Public health and safety: Remembering the swine flu outbreak of 1976

Image source: discovermagazine.com

In the later parts of winter of 1976, a novel influenza strain caused respiratory infection for hundreds of people in Fort Dix, located at the heart of New Jersey. In today's article, Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders remembers the swine flu outbreak of 1976.

The virus that led to the outbreak seemed related to the virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic, which infected and took the lives of more than 100 million people around the world. What makes it all the stranger was that in 1918, Fort Dix was also one of the virus' points of origin.

With history already giving a stern warning, World Health Organization officials started to plan for what could be a very deadly situation in the middle of winter.

Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders recounts that while WHO's decision was to wait and see the pattern of the virus and track the numbers of infections, President Gerald Ford's administration was determined to vaccinate as many Americans as possible. By the end of March, no less than the President himself announced the government's plan, and emergency legislation was signed a few weeks later.

Image source: discovermagazine.com

Six months after that, political figures, including the President and celebrities, were shown being vaccinated. Within 10 months, a fourth of the U.S. population at the time had been vaccinated.

Thankfully, people only had mild flu symptoms, and there were no serious outbreaks outside the U.S. Until now, people debate the need for the mass vaccination, with some experts calling the whole situation a "fiasco" and "the pandemic that never was."

Learn more about Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders and his work by visiting this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

The importance of fall prevention training in the workplace

Image source: atlinjurylawyers.com

Workplace injuries are often the result of employer negligence. The most frequently cited violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards is fall protection. Occupational falls and other injuries can be prevented by ensuring that proper training is given to all workers who may face occupational falls and reviewing fall risks periodically.

Fall prevention training applies to every workplace as any surface can cause individuals to fall and slip. Among the most frequent causes of slips and falls is the lack of traction between the surface of the floor and a person's foot. Some types of footwear provide good traction while others lack the grip one needs to walk without slipping, shares Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP.

It's integral for employers to hold fall protection training to provide employees the proper knowledge to face the common occupational health and safety issue. Along with adequate fall protection and prevention training, employers must also provide employees working in hazardous environments with personal protective equipment to decrease the occurrence of falls and slips in the workplace. Fall prevention training and guidelines on tasks that involve scaffolding, roofing work, and ladders are available online.

Image source: safetyandhealthmagazine.com

For Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, conducting safety inspection and hazard assessment are other important steps employers need to take to address the occupational health and safety concern. In addition, some employers can opt to develop solutions that are specific to their workplace issues and tailor-fit training appropriate for their work environment. These steps are especially integral in workplaces where certain hazards are present in one's line of work.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, has been greatly involved in the field of occupational health and safety. His expertise lies in biological safety, occupational safety and health, environmental health services, and infectious disease epidemiology. Head over to this page for related posts.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

Two signs that a building may be dealing with an infestation

Image source: riverdalepress.com

Martin Lloyd Sanders is an expert on occupational safety, and one of the things that he always deals with is health hazards in the workplace. Many of these health hazards involve biological factors and infestations of all sorts. This blog discusses two signs that a building may be dealing with an infestation.

1. Mold

You might think that it's very common to encounter mold in the workplace every so often. Usually, these become more visible in corners and other tight spaces in your office. However, what is scarier is that any visible population of mold that you see is possibly just the tip of the iceberg. Molds are fungi, and these tend to grow in huge numbers in the dark. That bit of mold in the corner of your office ceiling is the least of your worries. You should be more concerned with a more massive colony potentially residing in your ceiling in its entirety.

2. Rodents

In the office, you may have experienced getting the snack you stashed stolen by somebody else, and so you say that you smell a "rat" in the workplace, which is probably one of your workmates. However, this is not always a figurative meaning. If your food items suddenly go missing, you may literally have a rodent infestation at work. Watch out for messy scraps of food and food wrappers scattered in odd places. Also, watch out for rat droppings.

Image source: medicalnewstoday.com

You must remember that molds and rodents carry with them several harmful diseases. If you don't act on the problem quickly, you might have difficulty dealing with it later. Your wisest approach is to have a regular inspection a few times within a year. That's because employee safety should be the company's number one priority.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, led a portfolio of safety, environmental policy, and emergency management services and regulatory oversight for US Department of Health and Human Services. For related reading, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Practicing safety culture in the workplace

 

Safety has always been paramount for Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders. And no less than the workplace needs more attention because of the hazards involved in a busy atmosphere that workers are engaged in. So here's an article from the safety expert, which will look into the practice of safety culture in the workplace.

Image source: wordpress.com 

First, what is safety culture? The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) defines safety culture as consisting " … of shared beliefs, practices, and attitudes that exist at an establishment. Thus, culture is the atmosphere created by those beliefs, attitudes, etc., which shape our behavior." Moreover, safety culture should also work together with a company's existing safety procedures and influence each other for a more holistic approach.

