“We have seen people whose own statutory services have been cut back to the extent where they can see it impacting on their patients and sometimes they ask us to get involved,” she said.Ms Deane said it was an issue the SVP felt “very uncomfortable about” because it did not see funding healthcare as part of its job.
“We are not a healthcare provider,” said Ms Deane, adding that the charity was asked to contribute towards the cost of patient services including educational psychological assessments and occupational therapy.Ms Deane was speaking yesterday prior to the annual Irish Cancer Society Charles Cully lecture in Dublin.
Last December, it was reported that social workers were asking SVP to help in paying for the cleaning of houses, taxi fares, kitchen appliances, and rent arrears for people too sick to work.Ms Deane said she had been involved in health policy formulation with SVP since 2000. “Really, we just wonder what it is going to take to change the whole approach to access to care in this country,” she said.
“We just don’t have enough consultants per capita in this country and that is having a huge impact on people.”Ms Deane said the whole approach to healthcare was ideologically and politically driven but that the charity felt it should be outcome- driven, with access based on need. But, Ms Deane added, this clearly was not the case and never had been.
“We see the people falling through the cracks waiting for care and the impact this was having on them and their families,” she said. “Access to health services should be based on need and Offering Office cleaning Services.”Ms Deane said fast-tracked access is not acceptable, as it excludes those who disadvantaged of structured exclusion. There were people paying the price for poor health policy decision- making over many decades.
“As long as thousands of adults and children continue to live in households which do not have enough for a minimum essential standard of living, they will continue to suffer poorer health outcomes as they simply cannot afford to access the treatment they need,” she said.In Ireland, poorer people are up to 70% more likely to get some cancers and the social and economic factors that impact on people’s health must be tackled, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
Chief executive John McCormack said they had to ensure that everybody, no matter where they lived or how much money they had, got the same high-quality cancer treatment; that they went for screenings; and that they knew how to recognise early symptoms.
However, the consensus up to now has been that South Africa managed to avoid the debt trap through a combination of conservative fiscal policy and proactive legislation.
Certainly, the country’s sovereign debt, at about 40% of gross domestic product, remains relatively low by global standards.
Nor is the average level of individual debt considered to be in the technical danger zone.
Nevertheless, the debt issue is becoming a major problem for South Africa, especially now that the US and Europe appear to have turned the corner economically.
Interest rates are rising, the rand is steadily weakening and foreign currency inflows are slowing just as the demand for capital is picking up in South Africa, on an ambitious state-led infrastructure development programme. Funding that programme was always going to be a difficult task, but with the economy stagnating, tax revenues thinning out and the cost of borrowing on the capital markets ticking up, questions are beginning to be asked about whether budget deficit targets can be achieved, how much more debt the state may have to take on, and how easy that debt will be to service in future.
As far as individuals are concerned, while average personal debt levels remain under control and unsecured loans make up a relatively small percentage of End Of Lease Cleaning on mvpcleaning’ loan books and therefore do not present a systemic risk, social and political factors are at play that could complicate matters. Average debt figures can obscure the true picture, especially in a society as unequal as South Africa’s and with a level of unemployment as high as ours.
In addition, it emerged in the wake of the Marikana massacre that there is a large informal lending sector whose activities do not necessarily get taken into account in the official statistics. Many of the mineworkers involved in the unprotected strike on the Lonmin mine were highly indebted to loan sharks and saw only a fraction of their salaries each month due to excessive debt servicing costs.
Now, with an election a matter of months away and feelings still running high in poor communities such as Marikana, the government has woken from its slumber and rumbled into action. Two of the main personal debt-related initiatives that are now on the table include a proposed credit amnesty, which would see many blacklisted borrowers’ records scrubbed clean, and a review of the garnishee system, in terms of which creditors can use the judicial system to force employers to deduct money from indebted employees’ salaries.It has become abundantly clear that the latter reform is an urgent necessity, although the devil lies in the detail. The former, on the other hand, smacks of political expediency. Both have the potential to have unintended consequences.
The proposed credit amnesty, which is being pushed especially hard by the National Council of Provinces, would benefit about 1.6-million people whose credit ratings have been sullied after defaulting on loans of R10,000 or less. While there is merit to the argument that those who eventually pay off their debts should not be prejudiced in perpetuity, the blanket amnesty that is on the table would almost certainly harm the very people it is supposedly intended to help. That is because with less information available to calculate risk, lending institutions would have either to hike loan costs or refuse more loans.
Past experience of such amnesties has also shown that beneficiaries do not necessarily become any wiser in the way they manage their personal finances; on the contrary, many people are encouraged to borrow more even if they know they will not be able to keep up with the repayments.
Proposed reform of the garnishee system makes far more sense than creating perverse incentives for people to borrow more.Research by law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, with the support of companies that administer garnishee orders on behalf of employers, has revealed a dysfunctional system that is riddled with abuse and blatant fraud. Of the sample of employees who were included in the study, as many as half of the garnishee orders against them were invalid or obtained illegally, and a large proportion of the deductions were being made against loans that had already been paid off or had never existed.
The Gauteng finance department recently revealed that government employees in the province have, on average, six garnishee orders against their monthly salaries. According to the National Debt Mediation Association, a body that helps indebted consumers get their finances in order, there are as many as 3-million such active garnishee orders in South Africa at present.
So bad is the garnishee system that the Treasury is believed to be considering scrapping it altogether. However, this would amount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater and have similar negative consequences to a blanket amnesty for blacklisted debtors. Lenders need to have legal means at their disposal to force those who are able to repay loans but do not, to honour their contractual obligations.
A garnishee system that is properly regulated serves an important function, in the absence of which many lenders would have to simply close their doors.
The main problems with the garnishee system arise from a combination of corruption and poor regulation, specifically court officials being bribed, clerks of the court being allowed to issue the orders instead of magistrates, courts outside employers’ jurisdiction being used to issue orders, and a failure to include end-dates in orders.
The Banking Association of South Africa and the Treasury have formed a task team with a view to cleaning up the garnishee system and ensuring such orders become the instruments of last resort they were originally intended to be. While this is more easily said than done it is imperative that every effort be made to get the unsecured lending and debt recovery system to work.
Monday, September 2, 2013
David Cunliffe Whangarei Speech
Shane, Grant and I have been likened to reality TV and a boy band but actually I’m going to throw out there that we are more like a Band of Brothers fighting a common enemy – and that would be John Key and his National Government.
We are all really different people but that one cause does bind us – and ultimately will be what binds us as a caucus. Because I know that our caucus, our party and the wider Labour movement are actually only after one thing from any of us – to leader Labour into victory in 2014.
When I was a kid my family did it tough at times. My Dad was a country vicar who didn’t earn much and he was seriously ill for part of my teenage years. But, you know what? It was still nowhere near as tough as some of you are doing right now thanks to the National GovernmentThat’s why I am standing here today. Because I know Labour’s values really matter if we are going to have a better future in this country.
I know Labour has the same hopes you do – A better future, with well-paid jobs - ones where you are respected and Best Carpet Cleaning Services - opportunities for our kids; a good state education; housing; free health care and a secure retirement.Those values are as true now as they ever were. And we need to make sure they are hardwired into the policies and decisions of government.
Sadly, that’s not happening right now. John Key and the National Government don’t have the same values the rest of us have.They don’t care about the rights of workers or how tough it is for hard working families to manage the high costs of petrol and power and food and rent.
I want to help the most vulnerable within the workforce. People like cleaners and other service workers, who get beaten down every time a cleaning contract changes hands. And in its latest appalling Employment Relations legislation, the National Government is taking away the last protections for vulnerable workers of so called ‘small employers’.They don’t care about the rights of workers or how tough it is for hard working families to manage the high costs of petrol and power and food and rent.
