To:

Department Heads/Supervisors/Managers

From:

Brett McPherson, Director of Environmental Health & Safety

Date:

December 22, 2014

Subject:

Pesticide Form Approval Process

Here’s What’s Happening. . .

Situation

• EH&S has changed the process for completing and approving the Pesticide Form (part of B.L.U.E. Book).  The process is now digital and completely paperless.
• Supervisors are to approve the employee’s form to complete the process.

Background

• LLUH is required to document annual training on the use of pesticides for every employee. 

And here’s why. . . 

Assessment

• Employees are completing and submitting the form.  Approximately 5,000 Pesticide Forms are still unprocessed and can be found in the supervisor’s LiquidOffice Inbox

Recommendation

• All supervisors MUST approve employee’s Pesticide forms.
• As employees complete their Pesticide Form, supervisors will receive an email notification from (lo@llu.edu) LIQUIDOFFICE. From the email, supervisors MUST click on the link for the Pesticide Form to view the employee’s form (or LiquidOffice Inbox) and then open form to approve. 

• To approve all outstanding Pesticide Forms, supervisors must access the LiquidOffice Inbox and approve.

• For detailed step by step instructions on how to approve, please click here and scroll to page 4, section “Supervisors and Managers only – approving the Pesticide Form”.

Questions?

Please call Julia Fisher at ext. 58150 or email EHS@llu.edu.

B (Background) 
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes the minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor standards affecting workers in the private sector and in Federal, State and Local Governments. Provisions have been made to the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) regarding minimum wage. Employers must comply with the highest standard and strictest law that provides greater protection for employees.

A (Assessment) 
Talent Management Services conducted an audit and identified those employees that will be impacted. The employee pay change report will be sent separately to the respective department heads.

R (Recommendation) 
Please notify the respective employees regarding the compensation changes. Talent Management Services will be mailing information to all affected employees.

Questions? 
If you have any questions, please contact the following Compensation Representatives:

• Cindy Pinero at ext. 14036 (MC/BMC)
• Leo Alon at ext. 14022 (CH/LLU/USS)
• Kristy Keers at ext. 14174 (UHC)

Thank you for your immediate attention to the minimum wage implementation!

Please take a moment and watch the video to ensure your safety.

Before purchasing a portable heater for your area at work, please read the LLUH policy on Appliance Safety.  If you have questions, contact Environmental Health & Safety x14019.

____________

This article originally posted in Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management. Visit the Speaking of Safety Blog here.

To: All Employees

From: Corporate Compliance

Date: May 12, 2014

Subject: 2014 Annual Compliance Training

The Compliance Department would like to thank everyone that has already completed the required 2014 Compliance Training Requirements.

Each department at 100% by April 30, 2014 was entered into a drawing for a SPECIAL TREAT.

Compliance is in the process of arranging delivery of the treats.

WINNERS!

 Cost Centers

• M9761 – Employee Spiritual Care
• MUR 8660 – Employee Wellness
• MUR 7651 – PET/CT - POB

Clinical Engineering

Staff had an overall performance score of 94%, well above our 90% required compliance. During the assessment, Clinical Engineering staff reviewed clinical equipment, record keeping by staff, and new equipment not currently being tested. During the second round of EOC Tours, it was determined that staff needed additional training in daily record keeping for code carts and that patient equipment was provided with a visible inspection tag.

Emergency Management

LLUH is well above the standard for conducting Emergency Management drills. We are currently performing quarterly disaster drills that test the knowledge of staff and the ability to put our resources in action. Staff knowledge of how to access these disaster plans, Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) & Hospital Emergency Protocols, was at 76%. In order to better assist staff in finding the disaster plans, you can easily find the “Emergency Preparedness & Response” page by going to the VIP Page and clicking General  Emergency Preparedness & Response or by clicking here.

Facilities Management

Staff are great when identifying a facility problem and reporting it to Facilities Management. 96% of patient-care areas were found to be in good repair and without outstanding work orders. This is a great compliance score that reflects the work you are doing as a result of completing your EOC Self-Audit form and following through with work orders. Thank you for taking pride and ownership of your department.

Fire & Life Safety

Patient-care departments scored a compliance rate of 85% for 2013. The main contributing factor for this score was availability of documentation. Departments are required to show the last two quarters of EOC self-audits and fire drill forms when EOC Tours are conducted. Unfortunately, if these forms are unavailable at the time of request, it is assumed that the department did not complete the requirements for those quarters. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) has improved this process by introducing a digital fire drill form available for all departments. It would be in the department’s best interest to complete the fire drill form digitally to ensure records are accurately kept and easily accessible should TJC request these during a survey. Already, we are seeing higher compliance for 2014 and are well on our way to beating last year’s score. Great job!

