Raw milk poses health risks, including bacterial contamination and potential bird flu transmission. Expert stress pasteurization’s importance for safety, as outbreaks linked to raw milk have caused illnesses among vulnerable populations like children and elderly. (UDAILY)
Asbestos is a material that was widely used in many building materials which are still found around us today. While it is still in use in a few different materials today, much of its use was stopped in the late 1980s after research revealed the negative health effects associated with its fibers. Many people have heard that asbestos is bad for human health, but do not understand how or why this is the case.
What is Asbestos and Where is it Found?Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. It has been used in products, such as insulation for pipes (steam lines for example), floor tiles, building materials, and in vehicle brakes and clutches. Some occupations whose workers have historically been exposed include construction workers, demolition crews, shipyard workers, automobile technicians, and those who worked in factories that produced asbestos-containing materials.
The International Agency on Research for Cancer lists all forms of asbestos as “carcinogenic to humans.” A carcinogen is defined as any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer. The reason this mineral is a carcinogen is because of the effects its fibers have on human lungs. Asbestos is made up of extremely small fibers that are naked to the human eye. These fibers can become airborne and stay suspended in the air. When they are breathed in, the fibers can make it past our bodies’ natural defenses and get lodged into the tissue of our lungs. When this occurs, scar tissue begins to form, which reduces the function of our lungs. It eventually progresses to disability and death. Mesothelioma is a common deadly illness caused by exposure to these fibers. Sometimes the effects are not realized for decades after the exposure.
Become familiar with what building products asbestos is found in and what it looks like. Knowing what to look for is important to order to avoid disturbing these materials. There are many materials in our workplaces that still contain asbestos to this day, but it is relatively harmless until it is disturbed in a way that creates airborne fibers. Smashing, breaking up, cutting, or grinding materials that may have asbestos in them should never be done. Creating dust through sweeping is another task that should be avoided if it is thought any of the dust is from materials that contain asbestos. Any asbestos-containing materials that are beginning to break down or flake need to be properly sealed or abated by professionals.
While much of the occupational exposure to asbestos in developed countries has decreased, there is still exposure all across the world to this carcinogen. Cases of mesothelioma are still being diagnosed in the United States today due to exposure decades ago. Protect yourself by not disturbing any materials that could possibly have asbestos in them.
UD’s new $143 million Building X fosters interdisciplinary research in brain science, diseases, and quantum physics, replacing fire damaged McKinley Labs with cutting-edge labs and collaborative spaces to advance innovation, student training, and scientific discovery. (DELAWARE ONLINE)
UD prioritizes safety during winter weather by monitoring conditions, evaluating forecasts, and announcing delays or closures by 6am. Critical services continue, and updates are shared via UD website, social media, emails and the LiveSafe app. (UDAILY)
It is human nature to be reactive instead of proactive in many aspects of life. Our health is one area where many people do not take steps to improve it until after a problem occurs. This is a reactive approach. It is important to have a proactive approach to protecting your health. Going to your doctor for an annual checkup is an important part of a proactive approach to maintaining good health.
The reasons listed above represent only a few of a large number of reasons why people do not go to the doctor annually. None of the reasons listed above should serve as an excuse to avoid going to the doctor. Time and money, especially, should not hold us back from going to the doctor. If a small problem develops into a large problem, so will the time and money needed to address it.
There are many benefits of going for an annual checkup. The most obvious benefit is catching problems before they start or very early before they develop into something major. As we get older, it is important to get screened for certain diseases. A few examples of things that could be screened for are skin cancer, breast cancer, cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and prostate cancer. There are many more ailments and diseases that should be looked at depending on your family history and risk factors.
It is important to help the doctor treat you as well as he or she can. It takes effort on your end to make sure they have the information they need. Fill out health questionnaires as accurately and honestly as possible. Have a plan and write down key things you want to talk about with the doctor when you get to the appointment. Be open with the doctor. Do not be shy or embarrassed to talk about any problems or concerns you may have. They need the right information from you to be able to do the best job they can.