I want to help the most vulnerable within the workforce. People like cleaners and other service workers, who get beaten down every time a cleaning contract changes hands. And in its latest appalling Employment Relations legislation, the National Government is taking away the last protections for vulnerable workers of so called ‘small employers’.
It wants to give bosses the right to walk away from negotiations without settling. They even want to rob you of your smoko and lunch breaks!What do we want? National gone! When do we want it? Right now!Under a Labour Government that I lead, that legislative rubbish will be gone by lunchtime! That’s right. We will repeal the Employment Relations Amendment Bill and all the other draconian anti-worker laws within our first 100 days as Government.
No more right to fire at will, without even a decent explanation.No more undermining the role of unions, who play a hugely positive role in keeping a workforce together and building safe healthy workplaces.No more taking away your right to strike; no more selling your precious Christmas holidays.
No more removing from the employers the obligations to settle, and wrecking the ability of unions to fight on your behalf. The employment relationship is not equal. It never has been; it never will be. That’s why we need policies and laws that are fair.Under my leadership Labour will have fair industrial relations laws starting with industry standard agreements. In the first 100 days of a Labour Government.
What do we want? National gone! When do we want it? Right now!But that’s not all John Key has done. He has given tax breaks to his big business mates and put up GST for the rest.
John Key and Paula Bennett climbed the ladder. He grew up in a state house, but now won’t let state houses be built in his electorate at Hobsonville. She used the training incentive allowance to get an education and then cancelled it for others. Labour people don’t pull the ladder up once they’ve climbed it.The Labour Government that I will lead will champion full employment. Our aim will be that every New Zealander who is ready, willing and able to work is either in a job or training for Offering Stream Carpet cleaning Services.
That would be a huge change from John Key’s New Zealand, where thousands of applicants lined up for 150 supermarket jobs at one location.But jobs, like money, do not grow on trees. To be credible and responsible as well as visionary, the Labour government I lead will have a solid programme of economic development.
That will be located within sound fiscal management. Labour will be trusted with the public purse and we will not run away with the chequebook. But we must move Government off the side-lines and into new partnerships with communities, regions and local government that will create economic and social value.
They are projects that already exist but don’t neatly fit into Treasury’s business plan, for how they pick projects to support.Like the Oakley to Marsden Point rail link, estimated at about $120 million, which is the kind of project that will create enormous value for the region but can’t get off first base.
Local government wanted it but didn’t have the money for it. Kiwirail wants it but can’t afford it. It doesn’t fit with the Key Government’s transport policies or the narrow way that they evaluate whether to invest. And private sector investors aren’t going to touch it till they can be sure they will be able to recover their costs.Provided we can ensure there is a proper nationwide port strategy, that vessels can navigate the bar, we should ensure the northern railway line is fit for purpose and not let National close it down. That will require some tunnel upgrades to future proof the line.
So a great project like the NorthPort rail link that fulfils Labour’s vision, and have all these regional and social benefits, doesn’t even get off the ground. What a waste!
I saw this in my own electorate with the New Lynn transport interchange. Treasury advised against it. Government Ministers shied away from it. Everyone said it wasn’t doable. But they were looking at it from such a narrow perspective and it took me and a whole lot of others to make sure the bigger economic development picture was included in the numbers.
We need to be bold. We need the Government to be build new partnerships with communities, regions and industries that will get our economy out of first gear and get New Zealanders into good jobs right here in the regions. Economic growth in Northland under Labour was one of the strongest of any province in the country.
The Northland economy has collapsed under National because they lack vision, they leak heart, and they lack imagination. Far too many of our young people are left on the scrap heap waiting for a Labour Government that will drive economic development in all our regions.
And it’s not just Northland. Projects like Eastern Bay of Plenty marine farming, the Christchurch rebuild and smart manufacturing clusters in the Waikato. All show the kind of potential when government, the regions and business work together to lift our game and create jobs.
We are all really different people but that one cause does bind us – and ultimately will be what binds us as a caucus. Because I know that our caucus, our party and the wider Labour movement are actually only after one thing from any of us – to leader Labour into victory in 2014.
When I was a kid my family did it tough at times. My Dad was a country vicar who didn’t earn much and he was seriously ill for part of my teenage years. But, you know what? It was still nowhere near as tough as some of you are doing right now thanks to the National GovernmentThat’s why I am standing here today. Because I know Labour’s values really matter if we are going to have a better future in this country.
I know Labour has the same hopes you do – A better future, with well-paid jobs - ones where you are respected and Best Carpet Cleaning Services - opportunities for our kids; a good state education; housing; free health care and a secure retirement.Those values are as true now as they ever were. And we need to make sure they are hardwired into the policies and decisions of government.
Sadly, that’s not happening right now. John Key and the National Government don’t have the same values the rest of us have.They don’t care about the rights of workers or how tough it is for hard working families to manage the high costs of petrol and power and food and rent.
I want to help the most vulnerable within the workforce. People like cleaners and other service workers, who get beaten down every time a cleaning contract changes hands. And in its latest appalling Employment Relations legislation, the National Government is taking away the last protections for vulnerable workers of so called ‘small employers’.They don’t care about the rights of workers or how tough it is for hard working families to manage the high costs of petrol and power and food and rent.
I want to help the most vulnerable within the workforce. People like cleaners and other service workers, who get beaten down every time a cleaning contract changes hands. And in its latest appalling Employment Relations legislation, the National Government is taking away the last protections for vulnerable workers of so called ‘small employers’.
It wants to give bosses the right to walk away from negotiations without settling. They even want to rob you of your smoko and lunch breaks!What do we want? National gone! When do we want it? Right now!Under a Labour Government that I lead, that legislative rubbish will be gone by lunchtime! That’s right. We will repeal the Employment Relations Amendment Bill and all the other draconian anti-worker laws within our first 100 days as Government.
No more right to fire at will, without even a decent explanation.No more undermining the role of unions, who play a hugely positive role in keeping a workforce together and building safe healthy workplaces.No more taking away your right to strike; no more selling your precious Christmas holidays.
No more removing from the employers the obligations to settle, and wrecking the ability of unions to fight on your behalf. The employment relationship is not equal. It never has been; it never will be. That’s why we need policies and laws that are fair.Under my leadership Labour will have fair industrial relations laws starting with industry standard agreements. In the first 100 days of a Labour Government.
What do we want? National gone! When do we want it? Right now!But that’s not all John Key has done. He has given tax breaks to his big business mates and put up GST for the rest.
John Key and Paula Bennett climbed the ladder. He grew up in a state house, but now won’t let state houses be built in his electorate at Hobsonville. She used the training incentive allowance to get an education and then cancelled it for others. Labour people don’t pull the ladder up once they’ve climbed it.The Labour Government that I will lead will champion full employment. Our aim will be that every New Zealander who is ready, willing and able to work is either in a job or training for Offering Stream Carpet cleaning Services.
That would be a huge change from John Key’s New Zealand, where thousands of applicants lined up for 150 supermarket jobs at one location.But jobs, like money, do not grow on trees. To be credible and responsible as well as visionary, the Labour government I lead will have a solid programme of economic development.
That will be located within sound fiscal management. Labour will be trusted with the public purse and we will not run away with the chequebook. But we must move Government off the side-lines and into new partnerships with communities, regions and local government that will create economic and social value.
They are projects that already exist but don’t neatly fit into Treasury’s business plan, for how they pick projects to support.Like the Oakley to Marsden Point rail link, estimated at about $120 million, which is the kind of project that will create enormous value for the region but can’t get off first base.
