You are an Industrial Hygienist for a large New
Orleans Hospital who was evacuated to Baton Rouge after the Katrina
disaster. It is 6 weeks after the event and you have been given the
responsibility to supervise a team that will return to the
hospital, evaluate the situation and participate in a plan to
re-establish basic medical needs for the workers involved in the
recovery effort. Your team is composed of the hospital’s current
Safety Supervisor (programs and training), the Environmental
Manager (physical plant, wastes and regulatory issues), and two
technicians (versed in IH and environmental sample collection and
testing). Your offices are on the second floor of the building,
along with the surgical suites and clinical laboratory. In your
offices, there is a considerable amount of trash and debris
scattered about with ample evidence of the public’s intrusion to
the area after the event. There are muddy footprints and open
cabinets, along with testing supplies and equipment strewn about
your team’s office area. The basement and much of the first floor
were flooded to a level of about 6 feet. The main administrative
offices, emergency room operations, and cafeteria were on the first
floor. THE BOSS NEEDS….: The Incident Commander (person in-charge
of recovery) for this operation is looking to you for guidance on
the safe entry, safe clean up procedures, appropriate PPE for all
recovery workers, and a hazard assessment for the most critical
items or operations that can cause acute or chronic health effects,
illness or disease. THE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: 1. What
recommendations and guidance would you make to the Incident
Commander to address his concerns and needs? 2. What are the main
Industrial Hygiene concerns for your team and the clean-up recovery
workers? 3. How would you organize your team? 4. What tasks would
you assign to them? 5. What PPE would you require for your team
members and the recovery workers…short term and then later in the
recovery effort? 6. What testing equipment would you require for
your team members? 7. What information would you require from the
different members of your team? 8. How would you delegate certain
duties to your team members? 9. Any other pertinent information you
feel is important and necessary.
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