Most experts believe that safety culture is largely abstract and therefore cannot be measured. But there are ways to determine how it is practiced by an organization, which can be applied to those who are yet to establish their own.

Image source: gstatic.com

In his observations, Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders noted that the things that stand out among safety culture practices are that employees throughout the organization exhibit a working knowledge of health and safety topics. In addition, the company shows visible evidence of financial investment in health and safety.

These two characteristics or indicators of safety culture show a commitment from all levels of the organization. There is leadership, and there is cooperation, which brings back to the earlier assertion that safety culture should work hand-in-hand with safety procedures, despite being immeasurable. This is a welcoming thought.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders has more than a decade of experience in the field of occupational health and safety. He served as the Director of Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management of the Federal Occupational Health, Program Support Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. He was acting Chief of Safety for the Department of Health and Human Safety (DHHS). For more updates, click here.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

A look at the ideal emergency bags

 

If history has taught anything, it's that disasters can happen at any time and when you least expect them. People have to do what they can to prepare themselves for the worst. This is why disaster survival kits or bags need to become a must-have for every household.

Image source: stormassist.org

According to public safety expert Martin Lloyd Sanders, the contents of emergency bags should have everything a person or a small group would need to survive for a few days.

Below is a shortlist of the essentials.

1. First aid kit

There is perhaps nothing more essential to an emergency bag than a first aid kit. From cleaning and patching up small wounds to preventing infection to providing the basic medication, first aid kits are nothing but indispensable to a person's survival.

Image source: maca.gov.nt.ca 

2. Water (at least a few liters) and water bottles

Many survival experts say that the rule of thumb of putting together an emergency bag is having at least a liter of water a day. Also, it's best to use reusable water bottles instead of plastic mineral water bottles since the plastic could contaminate the water if left sitting for a long time.

3. Bleach

Bleach is a surprising addition to an emergency bag mainly because it can be used to help disinfect water from sources like tap or rivers or lakes, Martin Lloyd Sanders adds.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is an expert in biological safety and security. He has used his skills in his involvement in resolving biosafety and biosecurity issues both in the U.S. and abroad. Read more about his expertise on this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States Government.

Classes of biosafety cabinets

 

There are three classes or categories of biosafety cabinets that everyone should know. Each type is described in this article - how each one will work and what suitable environment are they used. Martin Lloyd Sanders has compiled them below to provide information to those whose line of work involves the use of these specialized ventilating equipment.

Image source: microbeonline.com

Class 1

It is a ventilated cabinet for the protection of personnel and their working environment. They have limited application, however. Nevertheless, a Class 1 biosafety cabinet uses a HEPA filter at the exhaust outlet and uses unreciculated airflow away from the operator. These types of cabinets are suitable for agents requiring Biosafety Level 1, 2, or 3 containment.

Class 2

Class 2 cabinets offer personnel, environment, and product protection, often used in microbiological work or sterile pharmacy compounding. These cabinets are designed with an open front with three adjustments for each category: inward airflow for personnel protection, downward HEPA-filtered laminar airflow for product protection, and HEPA-filtered exhaust air for environmental protection.

Image source: windows.net

Class 3

These are highly specialized biosafety cabinets also called "glove boxes." It protects similarly with a Class 2 cabinet but is designed for working with Biosafety Level 4 highly infectious agents. This type of cabinet provides the highest level of protection for personnel, product, and the environment. These cabinets are totally enclosed, have leak-tight construction, and attached rubber gloves to enable personnel to work on something inside the cabinet.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., has more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which even includes biological safety, biosecurity, infectious disease epidemiology, environmental health services, among others. He also received his certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. For more posts like this, visit this blog.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

Some noteworthy facts about biosafety that you should know

 

Martin Lloyd Sanders has expertise in health and safety practices because he has immersed himself in the industry's various aspects that he has practiced in for the longest time. He is well-versed in biosafety and today shares some noteworthy facts on this subject.

Image source: inside.ewu.edu

1. Biosafety is understood as preventing large-scale loss of biological integrity, which places a special focus on ecology and human health. Functionally, biosafety is heavily relied upon to protect from harmful incidents. For instance, laboratories handling biohazards employ an ongoing risk management assessment and enforcement process for biosafety, notes Martin Lloyd Sanders. Failure in this could lead to catastrophic consequences.

2. Nowadays, with the looming shadow of the pandemic, it's easy to associate biosafety with viral outbreaks. While this is true, this is by no means an exclusive affair that pertains to human health alone. Biosafety is also a concern in the agricultural industry, and it does not affect only animals but also plants. For instance, when a plant disease has been detected out of genetically modified plants, containment measures are employed to isolate it from the natural environment.