Local government wanted it but didn’t have the money for it. Kiwirail wants it but can’t afford it. It doesn’t fit with the Key Government’s transport policies or the narrow way that they evaluate whether to invest. And private sector investors aren’t going to touch it till they can be sure they will be able to recover their costs.Provided we can ensure there is a proper nationwide port strategy, that vessels can navigate the bar, we should ensure the northern railway line is fit for purpose and not let National close it down. That will require some tunnel upgrades to future proof the line.
So a great project like the NorthPort rail link that fulfils Labour’s vision, and have all these regional and social benefits, doesn’t even get off the ground. What a waste!
I saw this in my own electorate with the New Lynn transport interchange. Treasury advised against it. Government Ministers shied away from it. Everyone said it wasn’t doable. But they were looking at it from such a narrow perspective and it took me and a whole lot of others to make sure the bigger economic development picture was included in the numbers.
We need to be bold. We need the Government to be build new partnerships with communities, regions and industries that will get our economy out of first gear and get New Zealanders into good jobs right here in the regions. Economic growth in Northland under Labour was one of the strongest of any province in the country.
The Northland economy has collapsed under National because they lack vision, they leak heart, and they lack imagination. Far too many of our young people are left on the scrap heap waiting for a Labour Government that will drive economic development in all our regions.
And it’s not just Northland. Projects like Eastern Bay of Plenty marine farming, the Christchurch rebuild and smart manufacturing clusters in the Waikato. All show the kind of potential when government, the regions and business work together to lift our game and create jobs.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Raid shuts 3 motels on troubled strip of Tukwila
Hundreds of police and federal agents raided and then shuttered a trio of troublesome motels in Tukwila, where police say the owners arranged drug deals and the front-desk clerks charged visitors a fee to direct them to the rooms of tenants who were selling drugs or sex.Tukwila police said that during the past two years, the motels — within two blocks of one another — have accounted for nearly one in six calls for service to the police department. The motels have been the scenes of rapes, assaults, drug dealing, prostitution and at least three overdose deaths in recent years, according to court documents.
Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton said the motels in question had been a blight since the International Boulevard area was annexed by the city.“We’ve had problems and challenges from a few owners from the beginning,” Haggerton said.The complaint alleges that there were 223 calls for police service to the Boulevard Motel between July 1, 2012 and June 20, 2013. The structure has just 27 guest rooms — the largest of the three.
According to Assistant Chief Bruce Linton of the Tukwila Police Department, owners of the three motels have rejected numerous efforts to clean them up.According to court documents, one of the owners, Kulwinder “Chris” Saroya, told police in 2010 that “normal people will not come to [his] hotel so [he has] to do business with Offering High Rug cleaning Services and prostitutes to make money.”
The motel owner/managers — Saroya, Jaspal Singh and Lakhvir “Larry” Pawar — were arrested and appeared before a U.S. magistrate Tuesday afternoon on charges of distribution and attempted distribution of crack cocaine in a series of deals with a paid confidential informant during the past five weeks. Four others, including motel tenants, also were charged.Singh, Saroya and Pawar were ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler during their brief appearance in U.S. District Court.
As law-enforcement officers boarded up every window and door of the motels, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said at a news conference at the Tukwila Community Center that the action ought to serve as a warning to owners of other troubled properties. She emphasized that the Department of Justice will use every tool to combat what it considers “drug-involved premises,” including forfeiture.
To that end, federal prosecutors filed a 48-page civil complaint claiming the motels and some other properties — including Saroya’s recently remodeled 4,480-square-foot, 6.25-bath home in SeaTac — will be forfeited because they were purchased with the proceeds of criminal activity.
The federal lawsuit alleges the “owners of the properties are engaged in, encouraging and making significant cash profits from criminal activity at the Target Motels,” wrote Special Agent Joe Miller of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Mattress Cleaning Services, in a sworn affidavit.
It alleges the owners were involved in money laundering and a series of complex business transactions apparently designed to hide ownership of the businesses.The early-morning raids snarled traffic along Highway 99 as hundreds of police poured into the motels, rousting tenants and boarding up the rooms.
While there was grumbling and a few arrests, no officers were injured, and the raids and evictions proceeded peacefully, said Tukwila Police Commander Eric Drever.One federal law-enforcement officer snapped a photograph of a cardboard sign, posted near the command center, whose spray-painted scrawl read: “Thank You for Cleaning Up ‘Our’ City! God Bless!”
In preparation for the raid, police had road crews come to the area very early Tuesday morning to make it look as though roadwork was being done. But the real reason was to close off portions of Highway 99 to allow officers easy access to the motels.Sealing off the lanes “allowed us to deploy quickly and safely,” Drever said.He said social-service agencies were on the scene to provide “humanitarian relief” to motel patrons who were not being sought by law enforcement.
The lead agencies on the raid were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tukwila police, but Drever said many federal, state and local agencies participated, including the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Renton and Seattle police departments, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Agriculture, which was involved because some of the alleged illegal activities involved food stamps.
In addition, a King County Animal Control crew was there to help with pets displaced by the raid. The law-enforcement contingent at the scene also included two large moving-van style trucks and a line of four portable toilets.Among those displaced by the raids was Jacob Shaffer, who was staying at the Great Bear Motor Inn. He was detained for two hours by police and was without lodging after he paid $290 Monday night for a room for a week.
“I woke up to what sounded like flash grenades and people kicking doors open ... I didn’t expect anything like this to happen. I’m a law-abiding citizen,” said Shaffer, who said he is a fisherman headed to Alaska in a couple of weeks.
Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton said the motels in question had been a blight since the International Boulevard area was annexed by the city.“We’ve had problems and challenges from a few owners from the beginning,” Haggerton said.The complaint alleges that there were 223 calls for police service to the Boulevard Motel between July 1, 2012 and June 20, 2013. The structure has just 27 guest rooms — the largest of the three.
According to Assistant Chief Bruce Linton of the Tukwila Police Department, owners of the three motels have rejected numerous efforts to clean them up.According to court documents, one of the owners, Kulwinder “Chris” Saroya, told police in 2010 that “normal people will not come to [his] hotel so [he has] to do business with Offering High Rug cleaning Services and prostitutes to make money.”
The motel owner/managers — Saroya, Jaspal Singh and Lakhvir “Larry” Pawar — were arrested and appeared before a U.S. magistrate Tuesday afternoon on charges of distribution and attempted distribution of crack cocaine in a series of deals with a paid confidential informant during the past five weeks. Four others, including motel tenants, also were charged.Singh, Saroya and Pawar were ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler during their brief appearance in U.S. District Court.
As law-enforcement officers boarded up every window and door of the motels, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan said at a news conference at the Tukwila Community Center that the action ought to serve as a warning to owners of other troubled properties. She emphasized that the Department of Justice will use every tool to combat what it considers “drug-involved premises,” including forfeiture.
To that end, federal prosecutors filed a 48-page civil complaint claiming the motels and some other properties — including Saroya’s recently remodeled 4,480-square-foot, 6.25-bath home in SeaTac — will be forfeited because they were purchased with the proceeds of criminal activity.
The federal lawsuit alleges the “owners of the properties are engaged in, encouraging and making significant cash profits from criminal activity at the Target Motels,” wrote Special Agent Joe Miller of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Mattress Cleaning Services, in a sworn affidavit.
It alleges the owners were involved in money laundering and a series of complex business transactions apparently designed to hide ownership of the businesses.The early-morning raids snarled traffic along Highway 99 as hundreds of police poured into the motels, rousting tenants and boarding up the rooms.
