers to product sold by the tanker container. These products are not sold directly to consumers. PCA has stopped all production at its Blakely, Ga. plant as the FDA continues its investigation. Based on this information, and on the current state of the investigation, the FDA recommends that consumers avoid eating products that have been recalled and discard them.

Major national brands of jarred peanut butter are not affected by the PCA recall. PCA does not sell peanut butter directly to consumers. PCA only sells peanut butter to institutions and food manufacturers (some of which use it as an ingredient in other processed/packaged foods). Some food manufacturers use PCA peanut butter or peanut paste in baked or processed foods, such as crackers, cookies, cakes or ice cream to name a few. The FDA and food manufacturers are working to identify products that may be affected, and to track the ingredient supply chain of those products to facilitate their removal from the marketplace.

Based on available information, FDA and CDC recommendations include:

For Consumers

FDA has created a searchable list of products and brands associated with the expanded PCA recall. This list is available on the FDA website at:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm and will be updated on a regular basis as additional sub recalls occur and information is received by FDA from the industry.

DAOHN Gov't Affairs Jan 15

DAOHN Update Govt Affairs
CDC Investigating 43-State Salmonella Outbreak
Changes to NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Program Begin 2009
FMLA Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009
Michigan Draft Ergonomics Standard Under Fire from Business Groups

CDC Investigating 43-State Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with public health officials in many states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multi-state outbreak of human infections due to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium.
Preliminary analysis of an epidemiologic study conducted by CDC and public health officials in multiple states comparing foods eaten by ill and well persons has suggested peanut butter as a likely source. To date, no association has been found with common brand names of peanut butter sold in grocery stores.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Laboratory isolated the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium from an open 5-pound container of King Nut brand creamy peanut butter. The product is distributed in Minnesota to establishments such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, delis, cafeterias, and bakeries. It is not sold directly to consumers and is not known to be distributed for retail sale in grocery stores.

Updates on the outbreak and investigation can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/.
Changes to NIOSH-Approved Spirometry Training Program Begin 2009

Two important program changes to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spirometry Training Program will take effect January 1, 2009.

First, a time limitation will be placed on the certificates awarded to students who successfully complete NIOSH-approved spirometry training. Second, NIOSH will begin reviewing and approving dedicated spirometry refresher training courses designed for technicians who have previously completed a NIOSH-approved spirometry course and are seeking recertification.

For additional information contact Lu-Ann Beeckman-Wagner at lbb3@cdc.gov.

Visit the NIOSH Spirometry Training Course Web page at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/spirometry/.

FMLA Final Regulations Become Effective January 16, 2009

The Final Regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) were crafted from over 4,600 public comments and implement two important new military family leave entitlements for eligible specified family members.
The Final Regulations (PDF) implement:
1. Up to 12 weeks of leave for certain qualifying exigencies arising out of a covered military member's active duty status, or notification of an impending call or order to active duty status, in support of a contingency operation, and
2. Up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12-month period to care for a covered service member recovering from a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of duty on active duty. Eligible employees are entitled to a combined total of up to 26 weeks of all types of FMLA leave during the single 12-month period.
For more information, including links to the entire Rule (200+ page PDF) and a summary fact sheet (4 page PDF) visit http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla/finalrule.htm.
NIOSH Guide Available for Improving Worker Health and Well-being
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has a guide for employers and employer-employee partnerships wishing to establish effective workplace programs that sustain and improve worker health.

The guide, Essential Elements of Effective Workplace Programs and Policies for Improving Worker Health and Well-being, is a key part of the NIOSH WorkLife Initiative, which is intended to identify and support comprehensive approaches to reduce workplace hazards and promote worker health and well-being. Essential Elements document identifies twenty components of a comprehensive work-based health protection and health promotion program and includes both guiding principles and practical direction for organizations seeking to develop effective workplace programs.

The guide is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/worklife/essentials.html.
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E-Prescribing Initiative on Medicare Calendar for 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that physicians and other eligible professionals who adopt and use qualified electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems to transmit prescriptions to pharmacies may earn an incentive payment of 2.0 percent of their total Medicare allowed charges during 2009.

The initiative is included in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule for calendar year 2009. This incentive is in addition to a 2.0 percent incentive payment for 2009 for physicians who successfully report measures under the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), and both incentive payments are in addition to the 1.1 percent fee schedule update required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). Thus, a physician who successfully reports under both the e-prescribing and PQRI initiatives could receive up to a 5.1 percent pay boost for 2009.

Widespread adoption of electronic prescribing can eliminate medication errors that result from the misreading of handwritten prescriptions. Medicare beneficiaries may also have reduced out-of-pocket costs as e-prescribing facilitates communication between prescribers and pharmacies on lower-cost generic alternatives.

Find out more about the CMS initiative at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=3330&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date.

Michigan Draft Ergonomics Standard Under Fire from Business Groups
Michigan’s business and manufacturing groups want to halt efforts to adopt a mandatory workplace ergonomics standard in the state. They have fought hard against the standard from the start, and the worsening economic crisis has given them a new weapon. Calling on Gov. Jennifer Granholm to kill the process, they argue the standard is unnecessary and a job killer. A key vote is due this week.

Commissions set up by state regulators are scheduled to take a preliminary—but key—vote on potential rules this week.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) released a new draft of the standard in 2008. Four years in the making, it is designed to reduce occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Its opponents see it as a financial drain in a state already hard hit by the nation’s economic downturn. A coalition including the National Federation of Independent Business argued at a Lansing news conference on January 9 that the rules are not needed because many employers voluntarily make improvements aimed at reducing the number of workplace injuries caused by repetitive movements. They say mandatory ergonomics training and reporting would raise the cost of doing business at a time many employers are struggling because of Michigan's poor economy.