Keeping the workforce healthy and safe during COVID-19 at Woodside

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 357
Author(s):  
Theo Anderson

Keeping the workforce healthy and safe during COVID-19 required extraordinary responses from Australian extractive industries. Woodside maintained safe and reliable operations using a collaborative and principle driven approach to health and safety leadership to protect its workforce. Woodside demonstrated an ability to respond rapidly and decisively to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health principles were quickly developed, guiding staff on the importance of hygiene, maintaining health at work and quickly reporting any flu-like illness symptoms. Technology was used to analyse travel history, health status and potential exposure. Site-specific controls to limit access and prevent potential spread of infections were implemented. Procedures to manage potential cases were developed and operating models were modified to ensure business continuity for safety critical roles. As rosters were modified and people worked from home, a wellbeing framework guided the implementation of preventative and mitigative controls for mental health. Leaders encouraged the small working groups to back their judgement as the situation rapidly evolved, providing time and space for the teams to develop and implement effective health management plans. Woodside worked collaboratively with industry partners, contractors and communities, recognising the importance of collaboration to align responses and remove barriers to deliver effective controls. Support and enablement of leaders was a key focus area. Significant emphasis was placed on enabling optimal human performance by focusing on emerging risks, for example how leaders can optimise human performance in the key areas of mental wellbeing, fatigue management and remote leadership when restrictions limited traditional face-to-face support on operational sites.

Author(s):  
Bruce P. Bernard

This chapter focuses on conducting worksite investigations, including walkthrough surveys, and provides occupational health and safety personnel, employees, and employers the opportunity to identify and assess current workplace conditions and employee health concerns and make recommendations on how to reduce or eliminate any identified workplace hazards. The methods described cover ways to implement corrective actions necessary for preventing future adverse incidents and to identify shortcomings in safety and health management programs. Various specific examples are provided. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Evaluation Program, which has experience with all types of workplace hazards, is described. Preparing for and conducting workplace investigations is described in detail.


2021 ◽  
pp. 008124632110201
Author(s):  
Zamafiso Nombulelo Sibande ◽  
Rizwana Roomaney

Fatigue is a common, secondary symptom of endometriosis that has not been qualitatively explored. We conducted individual, face-to-face interviews with 25 women in South Africa about their experiences of endometriosis-related fatigue. Participants were recruited at a public hospital in Cape Town and through several South African endometriosis organizations. Interviews were conducted in English and Afrikaans and ranged from 30 min to 1 hr 16 min in duration. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. We found that both the experience of fatigue and fatigue-management strategies were highly personalized. Participants reported using a variety of cognitive strategies, such as planning, pacing, and pushing through their fatigue to reduce the levels of fatigue. Participants also employed physical strategies such as rest, dietary changes, using supplements, and exercise. We found that while participants often tried fatigue-management strategies suggested to them by others, they struggled to maintain these strategies even when they were successful. There are currently no interventions aimed at reducing endometriosis-related fatigue. The findings of this study provide insight into the management of fatigue in women with endometriosis and may be used to develop a psychosocial intervention for fatigue among women with the disease.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Loane ◽  
R Corbett ◽  
S E Bloomer ◽  
D J Eedy ◽  
H E Gore ◽  
...  

Diagnostic accuracy and management recommendations of realtime teledermatology consultations using low-cost telemedicine equipment were evaluated. Patients were seen by a dermatologist over a video-link and a diagnosis and treatment plan were recorded. This was followed by a face-to-face consultation on the same day to confirm the earlier diagnosis and management plan. A total of 351 patients with 427 diagnoses participated. Sixty-seven per cent of the diagnoses made over the video-link agreed with the face-to-face diagnosis. Clinical management plans were recorded for 214 patients with 252 diagnoses. For this cohort, 44 of the patients were seen by the same dermatologist at both consultations, while 56 were seen by a different dermatologist. In 64 of cases the same management plan was recommended at both consultations; a sub-optimum treatment plan was recommended in 8 of cases; and in 9 of cases the video-link management plans were judged to be inappropriate. In 20 of cases the dermatologist was unable to recommend a suitable management plan by video-link. There were significant differences in the ability to recommend an optimum management plan by video-link when a different dermatologist made the reference management plan. The results indicate that a high proportion of dermatological conditions can be successfully managed by realtime teledermatology.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Dilek Öztaş ◽  
Burak Kurt ◽  
Ayşegül Koç ◽  
Muhsin Akbaba ◽  
Hüseyin İlter