While there was grumbling and a few arrests, no officers were injured, and the raids and evictions proceeded peacefully, said Tukwila Police Commander Eric Drever.One federal law-enforcement officer snapped a photograph of a cardboard sign, posted near the command center, whose spray-painted scrawl read: “Thank You for Cleaning Up ‘Our’ City! God Bless!”
In preparation for the raid, police had road crews come to the area very early Tuesday morning to make it look as though roadwork was being done. But the real reason was to close off portions of Highway 99 to allow officers easy access to the motels.Sealing off the lanes “allowed us to deploy quickly and safely,” Drever said.He said social-service agencies were on the scene to provide “humanitarian relief” to motel patrons who were not being sought by law enforcement.
The lead agencies on the raid were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Tukwila police, but Drever said many federal, state and local agencies participated, including the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Renton and Seattle police departments, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Agriculture, which was involved because some of the alleged illegal activities involved food stamps.
In addition, a King County Animal Control crew was there to help with pets displaced by the raid. The law-enforcement contingent at the scene also included two large moving-van style trucks and a line of four portable toilets.Among those displaced by the raids was Jacob Shaffer, who was staying at the Great Bear Motor Inn. He was detained for two hours by police and was without lodging after he paid $290 Monday night for a room for a week.
“I woke up to what sounded like flash grenades and people kicking doors open ... I didn’t expect anything like this to happen. I’m a law-abiding citizen,” said Shaffer, who said he is a fisherman headed to Alaska in a couple of weeks.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Spencer Hospital is First and Only Hospital
Xenex's room disinfection system uses pulsed xenon technology to deliver high-intensity, broad spectrum ultraviolet-C light to quickly kill microorganisms on surfaces without contact or chemicals. The UV-C light penetrates the cell walls of microorganisms, essentially fusing their DNA, leading to instant damage, the inability to reproduce or mutate, and destroying the organism. Uniquely designed for ease of use and portability, Spencer Hospital's Environmental Services staff operates the Xenex device without disrupting hospital operations. The system is capable of disinfecting a room in as little as five minutes and can disinfect over 30 rooms per day, so hospitals use the device continuously to reduce contamination levels throughout their facilities.
"We are very excited at Spencer Hospital to pioneer the use of this new technology that has shown to significantly reduce the microbial load on high-touch surfaces in patient rooms in a relatively short period of time," remarked DeeAnn Vaage, Offering Office cleaning Services. "It is our goal to continually enhance the care we provide and since some infectious organisms are especially difficult to kill, even with the best cleaning products, Xenex's UV room disinfection device will help us improve patient safety and reduce our patients' risk of developing a healthcare associated infection."
Numerous hospitals that have implemented the Xenex room disinfection system have documented reductions in the presence of drug-resistant microorganisms and observed a return on investment through operational cost savings. In hospital trials, Xenex has consistently shown to be more than 20 times more effective than standard cleaning practices and a study performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that the Xenex system was more effective than bleach in reducing C. diff. in patient rooms.
Todd Rominger, Director of Environment Services, commented, "A big thank you goes to our Auxiliary volunteers who voted to purchase the Xenex technology using funds they've raised through various events and Gift Shop proceeds." As the donors, the Auxiliary board selected a fun name for the machine, dubbing it "Violet" in honor of the unit's ultraviolet technology.
While the vendor-supplied studies on the Xenex system were impressive, Rominger explained that prior to purchasing the device, his team conducted its own study to evaluate the efficacy of the Xenex system. Hospital personnel conducted a trial in patient rooms and ORs, which demonstrated that while the hospital's traditional cleaning methods well exceeded industry standards; they were even more impressed when after using the Xenex technology the presence of micro-bacteria was almost non-existent – making the rooms safer for future patients.
"We are very excited to have the Xenex system as we have seen it can make a great difference in our health care mission," Rominger said. "According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), healthcare associated infections, caused by deadly pathogens such as MRSA, C. diff, pneumonia and Acinetobacter, are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Our Environmental Services team does an excellent job which yields success in curtailing infection rates; however, this technology will help our great efforts be even better."
"The most important step in infection control begins with a End Of Lease Cleaning on mvpcleaning and that's what the Xenex room disinfection system accomplishes. In just 5-10 minutes per room, our device can eliminate the deadly microorganisms and superbugs that cause infections. We have proven repeatedly that the science of our pulsed xenon light makes it incredibly effective against the most challenging bacteria, viruses and even C. diff spores," said Dr. Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex.
Speaking outside Cabinet yesterday, Mr Fitzgerald said he was “disappointed” that Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson had taken the matter to the press, promising to pull 130 teachers from what the union says are a belaboured school in New Providence and one in Grand Bahama.
Ms Wilson would not reveal the name of the schools or principals, but said she would do so if Mr Fitzgerald fails to meet the demand of the union, teachers, parents and members of the community surrounding the campuses, to remove the principals.
Yesterday, Mr Fitzgerald explained the issue in question has been discussed and his ministry “sees no issues” with school opening, next week.
“The schools are prepared. We’re finalizing the painting, this week, and the cleaning of the grounds and we have no major issues from that standpoint. The teachers will be in place as well,” he said.
“With regard to the issue raised by the president of the union with regard to sit-out of school in Nassau and one in Grand Bahama. I’ve had the opportunity to review the situation, to discuss it with the PTA, as well as with the school boards at both of the schools I knew she was concerned about.
“I’m satisfied now that the principals will be returning to school and that they have the support of the majority of teachers as well as administrators and school boards and PTAs at those various schools.
“Having said that, I expect that all teachers will report to work on Monday morning – no industrial dispute has been filed, as far as I’m aware of – and any teachers that do not report will understand that, as far as I’m concerned, they are withholding their services and they know what course of action I will take after that; so I expect that they will report to work.”
Mr Fitzgerald said he has spoken with the principals regarding the issues that were raised by Ms Wilson and – “we have addressed those and we expect to have a smooth transition for the new school year.”
He said it was “unfortunate” that Ms Wilson would make her concerns public as he and Ms Wilson had been attempting to work out the problems, privately, and the issue in question does not go against the industrial agreement.
“She had already spoken to me about it and she and I have addressed many issues in the past and I would have anticipated if she would have waited for me to do my investigation and had a response after that, but she pre-empted that and made comments to the public which I thought were unfortunate – particularly in light of the fact that there is no industrial issue ongoing,” he said.
“These are decisions that we consult with the union on, but at the end of the day we are the final decision maker with regard to it. She raised her concerns, I looked into those concerns, and I made her concerns and those of the teachers known to the principal – and I think moving forward, we have addressed those.
"We are very excited at Spencer Hospital to pioneer the use of this new technology that has shown to significantly reduce the microbial load on high-touch surfaces in patient rooms in a relatively short period of time," remarked DeeAnn Vaage, Offering Office cleaning Services. "It is our goal to continually enhance the care we provide and since some infectious organisms are especially difficult to kill, even with the best cleaning products, Xenex's UV room disinfection device will help us improve patient safety and reduce our patients' risk of developing a healthcare associated infection."
Numerous hospitals that have implemented the Xenex room disinfection system have documented reductions in the presence of drug-resistant microorganisms and observed a return on investment through operational cost savings. In hospital trials, Xenex has consistently shown to be more than 20 times more effective than standard cleaning practices and a study performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that the Xenex system was more effective than bleach in reducing C. diff. in patient rooms.
Todd Rominger, Director of Environment Services, commented, "A big thank you goes to our Auxiliary volunteers who voted to purchase the Xenex technology using funds they've raised through various events and Gift Shop proceeds." As the donors, the Auxiliary board selected a fun name for the machine, dubbing it "Violet" in honor of the unit's ultraviolet technology.
