HENV-06
Jambo
henv-06.docx· Redding assignment,View http://www.cdc.gov/cdcgrandrounds/archives/2015/october2015.htm
Group Consensus-I – Dirty Jobs: (2 points)
One of the dirtiest jobs around is working in restaurants and bars, especially if there is no smoking ordinance. Most people don’t realize this, but the occupational health effects of (what amounts to) involuntary second-hand smoke exposure for restaurant and bar workers was a primary justification for enacting restaurant bans for many jurisdictions. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44324/. Workers have a right to clean air at the workplace!
Now e-cigarettes are on the scene. They are smokeless nicotine delivery products that emit a vapor. The Columbia City Council recently added e-cigarettes to our current tobacco ordinance which effectively bans e-cigarettes from restaurants. https://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Documents/article-ix-smoking.pdf . However, there are arguments for and against this idea, and of course a need to make an evidence-based decision. Check out the CDC Grand Rounds at http://www.cdc.gov/cdcgrandrounds/archives/2015/october2015.htm. The whole thing is good, but the toxicology discussion starts at about the 18 minute mark. Discuss among your group and especially focus on the potential occupational health issues for restaurant and bar workers who may potentially be exposed to these vapors for 8 hours a day (versus individual right to use e-cigarettes). Discuss under “Dirty Jobs” forum and submit 2 page consensus of your group recommendation under group assignments.
Group Consensus-II (2 points) – “Keep Calm and Don’t Panic”
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/02/us/nina-pham-hospital-lawsuit/index.html
Discuss the worker safety issues described in these law suits regarding 1) protection of health care professionals caring for ebola patients, and 2) quarantining of health care professionals following exposure to ebola at the workplace. Consider unintended consequences (eg health/mental health) and possible future implications for health care workers and managing ebola. In your group, come to a consensus on whether these two nurses should win their lawsuits. How do we best protect our health care workers from ebola? Should we quarantine asymptomatic health care workers returning from West Africa or any that care for ebola patients in US? Should we only quarantine them if they become symptomatic? Include your rationale and justification in 2 pages. Discuss under forum “Keep Calm and Don’t Panic” and submit consensus under group assignments.
