Roles of Agencies in Disaster Preparedness

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Roles of Agencies in Disaster Preparedness
Response in the WorkplaceCurrent Actions,
Recommendations Plans for the Future
Vickie L. Wells, MS, CIH, CSPDirector,
Occupational Safety Health ProgramSan
Francisco Department of Public Health
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Role of SF DPHEmergency Preparedness

• Department of Public Health Is Responsible for
  Medical Response (Both Pre-hospitalization and
  Hospitalization) to a Mass Casualty Incident,
  Whether the Result of Human Action (Terrorism) or
  a Natural Event (Earthquake, Tsunami, Pandemic)

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San Francisco Department of Public Health
Responsibilities

• Emergency Medical Services
• Infectious Disease Emergency Response
• Environmental Hazard Identification, Assessment
  Response
• Community Health Services
• Response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological,
  Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) Events
• Technical Assistance Expertise for City and
  County of San Francisco

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Department of Public HealthActivities
Accomplishments

• Developed DPH Emergency Operations Plan
• Training DPH Staff on NIMS
• Established Training PPE Committees
• Hospital Resource Tool Patient Tracking
• Community Behavioral Health Services ER Plan
• Infectious Disease Emergency Response Planning
• Pharmaceutical Caches
• Disaster Response Equipment Upgrades

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Infectious Disease Planning

• Epidemiology and Surveillance
• Sentinel Event Enhanced Passive Surveillance
• Biological Detection System Plan
• Isolation and Quarantine
• Infection Control
• Mass Prophylaxis Strategic National Stockpile
• Laboratory Capabilities
• Public Information Distribution
• Pandemic Influenza Planning
• Avian Flu Task Force

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EmployeesOur Most Critical Resource

• Ensuring Employee Health Safety Critical for
  Effective Response
• Determine Potential Roles of Employees in
• Different Disaster Scenarios
• Determine What Medical Surveillance, Training,
• Protective Equipment Prophylaxis Needed
• To Protect Employees
• Develop Implement Effective OSH Programs
• Avian / Pandemic Flu Task Force
• Respiratory Protection Programs

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Avian Flu Task Force

• Works With City Departments Agencies to Develop
  Well Coordinated Plans to Address Pandemic
  Influenza
• Protecting Workers Is a Key Component!

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Respiratory Protection Programs

• Define Employee Roles Potential Exposures for
  Various Scenarios
• Select PPE
• Develop Written Program
• Medical Clearance / Surveillance
• Training
• Fit Testing
• Including Labor Organizations in Planning Is Key!