Synergist - June/July 2009

Part one describes 10 principles for characterizing and communicating uncertainty in exposure assessment, and part two addresses issues of data quality. The publication is available for $40 from the WHO Press.

ASSE Issues Revised Standard

In a May 15 press release, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) announced the approval and availability of the newly revised American National Standard ANSI/ASSE Z490.1-2009 “Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health, and Environmental Training.” The standard calls for qualified training to ensure that workers and OEHS professionals have the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to protect themselves and others in the workplace.

Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on April 21, the ANSI/ASSE Z490.1-2009 standard applies a broad range of training and training programs in order to specify how to adequately design, develop, deliver and evaluate training. The standard is available in print and electronic format by contacting ASSE customer service at (847) 699-2929 or customerservice@asse.org.

WHO Declares “Swine Flu” Pandemic

In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the new strain of influenza A virus responsible for 140 deaths worldwide was elevated to pandemic alert phase 6, a full-scale pandemic.

The current strain of the subtype H1N1 virus, a mutated ver-
sion of a strain that typically infects pigs, first surfaced in Mex-
ico in April. WHO reported that as of June 11, almost 30,000
confirmed cases were reported in 74 countries. The new virus
differs from other flu strains in that it
has mainly infected young people,
who are usually not susceptible to the
flu.

Although H1N1 is seemingly moderate in its level of severity, Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, warned that the pandemic could have devastating effects on regions with limited resources, deficient health care and pervasive pre-existing medical problems.

“Countries should prepare to see
cases, or the further spread of cases,
in the near future,” Chan declared in a June 11 statement to the
press. “Countries where outbreaks appear to have peaked should
prepare for a second wave of infection. Guidance on specific
protective and precautionary measures has been sent to min-
istries of health in all countries.”
AIHA offers resources for industrial hygienists seeking guide-
lines, resources and other information regarding the manage-
ment of a workforce during a pandemic. The Role of the
Industrial Hygienist in a Pandemic, written by the AIHA
Biosafety and Environmental Microbiology Committee, identi-
fies hazards, risk groups and recommended controls; offers a
communication plan; describes the impact of a flu pandemic on