Posts Tagged: Environmental Health

Safety - Winter weather advisory

Dear Colleagues,

Through Wednesday, California is expecting rounds of heavy rain, mountain snow, high winds, with potential for flooding, downed trees/debris and power outages. Please stay safe.

If you live near a river, levee or area prone to flooding, gather your essentials so you'll be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. You'll have some peace of mind if you have gathered items in advance to be away from your home if evacuation orders are given by authorities. Also, prepare for power outages by having electronic devices charged, vehicles fueled, and the ability to prepare food and stay warm.

This is a good time to review your procedures for preparedness, such as the ability to stay informed and to be able to communicate. See Safety Note #203 for winter storm preparedness tips.

Click here to view the Cal-OES weather threat briefing.

A Safety Note series in the category of “Disaster/Emergency Information” is available at https://safety.ucanr.edu/Safety_Notes/- recommended are notes #166-169, #189 and #203.

For current weather alert information, Cal/OSHA recommends the NOAA Weather Alerts page at http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ca.php?x=1.

David Alamillo
Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

The spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to grow worldwide. Although the vast majority of cases have been detected in or can be traced to China, the disease is apparently spreading in other countries worldwide, with recent detection of at least one case in northern California that cannot be traced to travel or contact with known infected sources.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the risk to individuals is dependent on exposure and for the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, the immediate health risk is still considered low. CDC does recommend individuals and families follow everyday preventive measures to prepare for potential exposure in the community:

• Voluntary Home Isolation: Stay home when you are sick with respiratory disease symptoms. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to COVID-19-related virus. Remain at home until fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
• Respiratory Etiquette: Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can.
• Hand Hygiene: Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
• Environmental Health Action: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects
• Routine use of these measures by individuals and their families will increase community resilience and readiness for responding to an outbreak.
• CDC does not currently recommend the use of facemasks or respirators by the general public to help prevent COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

In addition to guidance and monitoring by the CDC and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), each County's Public Health Officer is monitoring this situation and may have additional guidance specific to your community and the local health risks. Staff at UCCE County offices or Research & Extension Centers should keep aware of potential health concerns in your community by monitoring and following any guidance from your local public health officer. We also encourage ANR locations to share and post educational materials and posters about how to stop the spread of germs and encourage handwashing.

For additional guidance and answers frequently asked questions to assist UC leaders, managers, and supervisors in addressing concerns related to COVID-19, see the Guidance for UC Locations Concerning COVID-19.

Updated Travel Guidance:

• UC President Napolitano has directed the UC community (academics, staff, etc.) to temporarily avoid all non-essential, University-related travel to any countries that are designated with a CDC Warning – Level 3 Travel Notice. At the time of this update, this includes China and South Korea. Consistent with UC guidance, “essential travel” is defined as that which is required to: 1) preserve the safety of a research subject and which cannot be postponed; or 2) preserve the results of a research activity and which cannot be postponed. Travel to academic or professional conferences, training, meetings, or similar activities is considered to be non-essential. ANR personnel who believe their University-related travel to a restricted destination is essential should contact Brian Oatman at Risk & Safety Services to request a review and exception to this directive.
• Currently, CDC has issued an Alert - Level 2 Travel Notice for Iran, Italy, and Japan, advising that travelers should practice enhanced precautions when traveling to those countries. Check the CDC website for up-to-date information on current travel notices concerning COVID-19.
• When planning work-related travel to international destinations, always register your trip with UCAway, in order to access features such as travel insurance, briefings on health, safety, and security, and real-time alerts.
• You can also check the CDC's Traveler's Health Notices and State Department Travel Advisories for the latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which you will travel.
• If you become sick while traveling, notify your supervisor and promptly call your healthcare provider for advice if needed. If you are traveling outside the United States, use the University-provided travel insurance for obtaining medical care. See our travel safety webpage for more information.

UC ANR Risk & Safety Services is communicating with health & safety and emergency management professionals across the UC system and will continue to provide updates as necessary. You can check our websites for Health Alerts and Travel Alerts for the latest information. Please contact Brian Oatman (baoatman@ucanr.edu) if you have questions or need other specific guidance concerning this situation.

Travel to China restricted as novel coronavirus precaution

As follow-up to the ANR Update post on Novel coronavirus precautions, I am providing some additional guidance concerning travel to China.

In response to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for all areas of mainland China. Additionally, UC President Napolitano has directed the UC community to temporarily avoid all non-essential travel to China. For ANR personnel and affiliates, this means that all business-related travel to destinations in China must be suspended until further notice or approval. In collaboration with ANR leadership and UC systemwide colleagues, we are developing a process to review any requests for essential travel and will provide more information soon.

President Napolitano also stressed the importance that all international travel on behalf of UC business be registered with UCAway. This trip registration provides travelers with access to features such as travel insurance, briefings on health, safety, and security, and real-time alerts. To make use of these services, be sure to register your trip and provide itineraries and contact details. Visit http://safety.ucanr.edu/Programs/Business_Travel/ to register your trip and find additional travel safety information for ANR travelers.

You can also stay up-to-date with US State Department advisories and CDC's travel health notices related to this outbreak. 

If you have questions, feel free to contact me at baoatman@ucanr.edu.

Brian Oatman
Director, Risk & Safety Services

Novel coronavirus precautions

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus named “2019-nCoV” that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Some infections with 2019-nCoV have been reported in the United States, in patients that had traveled from Wuhan, China. US health officials have established monitoring measures to identify travelers who have symptoms compatible with this infection and have a travel connection with China. Similarly, UC medical centers and health clinics have established screening protocols to identify people with symptoms and a recent travel history to affected areas. For up to date information from CDC, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html.

The outbreak of 2019-nCoV reminds us of the standard precautions recommended by the CDC that we all should take to prevent the spread of various respiratory viruses, including colds, flu or coronavirus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick; if you must be out and about, consider wearing a paper (“surgical”) mask and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, cough into your sleeve (not your hands).
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

See UC ANR Risk & Safety Services Safety Note 151 for more information about preventing the spread of communicable diseases.

At this time, there are no special actions that you need to take regarding UC ANR operations or programs in response to this coronavirus outbreak. Staff at UCCE County offices or Research & Extension Centers should monitor and follow any guidance from your local public health officer. UC ANR Risk & Safety Services is coordinating with health & safety and emergency management professionals across the UC system and will provide additional updates as conditions warrant. Additional information and links will be posted on the Risk & Safety Services website here: http://safety.ucanr.edu/Programs/emergency/Current_Health_Alerts/

Since this outbreak is affecting international travel, it also serves as a reminder that it is important to register your international business travel with UCAway, in order to access features such as travel insurance, briefings on health, safety, and security, and real-time alerts. To make use of these services, be sure to register your trip and provide itineraries and contact details. Visit http://safety.ucanr.edu/Programs/Business_Travel/ to register your trip and find additional travel safety information.

ANR Building modular addition project approved

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