Image source: iberdrola.com

3. There is no one fixed set of parameters that defines biosafety. Most industry scholars believe in the importance of continuous research to proceed and uncover problems and solutions. The science in biosafety is well-used in military and national defense, especially where biological warfare is concerned. It is also a key factor in Mars exploration, as all scientists agree that no biological contaminants from our planet should reach Mars and vice versa.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is a public health professional and was the Director for Safety, Environmental Compliance and Emergency Management in Federal Occupational Health (FOH/PSC). He also served as Chief Scientist for USPHS from 2013 to 2017. Visit this page for similar reads.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

Beyond COVID-19: A look at other airborne diseases

 

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders has devoted his life to helping keep people safe and healthy. He has continued to work through the current global health crisis, to do what he can. One of the things he consistently accomplishes is releasing monthly blogs to inform and educate the people on the many important points of health and safety.

Image source: vancourier.com

Martin Lloyd Sanders notes that with the world’s attention on COVID-19, it’s easy to forget that there are countless other diseases out there. For today’s blog, he shares a quick review of some of the important facts on airborne diseases.

Method of spreading

As the name suggests, airborne diseases are spread through the air, when people cough, sneeze, or accidentally spew or spray nasal or throat secretions into the air. Bacteria and viruses from the sick person linger in the air, which may possibly land on other people in the vicinity.

Image source: alphamedical.sk

Some common variants

There are a number of variants of airborne diseases, with the most common being the common cold. It can be caused by a number of viruses, such as the rhinovirus. Influenza is another common airborne disease. The flu, as it is also called, is extremely contagious with the virus staying active for five to seven days.

Prevention

Martin Lloyd Sanders reminds everyone that, as easy as it is to catch airborne diseases, prevention is just as simple. From wearing a face mask to covering one’s mouth when coughing, to simply being conscious and considerate, the spread on and infection from airborne diseases can be prevented.

CaptainMartin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., obtained his degree in zoology at the University of California and his doctorate from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. Visit this page for similar reads.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

Practical steps to ensure a safe and virus-free workplace

 

Health and safety in the workplace continue to be the priority even with the mass rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. With new strains of the virus emerging, it's important to continue practicing the health protocols to minimize infections. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, shares these practical steps to keep one's workplace virus-free.

Image source: Unsplash.com

Regular testing

This is especially important for those working outside of the office, such as construction sites, warehouses, and other venues. Getting tested for the virus will not only ensure the safety of one person but also the people they work and live with. While contact tracing efforts are getting better, it might still be difficult to identify where a person might have contracted the virus. Testing is also important for individuals who are living in places where there are high transmission rates.

Modify work hours

Public health experts like Martin Lloyd Sanders say that one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus is to lessen close contact with other people. In the workplace, this can be done by making sure that only a few people are in one area. Aside from installing barriers, implementing the wearing of masks, and practicing physical distancing, it might also help to allow employees to work different hours than usual. Companies can do this by shortening on-site hours or by allowing employees to take on different shifts to prevent everyone from coming to the office at the same time.

Image source: Healthline.com

Change the work area

The pandemic has exposed what needs to be changed in the structure of many offices. Closed spaces need to have better ventilation by installing air filters and purifiers. The windows must also be regularly opened to allow the air to circulate. As much as possible, sharing items and working too closely must also be prevented. Even in the seating arrangement, physical distancing must be practiced. There must be designated hand sanitation areas, especially in common spaces, to encourage hand hygiene.

Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., has over a decade of service in the occupational health and safety sector. He is also a multi-awarded scientist and US Army veteran. For more on health and safety, visit this blog.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.

On volunteerism and ways to help in times of crisis

 

While Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders is first and foremost an expert on safety and health, he believes that lending a hand and volunteering are integral parts of a community's overall betterment. He points out that countless nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private corporations have, throughout the years, took it upon themselves to make a difference in the world. 

Image source: redcrossyouth.org

 

For today's blog, Martin Lloyd Sanders looks at volunteerism, which he considers a privilege for those willing to give their time, and the many ways people can help out in times of crisis. To put things in context, he mentions the global organization Red Cross as his blueprint for today's blog discussion– since the Red Cross to this day remains the gold standard in providing relief and vital services to people who need them.

The first step in volunteering to help in times of crisis is to receive training. And Martin Lloyd Sanders notes that this is not some training that can be done online. There should be a practical aspect of it wherein volunteers go through simulations. There are workshops and seminars given by organizations everywhere on subjects such as bleeding control, basic life support, and risk assessment. 

Image source: nytimes.com

Second, volunteers need to realize that to serve in times of crisis can involve a broad range of activities, from search-and-rescue and life-saving operations to assisting children and the elderly evacuate areas and making them comfortable.

Finally, Martin Lloyd Sanders mentions that when a person has had proper training and a good idea of the things they have to do, they have to have the proper equipment. The proper equipment ranges from first-aid kits to flashlights, flares, tactical gear (outfits), a Swiss army knife, and food and clothing, among other things.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., has more than a decade of service in the occupational safety and health sector. He possesses extensive experience in biological defense activities and infectious disease outbreak investigation. Learn more about him and his expertise by checking out this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.