While the vendor-supplied studies on the Xenex system were impressive, Rominger explained that prior to purchasing the device, his team conducted its own study to evaluate the efficacy of the Xenex system. Hospital personnel conducted a trial in patient rooms and ORs, which demonstrated that while the hospital's traditional cleaning methods well exceeded industry standards; they were even more impressed when after using the Xenex technology the presence of micro-bacteria was almost non-existent – making the rooms safer for future patients.
"We are very excited to have the Xenex system as we have seen it can make a great difference in our health care mission," Rominger said. "According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), healthcare associated infections, caused by deadly pathogens such as MRSA, C. diff, pneumonia and Acinetobacter, are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. Our Environmental Services team does an excellent job which yields success in curtailing infection rates; however, this technology will help our great efforts be even better."
"The most important step in infection control begins with a End Of Lease Cleaning on mvpcleaning and that's what the Xenex room disinfection system accomplishes. In just 5-10 minutes per room, our device can eliminate the deadly microorganisms and superbugs that cause infections. We have proven repeatedly that the science of our pulsed xenon light makes it incredibly effective against the most challenging bacteria, viruses and even C. diff spores," said Dr. Mark Stibich, Chief Scientific Officer of Xenex.
Speaking outside Cabinet yesterday, Mr Fitzgerald said he was “disappointed” that Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson had taken the matter to the press, promising to pull 130 teachers from what the union says are a belaboured school in New Providence and one in Grand Bahama.
Ms Wilson would not reveal the name of the schools or principals, but said she would do so if Mr Fitzgerald fails to meet the demand of the union, teachers, parents and members of the community surrounding the campuses, to remove the principals.
Yesterday, Mr Fitzgerald explained the issue in question has been discussed and his ministry “sees no issues” with school opening, next week.
“The schools are prepared. We’re finalizing the painting, this week, and the cleaning of the grounds and we have no major issues from that standpoint. The teachers will be in place as well,” he said.
“With regard to the issue raised by the president of the union with regard to sit-out of school in Nassau and one in Grand Bahama. I’ve had the opportunity to review the situation, to discuss it with the PTA, as well as with the school boards at both of the schools I knew she was concerned about.
“I’m satisfied now that the principals will be returning to school and that they have the support of the majority of teachers as well as administrators and school boards and PTAs at those various schools.
“Having said that, I expect that all teachers will report to work on Monday morning – no industrial dispute has been filed, as far as I’m aware of – and any teachers that do not report will understand that, as far as I’m concerned, they are withholding their services and they know what course of action I will take after that; so I expect that they will report to work.”
Mr Fitzgerald said he has spoken with the principals regarding the issues that were raised by Ms Wilson and – “we have addressed those and we expect to have a smooth transition for the new school year.”
He said it was “unfortunate” that Ms Wilson would make her concerns public as he and Ms Wilson had been attempting to work out the problems, privately, and the issue in question does not go against the industrial agreement.
“She had already spoken to me about it and she and I have addressed many issues in the past and I would have anticipated if she would have waited for me to do my investigation and had a response after that, but she pre-empted that and made comments to the public which I thought were unfortunate – particularly in light of the fact that there is no industrial issue ongoing,” he said.
“These are decisions that we consult with the union on, but at the end of the day we are the final decision maker with regard to it. She raised her concerns, I looked into those concerns, and I made her concerns and those of the teachers known to the principal – and I think moving forward, we have addressed those.
Monday, August 26, 2013
India on radar of Elevance Renewable for biorefinery
The US-based Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc, a high-growth specialty chemicals company, has plans to set up additional biorefineries throughout the world, including India, said a company official, without giving any specific details about the timing, place and scale of the future biorefineries.
“The timing and location of our biorefineries will be coordinated with our customers' supply chain needs. Currently, our emphasis is on meeting the significant needs identified by our customers for our announced biorefineries in Indonesia and in the US (Natchez, Mississippi). We are having discussions regarding timing for additional biorefineries throughout the world, and our discussions have included India at various times,” said Andy Shafer, Executive Vice President, Sales & Market Development, Elevance Renewable Sciences, when asked whether Elevance was planning to start a biorefinery in India in an email query.
Elevance Renewable Sciences in a joint venture with Wilmar International has set up a biorefinery at Gresik, Indonesia, from which they have begun shipping commercial products, including novel specialty chemicals, to customers from last month.
The 1,80,000 metric tonne manufacturing facility is the first biorefinery based on Elevance’s proprietary metathesis technology. The renewable performance specialty chemicals, olefins and oleochemicals will be used in personal care products, detergents and Offering High Standard Cleaning Services, lubricants and additives, engineered polymers, and other specialty chemicals markets.
“Elevance has secured several strategic partnerships with global market leaders, such as Arkema and Stepan Company, to accelerate rapid deployment and commercialisation of the high-performance specialty chemicals in end user applications. In addition to the demand from Elevance’s strategic partners, we have already secured offtake for a substantial portion of the products the biorefinery will produce. Wilmar’s existing oleochemicals business will consume the oleochemicals produced in the biorefinery, which represent approximately 50 percent of the production when we are using palm oil as our feedstock,” said Shafer.
Wilmar International has presence in India and supplies oleochemicals to customers in the country. When asked about the plans to market specialty chemicals, manufactured at the Indonesian biorefinery JV, in India, Shafer said, “The markets and industries that Elevance is serving are large and global. We expect that several biorefineries will be needed as our technology is adopted. All of our biorefineries will supply globally. Biorefineries will be located close to customers and feedstock supplies to enhance service, reduce costs and minimise our environmental footprint.”
On the TTIP impact on GCC industries and sectors, Hill and Knowlton Strategies said standards adopted under the partnership will become globally binding with third party trading countries and they will have significant impact on the aviation, energy and financial services sectors.
Specifically, the report said this could mean that the GCC energy sector will have to comply with rigorous sustainability standards as demand grows for clean energy solutions, while the financial services sector will face a new regulatory environment of corporate governance, accountability and transparency.
In the aviation sector, TTIP negotiations could result in the emergence of transatlantic carriers with transnational ownership and control structures, Hill and Knowlton Strategies said. With the EU and the US home to nine out of the 10 top global airlines by reported revenue in 2011 this would increase momentum for global reform of ownership and control rules.
While many aviation market access barriers such as route restrictions, frequencies, capacity and pricing have already been lifted, there are some remaining critical barriers that will be discussed in TTIP negotiations.
For example, preferential treatment may be granted reciprocally to European and American airlines under TTIP, putting third-country companies like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways at a disadvantage, the study said.
Energy security and access to energy are high on the US-EU agenda and TTIP will certainly not adopt any provisions that would jeopardise relations with the GCC or affect imports of crude oil or LNG.
However, TTIP would create the largest global market for energy imports and both the EU and US have stated that the emphasis will be on the unrestricted as well as sustainable access to raw materials. This would pressure GCC providers, like Sabic and Qatargas, to comply with sustainability standards.
Discussions on specific rules for energy and raw materials for state owned enterprises have also been tabled with TTIP, along with incentives to further trade in clean energy. Each of these proposals will have an impact on how GCC energy companies go about their business with the EU and US.
In the financial services sector, the initial EU negotiating mandate has signalled that the TTIP should promote regulatory compatibility, aiming to reduce costs stemming from regulatory differences. The TTIP would de facto set global financial Regular Residential Cleaning Services , particularly regarding surveillance, transparency and reporting requirements, as well as investor protection.
If new standards are adopted, they will likely also apply to Gulf countries’ financial services providers active in the EU or US. Such standards could entail additional compliance requirements both in these countries as well as in the Gulf.
