Another local store had to close down for two weeks due to a covid outbreak. At the height of the Christmas rush. I was quick to blame the maskless wanderers who persist in their quest to infect the world, but to be fair I have never seen any protection on the clerk besides a pexiglass window that she reaches around to hand the customer the checkout pad. So six of one, half a dozen of another. The point is, risk can be mitigated.
So another couple of entries for the grandson of Nana's adventures in trying to understand and mitigate risk.
As stated before I believe it only fair to "experience" the job task before I presume to pass judgement on safety and health mandates. Besides it's often fun, especially if one does not have to perform the task every day. Which meant I rode in ambulances and on fire trucks observing injury pick-ups and fire scenes.
Ambulance runs in a City are often in less privileged areas, so a lookout is essential. I believe I mentioned before the fire personnel asking me to intervene on uniform colors that were too close to the police hue. In a dark alley, they look pretty much the same. I remember one run on the second floor (always when you have to transport) of a little girl who had fallen and hurt her neck. We gathered around the patient to lift her onto the stretcher but were hampered by this dude WORKING ON HIS MOTORCYCLE in the room. I still do not know how he got it up there. I was the only one bold enough to say "jeez man could you move over so we can lift the kid onto the stretcher?" He was kind of tough looking but sometimes the female voice soothes the savage beast so to speak.
I was able to advocate for equipment but sometimes you had to say no. Like when they wanted this cool filtration system installed on the top of their new ambulance. Oh the days when we only worried about TB infections and good old HIV and Hep C. I gently pointed out all the local hospitals emergency areas had these tight entryways and immovable overhead signs that would snap the filter off on the first run. Mask up folks and mask the patient too for good measure. Now it is the norm. These were the same people who didn't want to wear gloves when handling patients afraid it would be misinterpreted that someone's Mother was "unclean". Blame me but we all got over it.
"Attending" a fire situation was interesting. I actually garbed up in turnout gear and helmet to review the scene AFTER the fire was out. Two things-cardboard backing will protect the wall behind it; and second, leaving your toaster plugged in all the time may be problematic. I remarked about how hot it was, and this was after the fire was out. They laughed and laughed. I also rode in the back of the fire apparatus where the rule was helmets on when riding the rig. Of course it did not fit and one is not terribly secure in the open part of the truck. Again they laughed and laughed.
One other interesting anecdote. There was a worker comp case where the "victim" claimed multiple chemical sensitivity sydrome after the fire station's regular treatment for ants. Now these folks are subject to a lot of nasty chemicals that are consumed in a fire. Turnout gear is not impermeable. They had mentioned to me the "cooked ham" smell that arises upon taking a shower after a fire. I understood after my own sojourn into the smoky aftermath of a house fire and found that they were exactly correct. Eerie. Normally one does not question a fire-related cancer or respiratory illness for worker comp.
However this victim claimed he could not go anywhere that had odors or fragrances after the episode with the ant juice. Such as Hudson's perfume counter (that was the example). Ok. In discussing the issue with his doctor I was informed that only the patient knows to what he/she is sensitive and to what extent. Remember when I said Industrial Hygiene is the science of assuming everyone is sensitive to something in unknown quantities. After reviewing the safety data sheets and in an effort to stave off further issues with the rest of the group, the Fire Chief and I sat in the Station the next time they sprayed and had lunch to prove the substances used were harmless. Like the Princess and the pea, managment would succomb sooner to bad air was the thinking; flawed but effective. Things straightened out though when the employee in question was seen drinking in a smoky bar with friends. As he put it, well it's not all the time....
On a ride-along with the police I followed the officer as she decided to confront a known drug dealer who had recently been "cut loose" just to let him know, we knew, he was back out there. It was while I was drifting in and out of shadows following the officer (I was dressed in all black) that it dawned on me that "oh this could be dangerous and here I am drifting along invisible in the line of fire so to speak." Unlike the Rambo movies I decided the two officers could handle things and I retreated to a safe distance. Like I said Fun! I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the OH said he never could get back to sleep when I got one of my middle of the night emergency calls or scheduled job observations. So I learned not to be too specific on my adventures.
Happy Wednesday...
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