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.
NRDC Report: Latinos Are Especially Hard-hit by Climate Change
“It's no wonder Latinos in the United States overwhelmingly demand climate action: They are extremely vulnerable to hazard and harm from this widening environmental threat,” said Adrianna Quintero, a co-author of the report and director of partner engagement at NRDC. “In so many ways—from where they live and work to dire challenges they face in gaining access to health care—Latinos are at Ground Zero for climate impacts.
“But there's a silver lining— Latinos, and all Americans, also can gain real and sizable health and economic benefits as we cut the carbon pollution driving climate change and transition to smarter, cleaner energy that powers our future,” Quintero said.
“Nuestro Futuro,” a comprehensive review of dozens of the latest studies and reports in the United States lays out the array of health and economic impacts that Latinos face as a result of climate change:
- A majority live in California, Texas, Florida and New York, states that are among the most affected by extreme heat, air pollution, and flooding.
- Latinos are heavily represented in crop and livestock production and construction, where they're at elevated risk from climate-change-boosted extreme heat. They are three times more likely to die on the job from excessive heat than non-Latinos.
- Latinos generally have less health insurance coverage than non-Latinos, so they struggle to access health care when afflicted by climate-related illnesses.
There is a flip-side: U.S. Latinos also stand to receive tremendous health, safety and economic benefits from action to reduce the impacts of climate change. This helps explain why Latinos—often seen as mainly concerned about immigration issues—rank acting on climate high as a national priority. Furthermore, the report notes, they can help accelerate a clean energy revolution, creating clean energy jobs, saving people money on electric bills and protecting future generations from climate catastrophe.
“The millions of people in the United States who identify as Hispanic or Latino are remarkably diverse—and remarkably united. They are worried that climate change, if unchecked, will harm their families, communities, and country. And they want action now to avoid its worst impacts,” said Maria Cardona, a board member of Voces Verdes who participated in the telephone-based press conference held to release the report.
The Nuestro Futuro report highlights these polling findings:
- 9 in 10 Latinos want climate action, and 86 percent support carbon pollution limits on power plants- a key driver of climate change. In contrast, a recent Associated Press poll found that 65 percent of all Americans think climate change is a problem that the government needs to address.
- A majority of Latinos, 59 percent, do not believe there's a trade-off between environmental reforms and economic growth.
The report also catalogues these other health impacts Latinos face:
- Nearly 25 million of the country's 56 million Latinos live in the 15 worst areas for ground-level ozone pollution, which puts people at risk for premature death, lung cancer, asthma attacks and other health ailments. The areas include Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, Dallas, New York and Houston.
- In 2015, 48 percent of the nation's crop and livestock production workers and 28 percent of construction workers were Latinos, working in outdoor jobs that put them at high risk from extreme heat.
- Nationally, farm and construction workers accounted for 58 percent of job-related heat deaths, and Hispanics had three-fold more risk of dying from the heat on the job than non-Hispanics, and the report cites studies in California, North Carolina, and Oregon.
- On average Hispanic children suffer the same from asthma as non-Hispanics, but they are 70 percent more likely to be admitted to the hospital and, alarmingly, twice as like to die from asthma as non-Hispanics.
- And millions of Latinos are undocumented immigrants and not eligible for disaster aid offered to help people recover from extreme weather damages to property.
Flooding from sea level rise and storms, both amplified by climate change, also hit Latino families especially hard. Many of them live along the coasts, often lack health insurance and have fewer resources to become resilient when confronted by climate impacts, according to the report.
For example, southern Florida—home to 2.7 million Hispanics—could experience some of the highest impacts from rising seas and hurricane-driven flooding in the country. Communities including Miami, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg could see floodwaters rushing higher and farther into their streets with climate change, according to the report.
“Millions of Latinos live in cities with pollution-choked air and along our coasts where seas are rising. They are in the vortex of climate health impacts,” said Juan Declet-Barreto, a health scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists who participated in the report release. “We know this: If we don't reduce the carbon pollution fueling climate change, more will become ill, and more will die.”
Finally, the report concludes with recommendations that urge Latinos and all Americans to support full implementation of the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution and expand clean energy; back policies that track and cut air pollution in the nation's transportation system; demand strong energy efficiency programs from utilities; and work to accelerate policies that promote clean wind and solar power and the jobs they'll create.
“There is a huge, untapped opportunity to reduce electricity bills for Latinos, including the nearly five million Hispanic residents in multifamily rental housing,” said Jorge Madrid, a Voces Verdes board member also participating in the report release. “Increasing investment in energy efficiency programs could help reduce energy burdens and energy consumption in Latino and other underserved communities, cut costs associated with late bill payments and shutoffs, boost the local economy—and create many clean energy jobs.”
Source: Published originally on NRDC, Latinos Are Especially Hard-hit by Climate Change by Jake Thompson and Elizabeth Heyd, October 13, 2016.