Specifically, SWFs like Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia’s SAMA Foreign Holdings and the Kuwait Investment Authority that acquire US and European assets will be impacted by the TTIP.
“GCC industry leaders must take a proactive role in preparing for the TTIP. By monitoring negotiations and assessing their business impacts, GCC firms in the aviation, financial services and energy sectors can mitigate any costs to their operations, while also voicing their concerns through GCC-EU negotiations to ensure their interests are consolidated,” Hill and Knowlton Strategies said.
Read the full products at http://www.mvpcleaning.com.au/!
“The timing and location of our biorefineries will be coordinated with our customers' supply chain needs. Currently, our emphasis is on meeting the significant needs identified by our customers for our announced biorefineries in Indonesia and in the US (Natchez, Mississippi). We are having discussions regarding timing for additional biorefineries throughout the world, and our discussions have included India at various times,” said Andy Shafer, Executive Vice President, Sales & Market Development, Elevance Renewable Sciences, when asked whether Elevance was planning to start a biorefinery in India in an email query.
Elevance Renewable Sciences in a joint venture with Wilmar International has set up a biorefinery at Gresik, Indonesia, from which they have begun shipping commercial products, including novel specialty chemicals, to customers from last month.
The 1,80,000 metric tonne manufacturing facility is the first biorefinery based on Elevance’s proprietary metathesis technology. The renewable performance specialty chemicals, olefins and oleochemicals will be used in personal care products, detergents and Offering High Standard Cleaning Services, lubricants and additives, engineered polymers, and other specialty chemicals markets.
“Elevance has secured several strategic partnerships with global market leaders, such as Arkema and Stepan Company, to accelerate rapid deployment and commercialisation of the high-performance specialty chemicals in end user applications. In addition to the demand from Elevance’s strategic partners, we have already secured offtake for a substantial portion of the products the biorefinery will produce. Wilmar’s existing oleochemicals business will consume the oleochemicals produced in the biorefinery, which represent approximately 50 percent of the production when we are using palm oil as our feedstock,” said Shafer.
Wilmar International has presence in India and supplies oleochemicals to customers in the country. When asked about the plans to market specialty chemicals, manufactured at the Indonesian biorefinery JV, in India, Shafer said, “The markets and industries that Elevance is serving are large and global. We expect that several biorefineries will be needed as our technology is adopted. All of our biorefineries will supply globally. Biorefineries will be located close to customers and feedstock supplies to enhance service, reduce costs and minimise our environmental footprint.”
On the TTIP impact on GCC industries and sectors, Hill and Knowlton Strategies said standards adopted under the partnership will become globally binding with third party trading countries and they will have significant impact on the aviation, energy and financial services sectors.
Specifically, the report said this could mean that the GCC energy sector will have to comply with rigorous sustainability standards as demand grows for clean energy solutions, while the financial services sector will face a new regulatory environment of corporate governance, accountability and transparency.
In the aviation sector, TTIP negotiations could result in the emergence of transatlantic carriers with transnational ownership and control structures, Hill and Knowlton Strategies said. With the EU and the US home to nine out of the 10 top global airlines by reported revenue in 2011 this would increase momentum for global reform of ownership and control rules.
While many aviation market access barriers such as route restrictions, frequencies, capacity and pricing have already been lifted, there are some remaining critical barriers that will be discussed in TTIP negotiations.
For example, preferential treatment may be granted reciprocally to European and American airlines under TTIP, putting third-country companies like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways at a disadvantage, the study said.
Energy security and access to energy are high on the US-EU agenda and TTIP will certainly not adopt any provisions that would jeopardise relations with the GCC or affect imports of crude oil or LNG.
However, TTIP would create the largest global market for energy imports and both the EU and US have stated that the emphasis will be on the unrestricted as well as sustainable access to raw materials. This would pressure GCC providers, like Sabic and Qatargas, to comply with sustainability standards.
Discussions on specific rules for energy and raw materials for state owned enterprises have also been tabled with TTIP, along with incentives to further trade in clean energy. Each of these proposals will have an impact on how GCC energy companies go about their business with the EU and US.
In the financial services sector, the initial EU negotiating mandate has signalled that the TTIP should promote regulatory compatibility, aiming to reduce costs stemming from regulatory differences. The TTIP would de facto set global financial Regular Residential Cleaning Services , particularly regarding surveillance, transparency and reporting requirements, as well as investor protection.
If new standards are adopted, they will likely also apply to Gulf countries’ financial services providers active in the EU or US. Such standards could entail additional compliance requirements both in these countries as well as in the Gulf.
Specifically, SWFs like Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi Arabia’s SAMA Foreign Holdings and the Kuwait Investment Authority that acquire US and European assets will be impacted by the TTIP.
“GCC industry leaders must take a proactive role in preparing for the TTIP. By monitoring negotiations and assessing their business impacts, GCC firms in the aviation, financial services and energy sectors can mitigate any costs to their operations, while also voicing their concerns through GCC-EU negotiations to ensure their interests are consolidated,” Hill and Knowlton Strategies said.
Read the full products at http://www.mvpcleaning.com.au/!
Lab Safety At The University Of California
One year ago, the University of California entered into a lab safety agreement with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The agreement was the result of a 2008 laboratory fire at UC Los Angeles that led to the death of a chemistry staff researcher.
Prosecutors subsequently charged the largest university system in the U.S. as well as UCLA chemistry professor Patrick G. Harran with felony violations of the California labor code. As of C&EN press time, Harran was still facing trial on these charges, but the deal struck between the district attorney and UC meant that prosecutors dropped the charges against UC. In return, UC embarked on a prescribed safety program that involves administering lab safety training, enforcing personal protective equipment (PPE) policies, and documenting laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) in chemistry and biochemistry departments at all 10 UC campuses.
Timelines for UC to execute the agreement were tight: UCLA had to be compliant within three months, and the remaining campuses within six months. Implementation of the program was hampered in some places by lack of good personnel management systems, by poor laboratory layouts, and by the thousands of chemicals that needed SOPs. But the schools succeeded. Now, UC is focusing on going beyond the agreement, developing new training and PPE policies that apply to all laboratories—not just those in chemistry departments—as well as new tools to help all researchers work more safely.
“We have been trying to think globally in all our initiatives and to develop an improved laboratory safety culture throughout the UC system,” says Erike Young, director of environment, Offering Office cleaning Services, and safety (EH&S) for UC’s Office of the President. Some of the efforts are part of a 2010 strategic plan predating the legal settlement.
For training, the settlement requires that all principal investigators and laboratory personnel complete a general laboratory safety training program. The program must cover topics such as identification and evaluation of laboratory hazards, as well as university policies regarding responsibilities for laboratory safety at both supervisor and lab worker levels. The general training does not replace the need for more specific training related to equipment and procedures in individual laboratories.
The real challenge, she points out, was figuring out who needed the training. The school had implemented a computer system several years ago to track who was trained, but it is difficult to use, she says. Also, it was difficult to identify visiting scholars and some postdoctoral researchers as being part of the department, especially those who were paid by their home institutions. And although no one ever said it to Decker directly, some researchers seemed to think it was presumptuous of UC Davis to require training of experienced researchers from other institutions.
“There isn’t any wiggle room in the settlement; it’s very clear that everyone has to be trained,” Decker says. “Communicating that to some scholars and their hosts was a bit tricky.”
Other schools faced similar challenges. At UC Berkeley, “when my chancellor asked me how many people were in the College of Chemistry, I couldn’t answer,” said chemistry professor and former college dean Richard A. Mathies at a June meeting of a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) committee focused on academic lab safety. In the end, UC Berkeley trained about 900 people in a two-month period that included Thanksgiving, fall semester finals, and the winter holiday.