Introduction and Purpose. Farmers are particularly at high risk of pesticide exposure due to added risk from occupational exposure. The aim of this study is to evaluate knowledge level of farmers in the Çukurova region of the effects of pesticides, toxic symptoms, and protective equipment as well as assessing their attitudes and practices regarding pesticides. Material and Method. A total of 420 seasonal agricultural workers in Karataş District of Adana Province, Turkey, were included in the study. The questionnaire form consisting of 3 sections was administered using face-to-face interview method. Results. The mean age of the participants was 40.2±10.6 years. They were engaged in farming for a mean duration of 18.5±10.6 years. All of them used pesticides, but none of them had been trained on the use of pesticides. Only 26.2% of them stored pesticides in a private depot. The farmers who took empty pesticide containers to special collection bins or centers constituted only 4.3% of them. While 84.0% of them thought that pesticides could have a negative impact on human health, 5.0% of them had experienced a medical problem and 1.0% of them were poisoned after applying pesticides. Conclusion. The results show that knowledge level of farmers of safe use of pesticides is very inadequate. This lack of knowledge adversely affects workers’ quality of life as well as occupational health and safety. Appropriate training programs should be organized to increase their level of knowledge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Ohannessian ◽  
A Scardoni ◽  
L Bellini ◽  
S Salvati ◽  
A Amerio ◽  
...  

Abstract Telemedicine is the practice of medicine from distance using information technology and include mainly teleconsultation via video and/or chat, teleexpertise to request the opinion of a specialist, and remote patient monitoring to improve the follow-up of patients. The use of telemedicine in mental health and most specially psychiatry has been one of the first use case described in the scientific literature, via video teleconsultation, due to the absence of physical patient examination. One of the oldest telepsychiatry case from the literature was published in 1973 for patients assessed from 1968 with the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA. Despite its medical and technical ease, telepsychiatry is still not widely spread and integrated into healthcare systems due to organisational and implementation challenges. More recently, telepsychology and other telemedicine interventions in mental health have been growing across the globe, including for mental wellbeing promotion and prevention of mental health conditions in specific environments. The rise of consumer digital healthcare directly through mobile app and dedicated websites is also to be considered in the wide opportunities of telemedicine opportunities to address mental health issues at a global scale. Various models needs thus to be considered between digital only care and blended approach mixing face-to-face and digital ways, as well as telemental health delivered only via the existing healthcare system or via new private digital players. The objective of the presentation is to describe the spectrum of existing telemedicine interventions in mental health, the digital features enabling its adoption and the assessment of its impact on clinical and public health outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eskawati Musyarofah Bunyamin ◽  
Eveline Siregar Siregar ◽  
Dwi Kusumawardani Kusumawardani

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools did not open face-to-face learning services. The Ministry of Education and Culture has issued a policy learning from Home (BDR) to support the principles of the Education Policy in the COVID-19 Pandemic that the health and safety of students, educators, education personnel, families, and the community is the top priority. However, learning in Vocational School (SMK) is mostly based on practice so that BDR activities cannot be implemented. One thing that is done to overcome this is that some practicum activities can be executed using multimedia known as virtual laboratories. The aim of this study is to conduct a need analysis for the development of a virtual laboratory.  Needs analysis is carried out to gather data about gaps and needs as well profiles of students that can be used as a basis or reference in developing virtual laboratory at the next stage. Data collection was carried out by means of observation, interviews, and distributing questionnaires. The results showed that a virtual laboratory was needed to support practical learning for vocational students.


