This case study is to determine how to organize a safe clean up procedure to the Big New Orleans Hospital that underwent a lot of destruction after the strong Karina Hurricane hit New Orleans city. The procedure is meant to guide the employees and other specialist on how to undertake health hazards measures and look into operations that may cause chronic diseases to the employees and the patients to come.
After a hurricane there is usually, too much destruction caused due to the floods drainage openings soil erosion and displaced animals. The incident commander in charge of the clean up procedure should be aware that these factors could be dangerous to the people trying to undertake a cleanup procedure. Therefore, while the recruited team is preparing to undertake the cleanup process it should consider and be aware of the following factors (Capello, n.d., p.4). There may be dangerous animals that have sought refuge in hidden place like cabinets that may bite the person trying to clean up. The bites may also be harmful and may cause illness. The hurricane may have weakened certain areas of the building. This weakening may be due to ground erosions and in the end, the buildings may collapse on the cleaners if they are not aware. In certain places of the building there may be confined spaces created. This may be dangerous as they may cause injuries to the employees. For example a hole on the floor that may be hidden by the fallen, object. If it is not identified by the cleaner, he may break a leg when he falls in the hole. In addition falling and flying objects maybe a concern. They may fall on the employees while they work. Also, the electrification may occur in case of los wires. If they are connected to water, they may transfer electric shocks first and can kill someone who is not aware.
While the team is planning to take the cleanup process, they should be provided with necessary equipments for their procedure. This includes cleaning materials, proper wear to avoid contamination in case of any contaminated surface or item. They should also be guided on how to undertake the cleaning process efficiently and effectively. These are some of the things to consider while undertaking the cleaning process. The employees should have limited contact with the water flooding in the basement of the hospital. This water may contain certain sewage debris and other dangerous substances that may cause illness in case a person has direct contact with it (United States of America environmental protection agency, n.d., para. 10). Therefore, in case the employee working on this area has got in affected by the water or conditions in that area he may have stomach upsets migraines that are sharp and continuous or intestinal problems. In case these symptoms are experienced, the person should be relieved of duties and undergo medical checkup right away. Another concern that the workers should be guided on is clearing of the mould. Moulds are experienced highly in areas where there is moisture as that is the temperature required for them to bread. The workers should look for areas that have stagnant water and control areas that have moisture by drying them completely (United States of America environmental protection agency, n.d., para. 11). When this is done, it will reduce the risk of getting health hazards that are brought about by moulds.
Those working in cafeterias should be told off the dangers of testing things by mouth. This food may not look spoilt but it is advisable to use other testing equipments to determine if they are still good and fit for consumption or not. The ideology behind this is that, the foods may have contaminated certain chemicals through the flow of water in the hospital. Ingesting these chemicals may be dangerous to an individual’s health. Because the workers will be living around the area where the hospital is situated they should consider boiling the water they drink at all times until the time it is confirmed that it is free of danger. Reason being that the water maybe contaminated with chemicals. Moreover, if any one drinks it then he may be prone to very harmful diseases.
Generators will be highly used in such incidents. This is because the electrical connections that are disrupted may take long to be fixed. Therefore, a lot of precaution should be used while using generators. These generators should be put outside the building due to the toxic nature of their exhaust. The carbon dioxide produced by generators if inhaled in excess may lead to death. In addition, even if the generators are put outside they should be very far from doors or windows and other air ventilators. This will allow oxygen to circulate freely that is useful for the people working in that building.
While conducting a cleanup process, the incident commander in charge should provide the workers with Personal Protective Equipments (PPE). These tools should be used to control certain health hazards that may be experienced while undertaking a cleanup. The health hazards that may be experienced include heat stress, confined spaces, falling objects, musculoskeletal hazards, carbon monoxide and electric hazards. Fr those working in flooded areas they may need the following items for protection purposes, heavy work glove to avoid contact with the water that may be contaminated. Hard hats are also important. These hats may protect the workers from falling objects and avoid head injuries (Centre for disease control and prevention, n.d., para 6). Another important tool is goggle or safety glasses. These will prevent objects or flying insects that may enter the eyes of the workers. Boots, which are watertight, should be recommended for the workers. They boots should also have steel toe and insole, to avoid sharp objects that may have hidden on the water from pricking or cutting the worker. In addition, hearing aid should be provided. This is important because the noise of equipments form different corners that are being arranged may cause ear damage (Centre for disease control and prevention, n.d., para 6).
When grouping the workers it is important that the incident commander in charge to consider the level of experience the workers while undertaking the renovation process. For example those who are entitled to work in confined areas should be experienced in that area. This is because they will be working in areas with limited openings small areas for entry and unfavorable ventilation that can either contain dangerous air contaminants or produce carbon monoxide. There may be loose buildings that may collapse easily, and specialists who can figure out such issues should be recommended in such areas.
In the Hospital, there may be very dangerous equipments that need to be put away. These equipments include damaged gas cylinders that can ignite fire anytime without knowing. The heavy objects like medical appliances often placed on near or above the patients’ beds. The pharmaceutical appliances like drugs, syringes and chemicals that may be dangerous in the hospital during clean up should be removed. Spilled chemicals may cause illness to the workers as they undertake their duties (Disasters and hospitals, n.d., p.15). In addition when communicating, it is vital for the workers to tie their mouths with pieces of cloth. This will avoid air bone diseases that may be available and contingent. Therefore, the continual method of mouth communications, occurrence of solid and liquid disposals as a result of disposal by the floods and occurrence of specialized gases, chemicals and fuels that may be dangerous should all be put outside the building (Disasters and hospitals, n.d., p.15).
In conclusion, the above guidance and roles played by each member of the recruited team to make a renovation in the Big New Orleans Hospital would help the workers be safe while undertaking their duties. In addition, the workers get to know how to work together and look after each other while they undertake their duties.
Reference List
Cappello, J.( n.d). Hurricane Katrina: An overview. Retrieved 26, October, 2012 from
http://www.asse.org/practicespecialties/environmental/docs/KatrinaSpecialNewsletter.pdf
Centre for disease control and prevention: Storm, flood and hurricane response. (n.d.).
Retrieved
26, October, 2012 from
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/pre-workers.html
Disasters and hospitals. (n.d.). Retrieved 26, October, 2012 from
http://www.paho.org/english/ped/mit3-chapter1.pdf
United States of America environmental protection agency: Hurricanes (n.d.). Retrieved 26,
October, 2012 from
http://www.epa.gov/hurricanes/