“That tells you something about the mind-set of students in the lab,” Mathies said. “When you give them something that makes sense and they believe it builds value, they’ll do it.” He conceded that a few members of the college still needed to be pushed to comply.
Going beyond settlement compliance, in June of this year, UC instituted a new systemwide policy that establishes minimum general training requirements for people working in all research, End Of Lease Cleaning on mvpcleaning, and analytical laboratories, as well as areas such as stock and storage rooms.
The training policy dictates that all workers, including faculty, must complete a general safety training program before being granted unescorted access to laboratories or technical areas. The general safety training must cover general safety culture, the campus chemical hygiene plan, hazard analysis and controls, personal protective equipment, emergency response, and rights and responsibilities. Training must be refreshed at least every three years.
In line with the new policy, UC also rolled out an online Laboratory Safety Fundamentals training program. Campuses may use the online training, conduct their own, or combine the two.
Production of the online program cost $40,000, Young says, and UC jointly owns the content with Vivid Learning Systems. Parts can be easily customized by other institutions, and Vivid Learning Systems expects to market it to other schools this fall, Young says.
Workers who do the online program must still go through a site-specific safety orientation that covers topics such as locations of eyewash stations and the laboratory safety manual, as well as training on the specific hazards and procedures of their workplace. UC is also working on a supplemental training program for supervisors, which Young expects to release this fall, as well as a management academy to help faculty and other supervisors better understand their responsibilities.
A second main component of the settlement agreement involves PPE. The agreement sets out a minimum standard for anyone working in or occupying laboratory areas: full-length pants; fully closed shoes; lab coats, including flame-resistant coats for working with flammable liquids or pyrophoric materials; and appropriate gloves and eye protection for handling any hazardous chemical, biological, or radiological material. “Employees shall not bear the cost of any required PPE,” the agreement says, and departments are charged with the responsibility for laundering items as necessary.
Implementation of the PPE policy was fairly straightforward, some UC campus representatives say. “The chair of the safety committee told me that she sees all lab personnel wearing appropriate PPE now, no questions asked,” says Ilan Benjamin, chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department at UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, which instituted many safety program changes before the settlement agreement, unannounced PPE inspections showed 94% compliance in 2012, up from 76% in 2011.
In some places, laboratory infrastructure created a challenge to meeting PPE requirements. Older buildings on many campuses combine desks and benches in the same space, raising the question of whether students really must wear lab coats and eye protection when sitting at their desks. Some labs responded by using hazard analysis to designate “clean” areas where PPE is not required and personnel may eat or drink, even though they’re technically in a lab.
Read the full products at http://www.mvpcleaning.com.au/!
Prosecutors subsequently charged the largest university system in the U.S. as well as UCLA chemistry professor Patrick G. Harran with felony violations of the California labor code. As of C&EN press time, Harran was still facing trial on these charges, but the deal struck between the district attorney and UC meant that prosecutors dropped the charges against UC. In return, UC embarked on a prescribed safety program that involves administering lab safety training, enforcing personal protective equipment (PPE) policies, and documenting laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) in chemistry and biochemistry departments at all 10 UC campuses.
Timelines for UC to execute the agreement were tight: UCLA had to be compliant within three months, and the remaining campuses within six months. Implementation of the program was hampered in some places by lack of good personnel management systems, by poor laboratory layouts, and by the thousands of chemicals that needed SOPs. But the schools succeeded. Now, UC is focusing on going beyond the agreement, developing new training and PPE policies that apply to all laboratories—not just those in chemistry departments—as well as new tools to help all researchers work more safely.
“We have been trying to think globally in all our initiatives and to develop an improved laboratory safety culture throughout the UC system,” says Erike Young, director of environment, Offering Office cleaning Services, and safety (EH&S) for UC’s Office of the President. Some of the efforts are part of a 2010 strategic plan predating the legal settlement.
For training, the settlement requires that all principal investigators and laboratory personnel complete a general laboratory safety training program. The program must cover topics such as identification and evaluation of laboratory hazards, as well as university policies regarding responsibilities for laboratory safety at both supervisor and lab worker levels. The general training does not replace the need for more specific training related to equipment and procedures in individual laboratories.
The real challenge, she points out, was figuring out who needed the training. The school had implemented a computer system several years ago to track who was trained, but it is difficult to use, she says. Also, it was difficult to identify visiting scholars and some postdoctoral researchers as being part of the department, especially those who were paid by their home institutions. And although no one ever said it to Decker directly, some researchers seemed to think it was presumptuous of UC Davis to require training of experienced researchers from other institutions.
“There isn’t any wiggle room in the settlement; it’s very clear that everyone has to be trained,” Decker says. “Communicating that to some scholars and their hosts was a bit tricky.”
Other schools faced similar challenges. At UC Berkeley, “when my chancellor asked me how many people were in the College of Chemistry, I couldn’t answer,” said chemistry professor and former college dean Richard A. Mathies at a June meeting of a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) committee focused on academic lab safety. In the end, UC Berkeley trained about 900 people in a two-month period that included Thanksgiving, fall semester finals, and the winter holiday.
“That tells you something about the mind-set of students in the lab,” Mathies said. “When you give them something that makes sense and they believe it builds value, they’ll do it.” He conceded that a few members of the college still needed to be pushed to comply.
Going beyond settlement compliance, in June of this year, UC instituted a new systemwide policy that establishes minimum general training requirements for people working in all research, End Of Lease Cleaning on mvpcleaning, and analytical laboratories, as well as areas such as stock and storage rooms.
The training policy dictates that all workers, including faculty, must complete a general safety training program before being granted unescorted access to laboratories or technical areas. The general safety training must cover general safety culture, the campus chemical hygiene plan, hazard analysis and controls, personal protective equipment, emergency response, and rights and responsibilities. Training must be refreshed at least every three years.
In line with the new policy, UC also rolled out an online Laboratory Safety Fundamentals training program. Campuses may use the online training, conduct their own, or combine the two.
Production of the online program cost $40,000, Young says, and UC jointly owns the content with Vivid Learning Systems. Parts can be easily customized by other institutions, and Vivid Learning Systems expects to market it to other schools this fall, Young says.
Workers who do the online program must still go through a site-specific safety orientation that covers topics such as locations of eyewash stations and the laboratory safety manual, as well as training on the specific hazards and procedures of their workplace. UC is also working on a supplemental training program for supervisors, which Young expects to release this fall, as well as a management academy to help faculty and other supervisors better understand their responsibilities.
A second main component of the settlement agreement involves PPE. The agreement sets out a minimum standard for anyone working in or occupying laboratory areas: full-length pants; fully closed shoes; lab coats, including flame-resistant coats for working with flammable liquids or pyrophoric materials; and appropriate gloves and eye protection for handling any hazardous chemical, biological, or radiological material. “Employees shall not bear the cost of any required PPE,” the agreement says, and departments are charged with the responsibility for laundering items as necessary.
Implementation of the PPE policy was fairly straightforward, some UC campus representatives say. “The chair of the safety committee told me that she sees all lab personnel wearing appropriate PPE now, no questions asked,” says Ilan Benjamin, chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department at UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, which instituted many safety program changes before the settlement agreement, unannounced PPE inspections showed 94% compliance in 2012, up from 76% in 2011.
In some places, laboratory infrastructure created a challenge to meeting PPE requirements. Older buildings on many campuses combine desks and benches in the same space, raising the question of whether students really must wear lab coats and eye protection when sitting at their desks. Some labs responded by using hazard analysis to designate “clean” areas where PPE is not required and personnel may eat or drink, even though they’re technically in a lab.
