How do we transition our government from being a puppet dog to becoming a watch dog! How do we get Big Corporate executives to walk the walk instead of constantly talking the talk about Safety being their first priority. We have BP passing the fault of this gulf oil spill to Halliburton and Halliburton passing the buck to Deep Horizon and we the victims of their gross negligence left rolling our eyes watching the spin!

When we explore the outer space of the heavens or the inner space of the seas, there are many unknowns and risks associated with such discovery expeditions.  We humans use intuition and science to go beyond our known worlds. Our intuition, combined with science is used to produce beneficial discoveries along with safety practices. We endure accidents as a part of the risk of exploration. We understand acceptable risk instinctively. 

Yet there are no words in the English language that can accurately convey the utter devastation which the BP Gulf oil spill is having upon humans, animals, and the entire ecosystems of our planet! It has been well over a month since this preventable nightmare occurred. We still do not know when this gushing atrocity will be capped successfully so that we can begin to assess the necessary planning to begin the recovery process. Right now we are still fumbling with containment of the smothering, toxic oil, and the highly dangerous methane gases spewing from the core of our Earth. 

This catastrophe is more than the result of an accident from “vigorous” risk management. It is more than just a series of errors of omission. It epitomizes the short sighted greed of management concerned more with meeting hypothetical production schedules and timely returns on investment rather than placing primary emphasis on insuring the safety of the men who ran the drilling rig, the protection of the immediate  marine environment, and the larger picture of protecting the entire interacting  ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico and the entire planet.

A corporation provides a legal governmental charter which gives the newly created business entity the right to make as much profit as possible in the shortest amount of time for those people able to invest to become shareholders. 

Yet who is accountable within this corporation for this global catastrophe? Corporations are often chartered with the express purpose of creating multiple layers of accountability with no clear-cut decision making processes and lines of authority so that blame for bad judgment can often be difficult to ascertain.

Many corporations are born and bred upon a foundation of greed with no consideration for humanity or the planet. Throughout history, greed has been the basis for bribes, kickbacks and  payoffs to eliminate inherent checks or balances which mature judgment and good business practice would render necessary and desirable. 

Greed for profits, and greed to “save time” to increase profits, has led to purposeful neglect, deceit, malice and clouded judgment calls. I have for years advocated that SAFETY must become a part of our culture, not just an added cost to our business and living expenses. SAFETY should be like a religion. Religion meaning Philosophy with rituals. The rituals not only created to remind us of the philosophy but to make safe habits a part of our culture, a part of knowing who we are and who and what we are dealing with, and who and what we can trust. 

To place our trust in what is safe, or at least to reduce risk to an acceptable level, is a basic human need for both individuals and society to advance. Envisioning safety and creating safe procedures and processes can be seen as the creation of a ritual of trust.  Greed destroys this ritual of trust. 

To help understand the totality of consequences from  the continuing Gulf Oil eruption, I began viewing different video clips concerning the BP Corporation and its public response, proposed and current government regulations; oversight and the lax enforcement of safety standards by the Bureau of Minerals Management, and the human factor of  the crew of the Deep Water Horizon and the impact of this catastrophe upon our environment.

To produce the greatest operational avenue of safety as a student of “Best Practices” I break processes and procedures down into four categories of assessment. They are: Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. I have provided videos in this blog from the various news services to address each of these categories. These news clips related videos are in the following order. 

The first is about the propaganda BP issued regarding their position on Prevention, helping affected people cope with the disaster they created, and how they hope to somehow show that “they care” about the “small people.”

The 1990 Oil spill Pollution Act was signed by President George Bush because of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Yet why were the permits for BP drilling at this unprecedented depth of not first secured (as required by law) thru the Bureau of Minerals and Management?  Why were the required permits not applied for nor issued?

Current state of preparedness for the beaches in Florida and the preparedness plans there for this summer tourists.

BP’s Response:

Probably the most important video here:  Understanding the sequences of events that culminated in catastrophe as they were happening with an explanation by Mike Williams, Chief Electronics Technician, one of the few survivors of the Deep Water Horizon explosion, on “60 Minutes.” 