Our health is everything. Without it, we have nothing. Everything you do in your life right now depends on your good health. Make it a point to get to the doctor every year, whether you feel good or not. Catching a small problem before it grows into something major may make all the difference between premature death and living strong for a few more decades.
Discussion point:
UD experts highlight sustainable tips to achieve 2025 New Year resolutions. 1 Break goals into small steps, 2 Repetition and consistency, 3 Make habits rewarding, 4 Plan for obstacles, 5 Seek social support and 6 Practice self-compassion. (UDAILY)
Each winter we talk about the importance of watching for ice. We talk about the ice on the sidewalk, the ice on the driveway, the ice in the parking lot, the ice on the stairs. Each year we talk about the importance of being aware of ice, so you don’t slip.
Today in the toolbox we have a new take on winter’s ice. Look out from above. This from a recent news article:
Deseret News – February 6, 2017
By Pat Reavy
PARK CITY — A 50-year-old Midway man was killed over the weekend when an extremely large chunk of ice fell off a roof and hit him on the head.
“We’re estimating it was at least 700 pounds,” said Park City Deputy Fire Chief Bob Zanetti. “It was larger than what four firefighters could lift off of him.”
Jon Henry, who has a window washing business, was cleaning the windows of a home in Park City’s Old Town district, in the 900 block of Woodside Avenue, on Friday when the large ice chunk fell and hit him on the head and pinned him under the snow.
“We’re not sure how long he was there before he was found. It was probably about 45 minutes,” Zanetti said. A neighbor eventually called 911 after discovering Henry. Rescue crews had to use a sledgehammer to get the heavy ice off him.
Zanetti does not believe the ice fell from the roof due to the window washing. It was just a fluke accident and Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he said.
Both Zanetti and Park City spokeswoman Linda Jager noted the city has received a large amount of snow this winter, and many roofs have accumulated big piles of snow.
Granted we aren’t in the window washing business however there are several instances where similar events have occurred elsewhere. It is important that you are aware of snow and ice on awnings, sloped roofs, and the like. This is especially true when it is starting to melt.
Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29th, 2024. As we remember our 39th President of the US, we remember Jimmy Carter visited UD in 1993 to speak about the importance of renewable energy, specifically solar power. (UDAILY)
Governor Carney ordered the Lowering of flags to honor the passing of former President Carter on December 29, 2024.
Making the decision to follow every single safety rule or procedure does not come naturally to us. We constantly have to work towards making the right decisions every single day. Many times individuals find ways to rationalize not working safely. It is important for each worker to recognize this error trap and address it when it arises.
For the most part, we all know what the right choice is when it comes to safety during a specific work task. Safety training, policies, procedures, labels, etc., all communicate what needs to be done in order to mitigate hazards and work safely. The problem is, there are many factors that affect whether or not we want to make the right decisions at a given moment. A few of these factors include:
Individuals facing one or more of these factors will use them to rationalize to themselves why a certain safety rule does not need to be followed. For example, “I forgot my fall protection, but it will only take a minute to go up and right back down, so I will be fine.” We have all rationalized poor choices- whether it was choosing not to wear fall protection or rationalizing hitting snooze seven times before getting out of bed.
“It is the Normal Thing to Do”When there are other people around who are not making the right choices when it comes to safety, it becomes the “normal” thing to do despite not being the correct thing to do. When the norm is working unsafe, it makes it difficult for even the individuals who want to work safely to do so. Do not rely on a supervisor or safety person to have to tell you to do the right thing. Make the choice to do what is right despite what others may be doing.
Recognize when you are falling into the trap of rationalizing a poor decision, whether that is in your personal life or while on the job. Fight the urge to make the easy decision. Be a worker who follows the rules and helps reinforce a norm of adhering to safe work practices and procedures.
Discussion point: What is an example of rationalizing a decision to work unsafe?