Read the full products at http://www.mvpcleaning.com.au/!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Kentucky plant closure disrupts
Jim Rodgers assumed his job as an electrician at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant would take him all the way to retirement.After all, for six decades the government-owned uranium-enrichment plant was synonymous with job security and some of the region’s best wages. It supported multiple generations and supplied a steady stream of revenue to the community’s restaurants, dry cleaners, real estate companies and other local businesses.
And yet, with a decade or more to go in his working life, Rodgers, 53, is now brushing off his resume and looking for a new job, possibly in another city or state.“It’s not one of these little bumps in the road,” Rodgers said. “It is literally life changing.”
In May, the operators of the Cold War-era plant located a few miles outside Paducah in McCracken County announced they would shut it down. They laid off about 160 employees at the end of last week and expect to let another 100 go in October. Uranium-enrichment work ceased weeks ago.Altogether, it looks like more than 1,000 workers will be pushed out of their jobs, losing generous salaries that will be nearly impossible to match elsewhere in the region. The McCracken County plant was one of the area’s largest employees, and the average salary for plant workers, Offering Best Upholstery Cleaning Services, was $125,000.
The plant opened in 1952 to develop enriched uranium for military reactors and to produce nuclear weapons. It began selling uranium for commercial reactors in the 1960s.The plant has been run by several operators through the years, the most recent being Maryland-based USEC Inc. under a lease deal with the U.S. Department of Energy. USEC announced in May that it was ending work at the plant, citing soft demand for enriched uranium along with steep production costs.
“The plant put Paducah on the map,” said James Harbison, a retired maintenance worker. “And its leaving is going to take it off the map, unless we get something in here. There are no jobs around here comparable to that one there.”Spokesman Doctor Stephen Bird insisted it is not to fund profits: "The important thing is that we get the balance right. We are talking about further increases in that period of less than inflation recognising the pressure on individual customers' household bills.
"Profits are a necessary part of the way we finance service for our customers because they enable us to fund the capital investment. But the important thing again is getting that balance right and making sure that our customers are satisfied."Chief Executive Chris Loughlin said: "We still need to invest in our networks to maintain the achievements of the past such as reduced leakage rates, record tap water quality and transformed bathing waters.
"There are also new challenges to face including population growth, the likelihood of more extreme weather and higher bathing water standards from 2015. Our aim is to invest in the right things at the right time to both improve our services and give the region the reliable 'always there' infrastructure it needs."In some areas like water resources, we don't need to invest in expensive new reservoirs. However, in other areas such as our programme to improve raw water quality on the moors, if we don't invest sooner rather than later we could end up facing much higher costs in the future.
"We believe we are close to striking the right balance between the needs of customers, the environment and the economy. Although no one likes to see bills increase, we should be able to keep future increases below the rate of inflation.
"However, before we finalise our plan in December, we need to hear whether customers think we are getting it right. Should we invest more or less in each area? I urge everyone to get involved in WaterFuture to make sure we do the best job for you."
Charles Howeson Regional Chair of the Consumer Council for Water told Pirate FM: "It's not actually an increase; it's not something South West Water benefit from. All of our bills get adjusted by inflation and in this case South West Water is proposing to put in a package of measures which are at or below inflation which customers have requested and I think that's pretty good news."
He added: "I warmly welcome South West Water's response to CCWater's encouragement to share some of its success with customers and not just shareholders; although we will need to look in more detail at exactly how this will benefit consumers.
"People who live in this region have an acute understanding of the problems of high bills and the need for investment in making sure we have a safe, reliable and clean water supply and Cleaning franchise.
"Customers in the region continue to face some of the highest water charges in England and Wales; we will continue to work with South West Water to encourage more investment in the future."The money will be used to bring forward programmes to improve a number of beaches in the area, making improvements to the sewer network and in helping vulnerable customers.
He went on to tell Pirate FM: "It's not actually an increase; it's not something South West Water benefit from. All of our bills get adjusted by inflation and in this case South West Water is proposing to put in a package of measures which are at or below inflation which customers have requested and I think that's pretty good news."
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And yet, with a decade or more to go in his working life, Rodgers, 53, is now brushing off his resume and looking for a new job, possibly in another city or state.“It’s not one of these little bumps in the road,” Rodgers said. “It is literally life changing.”
In May, the operators of the Cold War-era plant located a few miles outside Paducah in McCracken County announced they would shut it down. They laid off about 160 employees at the end of last week and expect to let another 100 go in October. Uranium-enrichment work ceased weeks ago.Altogether, it looks like more than 1,000 workers will be pushed out of their jobs, losing generous salaries that will be nearly impossible to match elsewhere in the region. The McCracken County plant was one of the area’s largest employees, and the average salary for plant workers, Offering Best Upholstery Cleaning Services, was $125,000.
The plant opened in 1952 to develop enriched uranium for military reactors and to produce nuclear weapons. It began selling uranium for commercial reactors in the 1960s.The plant has been run by several operators through the years, the most recent being Maryland-based USEC Inc. under a lease deal with the U.S. Department of Energy. USEC announced in May that it was ending work at the plant, citing soft demand for enriched uranium along with steep production costs.
“The plant put Paducah on the map,” said James Harbison, a retired maintenance worker. “And its leaving is going to take it off the map, unless we get something in here. There are no jobs around here comparable to that one there.”Spokesman Doctor Stephen Bird insisted it is not to fund profits: "The important thing is that we get the balance right. We are talking about further increases in that period of less than inflation recognising the pressure on individual customers' household bills.
"Profits are a necessary part of the way we finance service for our customers because they enable us to fund the capital investment. But the important thing again is getting that balance right and making sure that our customers are satisfied."Chief Executive Chris Loughlin said: "We still need to invest in our networks to maintain the achievements of the past such as reduced leakage rates, record tap water quality and transformed bathing waters.
"There are also new challenges to face including population growth, the likelihood of more extreme weather and higher bathing water standards from 2015. Our aim is to invest in the right things at the right time to both improve our services and give the region the reliable 'always there' infrastructure it needs."In some areas like water resources, we don't need to invest in expensive new reservoirs. However, in other areas such as our programme to improve raw water quality on the moors, if we don't invest sooner rather than later we could end up facing much higher costs in the future.
"We believe we are close to striking the right balance between the needs of customers, the environment and the economy. Although no one likes to see bills increase, we should be able to keep future increases below the rate of inflation.
"However, before we finalise our plan in December, we need to hear whether customers think we are getting it right. Should we invest more or less in each area? I urge everyone to get involved in WaterFuture to make sure we do the best job for you."
Charles Howeson Regional Chair of the Consumer Council for Water told Pirate FM: "It's not actually an increase; it's not something South West Water benefit from. All of our bills get adjusted by inflation and in this case South West Water is proposing to put in a package of measures which are at or below inflation which customers have requested and I think that's pretty good news."
He added: "I warmly welcome South West Water's response to CCWater's encouragement to share some of its success with customers and not just shareholders; although we will need to look in more detail at exactly how this will benefit consumers.
"People who live in this region have an acute understanding of the problems of high bills and the need for investment in making sure we have a safe, reliable and clean water supply and Cleaning franchise.
"Customers in the region continue to face some of the highest water charges in England and Wales; we will continue to work with South West Water to encourage more investment in the future."The money will be used to bring forward programmes to improve a number of beaches in the area, making improvements to the sewer network and in helping vulnerable customers.
He went on to tell Pirate FM: "It's not actually an increase; it's not something South West Water benefit from. All of our bills get adjusted by inflation and in this case South West Water is proposing to put in a package of measures which are at or below inflation which customers have requested and I think that's pretty good news."
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