The Methane gas release is a subject which is being intensively researched – BP, The Deep Water Horizon oil rig and the dangers of a methane bubble.

Clip shows the methane disaster which happened in Africa in 1996, killing people and livestock as far as 16 miles away from the methane gas eruption.

And here is a video to remember and pay tribute to those men and their families who lost their lives on the day of the explosion on the Deep Water Horizon oil rig.  The consequences of ignoring safety always have a human face, and a human cost with ripples that continue for multiple generations.

Remembering that Life has no reset button, Think Safety!

~ Safety Grace

http://www.safetyissues.com/

Hi,

The Scary Truth about OUR Cell Phones. Most of us think our cell phone conversations are pretty secure, no one is listening. You feel with all the billions of phone calls “no one is going to bother hacking in to my phone”. Right?…Wrong! I am sure the two women on this video never thought anyone would be interested in their conversation. Watching the use of the off-the-shelf, readily available Phone Piracy technology in This video blew my mind:

After you’ve watched the video follow the link below to view what I have found to be the most organized and to the point safety tips about harassing phone calls:
Cell Phone SafetyTips
More Relevant Safety News
Cyber Crime Prevention

Yovette Mumford

SafetyIssues.com

Pandemic issues

Swine flu (H1N1) has hit more than 200 countries. At least 12,220 deaths have been reported. The WHO says the true death toll may be higher, but it will take two years to get the actual figure.

Swine flu was widespread in only four states in the last week of 2009, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This was a drop from seven states in the previous week - an indication, they said, that the spread has begun to decline. In October, 48 states were affected by high levels of sickness.

The World Health Organization has warned that young people, pregnant women and people weakened by health conditions such as lung or heart disease are more susceptible to swine flu infections. When infected, they also are likely to need intensive medical care. Young people under 18 are twice as likely to get infected as people in other age groups.

The WHO also warns that “it is still premature” to say that the pandemic influenza has ended. Although the US has passed a second wave of H1N1, a third wave is still possible. The problem is that influenza viruses are notorious for their unpredictability. They quickly mutate into more severe forms.

CDC officials say people should still get vaccinated. More than 118 million doses are now available.

HIV/AIDS

It has been 28 years since the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has killed more than 25 million people so far. There may be good news, though. The UNAids and the World Health Organization says the pandemic is now in decline. The number of new HIV/AIDS infections has dropped by nearly one-third since its mid-1990s peak. We should remain vigilant, however. The goal is to eradicate HIV/AIDS.

Click to see the UNAIDS 2009 Report.

Did you know that nearly 50% of all AIDS patients die from complications related to tuberculosis (TB)? This fact comes from the CDC. All HIV/AIDS patients should know this relationship between the two diseases. TB has many variations: regular or drug susceptible TB, multidrug resistant TB (MDR TB), extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB), and extremely drug resistant TB (XXDR TB).

New strand of Tuberculosis (XXDR TB) comes to US.

This makes very important the discovery of the first known case of a person with XDR TB (Extensively drug-resistant TB) in the US. The person involved lived in Lantana, Florida. This form of TB is very rare, but it is extremely contagious. It is also incredibly difficult to treat. The best way is to reduce the risk of infection. For some ideas, visit the CDC “Fact Sheet” on XDR TB.
(PLACE URL OF STORY FROM EITHER MIAMI TIMES OR NEW YORK TIMES)

Health care reform bill passes Senate

The Senate has passed legislation intended to reform the nation’s health care system — or more precisely, to reform the insurance system that helps Americans pay for care. This will now have to be reconciled with the House version passed in November, which contains provisions that differ markedly from the Senate bill.

One common provision is the requirement for Americans (except for some exemptions) to purchase a minimum level of health insurance or else be penalized for not having one. The penalty can be painful. The House bill would set the penalty at 2.5% of adjusted gross income over $9,350 for individuals and $18,700 for couples. The Senate bill sets a graduated schedule of penalties, starting with the greater amount between $95/year and 0.5% of household income in 2014, 1% in 2015, and 2% in 2016 with a review for indexing to inflation after that.

