Transcript Operation PPE – Developing a Safety First Culture for Iowa

Operation PPE – Developing
a Safety First Culture for
Iowa Environmental Public
Health
2007 - 2008
Cory Frank, BA, Iowa Department of
Public Health
Des Moines, Iowa
February 2007
Background
The need for this safety first attitude and agency culture has become
especially evident due to recent events involving environmental
public health factors, preparedness planning efforts, and local funding
gaps including:
 Recent emergencies that involved environmental health
responders or responders effected
 by environmental contaminants- such as the collapse and
cleanup of the World Trade Center Towers in 2001, Hurricane
Katrina, and local public health outbreaks in Iowa involving
endemic fungal species and parasitic organisms like H.
capsulatum and Cryptosporidium.
 Flooding events in rural Iowa have created the need for
environmental assessments by local environmental health
specialists to respond to local emergency management
requests.
 Funding provided to local public health agencies has not
incorporated environmental health responders into agency
safety programs if even available.
 Local environmental health agencies have developed
emergency response plans.
Problem Statement

Why with the important role that
environmental health plays in response
efforts in the post 9/11 and Hurricane
Katrina era, do local environmental public
health practitioners not have adequate
knowledge or levels of personal
protection equipment (PPE) or active
occupational safety programs?
Behavior Over Time Graph
Preparedness Funding for local Public Health
Quick
Fixes
EH Use of
PPE by local
EH
Risk to EH due to more
involvement in Emergency
Response
EH Stock of PPE
Time
(14)
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Contributing Factors
Creation of local environmental public health response
plans involves the use of local EH in the response curve.
CDC Preparedness grant funding was created to involve
local and State EH agencies; incorporating the need and
use of PPE in job action sheets and when responding.
● Current grant project surveyed local EH to determine
that they lack essential job related PPE. Local health
departments do not have occupational safety programs
to prevent injury during regular job duties let alone an
environmental public health emergency.
 Local public health agencies have purchased PPE
for some public health responders such as nurses but
not EH. Also, items such as N95 respirators have been
purchased and distributed without proper fit testing or
medical monitoring of users.
 Creation of the IDPH EHRT (team) has promoted
the roles of EH in emergency response.
Limits to Success
I won’t get hurt and won’t take my
work home with me SO WHY DO I
NEED IT!
Little or no data
showing risk or
actual injury or death
from EH workers or
responders
Lack of Occupational
health programming
envelopment in EH
education and training
B
REAL World
emergencies and
tragedy have increased
the need for Safe EH
emergency response
R
Local/State EH NEED TO
use PPE performing daily
work and respond to
emergencies
B
No enforcement and buy
in of local or State
occupational safety
programs
Funding to local
EH from Grants
We don’t need to use PPE
because we don’t ever
respond
EH response training
and information
including
credentialing in Iowa
I never have used
PPE before WHY
SHOULD I NOW?
Fixes That Backfire
Collaboration with Public Health Nursing
We don’t need
PPE we never
use it
Flexibility provided
2.
1.
Fix – Money, tools,
templates given to local
public health
Local EH lacks PPE
B
Increased EH involvement in emergency
response activities
R
R
Unintended Consequences-Local EH
when provided funding did not
purchase PPE
3.
I don’t have a voice and opinion is not validated
Program Goal

To reduce the risk of disease and injury to
local Iowa Environmental health
professionals due to the availability and
knowledge of use of PPE (Personal
Protection Equipment) by creating an
occupational safety culture within local
and State environmental public health.
Process Objectives
1.
By July 30th, 2008 75% Iowa local
environmental health departments will
have received awareness materials and
training regarding the critical value and
use of PPE while performing normal job
functions and response activities.
National Goals Supported
 10
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Monitor environmental and health status to identify
community health problems.
Diagnose and investigate environmental health
problems and health hazards in the community.
Develop policies and plans
Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and
ensure safety
Assure a competent environmental health workforce
CDC Health Protection goals


Essential EH Services
People prepared for emerging health threats
CDC National Strategy to Revitalize
Environmental Public Health
Thank You!
Cory Frank
Iowa Department of Public Health, EH Services Bureau, Des
Moines, Iowa 50319
[email protected]
(515) 281-8561