Author(s):  
Cristiano Franchi ◽  
Ezio Giacalone ◽  
Daniele Di Giovanni ◽  
Stefania Moramarco ◽  
Mariachiara Carestia

Within the confinements of critical infrastructures, the COVID-19 pandemic is posing a series of challenges to Health Management. In the spotlight of highly contagious and quick spreading diseases within such enclosed facilities, whether it be a detention facility or otherwise, the health and safety of those living within its internment is paramount. This paper aims to highlight the specific challenges and the possible solutions to counteract this problem, starting from the lessons learnt from the Italian prison system case study. Following the general description of the available resources within the Italian prisons, the study aimed at specifically describing the first counteracting measures deployed by the Italian prison authorities during the first phase of the COVID-19 outbreak (February–July 2020). The aim was to propose an integrated plan capable of responding to a biological threat within the prisons. In particular, the study describes the actions and technical features that, in accordance with national and international legal frameworks and the relevant organisational bodies that run the Italian Prison Service, had been adopted in managing, right from the start, the COVID-19 pandemic until Summer 2020. Available information and data showed the ability of the prison administration to comply almost completely with WHO’s technical and human rights recommendations and also, in successfully handling prison emergencies both in terms of the sick and the deceased in line with the epidemiological framework of the general population. In addition, the paper proposes a draft of guidelines that should involve the National Health Service and the Prison Service that are aimed at supporting the local prison facilities with drawing up their own biological incident contingency plans. An approved, legal, standardised plan could increase the awareness of prison managers. It could even increase their self-confidence, in particular, with regard to cases of dispute and their ability to respond to them. In fact, it is valuable and forward-thinking to be able to demonstrate that every endeavour has been taken and that ‘certified’ best practices have been put in place in accordance with the national standards.


2021 ◽  
pp. e2021033
Author(s):  
Tine Vestergaard ◽  
Merethe K. Andersen ◽  
Anette Bygum

Background: Teledermoscopy can be used to triage referrals of suspected skin cancers, thereby reducing waiting time and number of face-to-face consultations with a dermatologist. However, the success of the implementation of this technology in part relies on the acceptance of the providers. Objectives: This study assessed the attitudes towards teledermoscopy of referring general practitioners and consultant dermatologists. Methods: General practitioners from 48 practices and 3 dermatologists in the region of Southern Denmark, who had previous experience with teledermoscopy, were invited to answer questionnaires on their acceptance of the technology. Results: General practitioners from 23 practices responded. All domains of the questionnaire received high scores, indicating a high degree of acceptance of teledermoscopy among respondents. All 3 dermatologists agreed that teledermoscopy was useful for triaging referrals, but they were less confident in their diagnoses and management plans proposed by teledermoscopy than in traditional face-to-face evaluations of patients. Two of the 3 dermatologists were satisfied with using teledermoscopy as a consult method. Conclusions: This study reports high levels of provider acceptance of teledermoscopy. However, a low response rate among general practitioners may limit its generalizability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noni Valen Kristiani ◽  
Abdul Sadad

The purpose of this study was to determine the Strategy for the Implementation of Occupational Health and Safety Management (K3) implemented by the company to minimize or reduce the number of accidents and occupational diseases. This type of research is a qualitative research using a descriptive approach and the data needed are primary data and secondary data derived from observations, interviews and documentation analyzed by researchers so as to obtain accurate and clear data regarding the strategy for implementing K3 Management by PLN (Persero) UIP3B Sumatra in Pekanbaru City. The results of this study indicate that the Strategy for Implementation of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) Management by PLN (Persero) UIP3B Sumatra in Pekanbaru City However, the implementation of occupational safety and health management carried out by PLN (Persero) UIP3B Sumatra has not achieved the expected goals, this happens because there are still inhibiting factors, namely low employee competence, lack of awareness from employees of the importance of K3 and lack of K3 supervision with reference to Government Regulation Number 50 of 2012.


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