Do Americans want this bill? The polls still show that majority (56%) of Americans oppose the bill as crafted by the Senate and the House.

It is important for each one of us to let our representatives know what we think about this bill, especially the threat of being penalized for not buying insurance. Let us be clear about one thing: under the US Constitution, Congress does NOT have the power to compel Americans to purchase health insurance. Click for an article by US Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

Click for a good look at the basic terms in the two versions.

Please send us your comments on what you would like to see in the bill and/or what you don’t like about the Bill as it is written…..

Drinking water quality concerns in the US

The safety and therefore quality of our drinking water are of paramount concern to us. Indeed, to have safe drinkable water should be a human right not just a privilege! This is as true for developed countries as for developing countries all over the world. Every person on this planet should have access to good quality drinking water, but the fact is one in every six people do not.

As a result, the UNICEF estimates that more than 1.5 million children die each year because of polluted drinking water and the lack of basic sanitation. An estimated 425 million children aged 17 and under have no access at all to an improved water supply. This is tragic, because then their physical development is impaired and their health is compromised by various water-related diseases.

Many organizations are hard at work trying to improve the quality of drinking water in US communities as well as in other places worldwide. There are many ways for people to participate. Some are directly involved in cleaning facilities for water while others provide technical education and training for those who clean water. Others help evaluate water quality, and so many other activities to ensure that people everywhere will get good-quality drinking water. These organizations need our support.

The problem is not easy, but it needs everyone’s attention now. If we cannot be directly involved, the least we can do is to help those organizations that are deeply involved. Too many people are at risk, as is evident read the article Dirty Water Kills 4,000 Children a Day.

Going Snowboarding?

In the first week of December, a 17-year-old boy was snowboarding in northern New Mexico. Despite his parents’ pleas for him to wear a helmet, he refused. He said it was not “cool” to put one on. He had done this for years. This time around, he was not so lucky. When his snowboard hit a snag, he careened down the mountain and slammed into a tree. He spent five days in a coma. Click to read More about Winter Sports Safety.

Product Recalls

Toyota has recalled various Toyota and Lexus models. Fixes to recalled vehicles will begin in early 2010. For details, click on the press release.

Toy recalls: Click on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

An Appeal

Safety Issues endeavors to bring to your attention to safety news, products, services that affect every aspect of our life. We are a 501(C) (3) organization. We ask that you continue to support our efforts. Please make a tax deductible donation to help us continue funding and developing programs for training in fire safety, sports safety, green technology, safe sex and other safety issues.

For your donation (above $25), you will receive within two weeks a “Thank You” certificate that you can use when claiming your tax deduction.

~ Yovette Mumford, Executive Director of the non-profit www.safetyissues.com, mother of three, attorney, inventor of safety medical products at www.safetymedicals.com, writer, lives in New England.

Hi,

It is only too obvious that lightning can cause large surges of power that can damage your computer. Few devices can protect your system from a direct strike, but if the storm is distant enough, a good surge suppressor can help. For good measure, you will want a suppressor that offers protection for telephone and fax equipment since your computer may be connected to these devices. The Tripp-Lite 10-Outlet surge suppressor with coaxial and telephone protection can provide the protection you need.

10-Outlet Surge Suppressor With Coaxial And Telephone Protection

You’ll want a suppressor that protects your computer against spikes (momentary but extremely high over-voltages) and surges (chronic over-voltages). These over-voltages come in from power lines and also through data lines (such as phone and network cables). The Tripp-Lite 10-Outlet surge suppressor with coaxial and telephone protection protects you from against surges from both sources. What other qualities should you look for?

