After the Pandemic
Planning for a Better “Normal”
CONTENTS
AFTER THE PANDEMIC
PLANNING FOR A BETTER “NORMAL”
For most of the past year, occupational and environmental health and safety professionals have been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. At some point, however, pandemic operations will demobilize. How, then, will OEHS professionals lead their workplaces to a new, post-pandemic “normal?”
BY DANA STAHL
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FROM BEST PRACTICE TO POLICY
DEVELOPING A COVID-19 PREVENTION PROGRAM
While vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 provide cause for optimism, their incomplete efficacy, missteps in mass vaccination efforts, and the virus’s rapid mutation mean that approaches to infection control not reliant on vaccination remain necessary. Developing and implementing a strong infection control plan has never been more urgent, as a matter of best practice and regulatory compliance. BY MARK DROZDOV
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TAKING COMMAND OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE
A PRIMER ON THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT AND INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEMS
Emergency incidents that require the specialized skills of industrial hygiene and OEHS professionals are occurring with greater frequency, so IH/OEHS professionals must be integrated into the response system. Two of the most important aspects of planning for and responding to disasters are the Incident Command System and the National Incident Management System.
BY KENNETH C. ECK
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SPONSORED ARTICLE: ASSESSING A UBIQUITOUS HAZARD
WORKPLACE NOISE MEASUREMENT CAN BE EASIER
Exposure to hazardous noise is a ubiquitous occupational hazard. Although common, noise exposure can be one of the most difficult hazards to assess. This difficulty can be alleviated by a firm understanding of the basics of noise and the use of well-designed instruments for measuring it.
BY LUCINETTE ALVARADO
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CONTRIBUTORS
DANA STAHL, FEATURE AUTHOR
MARK DROZDOV, FEATURE AUTHOR
Mark Drozdov has contributed to the backtoworksafely.org guidelines; is vice-chair of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification Board of Directors; and serves on the AIHA, IICRC, and Restoration Industry Association COVID-19 Joint
Task Force.
KENNETH C. ECK, FEATURE AUTHOR
Kenneth C. Eck, CIH, CSP, is director of Environmental Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, and Educational Services at Quality Environmental Solutions and Technologies Inc.
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The Synergist's mission is to provide AIHA members with news and information about the occupational and environmental health and safety fields and the industrial hygiene profession. The Synergist focuses on industry trends and news, government and regulatory activities, key issues facing the profession, appropriate technical information and news on association events and activities.
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