A good suppressor must have a UL-1499 rating to qualify as a “true” surge protector, with a let-through voltage of 400V AC or less. Note that low-cost units have a lower UL rating (UL-1363) thus can protect only against modest over-voltages. There must be a fast surge clamping response time (1 nanosecond or less) to ensure the surge does not get through. The joule rating must be high, which implies that the device can dissipate greater amounts of electrical energy. If you check the features of the Tripp-Lite 10-Outlet surge suppressor with coaxial and telephone protection (click on the image), you’ll find it has UL-1499 with let-through of 330V, a response time of less than 1nanosecond and an AC suppression joule rating of 2395 joules.

It has the capability to accommodate 5 transformer plugs without overlapping into the other outlets. Instead of a fuse, you’ll find a 15 amp resettable circuit breaker so you don’t have to worry about a blown fuse. There is EMI/RFI noise filtration of up to 40dB, and an LED warning that indicates if your computer is properly grounded. Just as important — and a high quality surge suppressor should have this — the Tripp-Lite 10-Outlet surge suppressor with coaxial and telephone protection offers a $150,000 connected-equipment lifetime warranty.

If you use surge protectors like the Tripp-Lite 10-Outlet surge suppressor with coaxial and telephone protection with its high-quality features, you will be less vulnerable to power problems. Life has no reset button, think safety.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

In a most unfortunate turn of events, Donda West, mother of famous rapper Kanye West, died one day after undergoing cosmetic surgery. The cause of death is still being investigated but the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has said it was probably due to complications from the surgery or anesthesia.

In these times of the Extreme Makeover, Botox parties, one-hour liposuctions and quick facelifts, consumers have been led to believe that cosmetic procedures are not without risk of complications. Our television shows have trivialized the whole procedure. Celebrities proudly boast of having the biggest these, or the tightest that. The patients, the media, and even cosmetic surgeons (especially if they are on TV) tend to minimize the risk of these procedures.

One fact has been set aside in all the hype: cosmetic surgery is considered major surgery, especially from an anesthetic perspective.

Kanye West’s mother, Donda, is only the latest to fall victim to the idea that plastic surgery is as quick and easy as disposing of plastic. In 2004, Olivia Goldsmith, the best-selling author, suffered a heart attack after undergoing anesthesia for a “chin tuck” cosmetic procedure. She was 54.

To be sure, deaths in cosmetic procedures are quite rare, with one death for every 52,000 procedures. In 2006, about 11.5 million cosmetic procedures (surgical and non-surgical) were performed, an increase of 446 percent from 1997. Cosmetic surgery can be safe … but only if proper safety procedures are observed. Although safe, it is not risk-free.

Sometimes, patients thinking they have the financial means will consider herself or himself as a perfect candidate for cosmetic surgery. They tend to downplay any adverse factors in their medical history. It is not altogether unlikely that they may use deception, to convince the physician of their fitness to undergo surgery and achieve their goal of physical perfection.

We must all remember that plastic surgery is the ultimate elective surgery: none of it is necessary. Still, medical rules and common sense should not be ignored to accommodate a patient’s vanity.

Those contemplating a plastic surgery procedure must think the matter through.

• Get information. As in any serious undertaking, you should do your homework and know as much as you can about the benefits and the risks. Use the Internet and look it up in the medical websites.
• Know what to expect. Ask your plastic surgeon about the benefits and risks of the procedure. Talk about your expectations. Ask about what the side effects might be and recovery period.
• Ask around. Try looking up patients who have undergone the procedure you want and talk to them about it.
• Choose a certified plastic surgeon. It is not enough that the surgeon have training. The surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• Get a medical clearance. Your personal physician should clear you for the surgery. You may have to get chest X-rays and EKGs.
• Be honest. Do not minimize your medical history when examined by the plastic surgeon. Full disclosure is necessary so the surgeon will be prepared. Remember, the risk of complications will increase with conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

It may not be possible to eliminate all risks, but as an informed patient, you can help to diminish them. Cosmetic surgery may give you some peace of mind but only if you remember that it is all about safety.

We invite you to share your views and comments with the rest of our readers. Since life has no reset button, think safety. And, tune into this blog and to our website daily.

Safe Living, Yovette Mumford