Environmental Services

Environmental Services completed a 90% compliance score last year. They focused on overall cleanliness of the department, as well as a detailed assessment of alcohol-based hand rub dispensers. Departments did a great job in ensuring that their departments were well maintained and, of course, this could not have been done without our fantastic EVS department.  A big congratulations goes to EVS Director, Kelvin Moore, and his team!

Hazardous Materials & Waste Management

The focus of this discipline was mainly on staff competency and the segregation of hazardous waste. The overall program score was 81% with majority of the low scoring in staff competency. The staff was asked if they knew how to access the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and if they knew the procedures should a hazardous material spill occur. There is definitely opportunity for departments to become more familiar with these processes. The good news is that EH&S is here to assist you with filling in these educational gaps.

Radiation Safety

Departments had an overall compliance score of 94% when knowing Radiation Safety procedures. Although there was overall successful compliance for this program, there still may be opportunity to help coach staff on who is allowed to handle radioactive waste and where to find radioactive waste containers. The need to know this information may not apply to some departments as much as others. In conclusion, staff seems to be well prepared and understand the overall processes of Radiation Safety.

Security

The need to know Security procedures is always at the top of our list. Whether we are dealing with an angry family member or assisting in a Code Pink drill, this knowledge is extremely important to know and you have all proven well that you know it! Departments had a compliance score of 95% in 2013. This number surely instills confidence in our staff and our Security Department for educating and taking a lead role in our disaster drill. Thank you Security and staff!

I hope this information is useful to you and assists you in opportunities for improvement. Most of all, congratulations goes to YOU for an outstanding performance.  As we are concluding the first half of 2014, we can already see the increased compliance in staff knowledge for most of these areas.  Thank you for your continued passion in safety by ensuring your environment is cared for and your staff is educated.

____________

This article originally posted in Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management. Visit the Speaking of Safety Blog here.

This session will be answering some of the following questions: 

• Do you  understand the difference between a static budget and a capital budget? 
• Do you know how to determine the baseline productivity by department? 
• What are the four types of budget?
• Why is financing and budgeting critical to LLUMC's future? 
• What are the components of a budget development overview? 

Join this session of Leadership Essentials and discover how your decisions impact the organization's financial future. 

Leadership Essentials - Finance & Budget
Date: 6/12/2014
Time: 10:00-12:00
Location:
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Lobby Level Amphitheater
11234 Anderson St. 
Loma Linda, CA 92354

Register here.

"After the devastating fires in San Diego, we took a pretty big hit in emergency management, because we didn’t have a plan to take care of all the animals," explains Brett McPherson. "After the disaster, we created plans to deal with everything from a horse to a mouse. Because of this event, the citizens were asked to have a plan in place for their pets."

In many cases, people have stayed behind to make sure their pets are being taken care of. "Search the archives of Katrina, Sandy, and other disasters we have had nationally, and more than likely, you are going to see families clutching on to their pets while being rescued," he adds. "Why didn’t the people leave their homes? They didn’t leave because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind."

Read about emergency safety tips for pets and the rest of this week's Speaking of Safety blog post here.

This week is dedicated to you and the steps that you take each and every day to live our mission, vision and values.  Every day we demonstrate Compassion when we provide quality care to our patients with dignity and respect without regard to status.  We respect patient autonomy and we always want to do what is right and provide medically necessary care.  Whether in service to our patients, colleagues or community, we fully embrace Integrity in making the right decisions even when there is a tough decision to be made. Integrity is our ethical and moral compass upon which we rely to avoid conflicts of interest or any dealings that might negatively affect, alter or influence our decision-making.  If we are unsure about the right action to take we stop and ask questions.  We each have a reputation to uphold; and, we hold in high esteem our institution’s world-class reputation.  We strive for process Excellence in all that we do, integrating key quality, financial, regulatory and compliance drivers into process design to achieve desired results.  We continuously strive to get things done right the first time and solid Teamwork helps keep us accountable and going strong.  

Doing things right with a commitment to excellence sometimes takes more time and fortitude than doing things wrong.   It is good to know that just when we need it the most, there is rest, healing, and rejuvenation in Wholeness.  Compliance Week is an acknowledgement of all we can accomplish together as a team.  Thank you for all you do.

Celebrating Who We Are…

Your partners in Compliance

Corporate Compliance Department

http://vip.mc.llumc.edu/vip/Departments/LLUHS-Departments/Compliance/Index.page?

View calendar options here.

With your help we have hundreds of eyes to observe, find, and inspect, as well as, remove, eliminate, and correct a potential injury/illness hazard. In our eyes, you are the front line and you are the experts in knowing the potential hazards within your departments. If the hazard seems too far out of reach or bigger than one person should handle, call for back up. The EH&S department will stand by and give the support you deserve in promoting a safe environment.

Continued reading about injury prevention on the Speaking of Safety blog here. 

Why do we need a Business Emergency Contingency Plan?

Any business that uses, generates or stores hazardous materials is required to comply with State and Federal community right to know laws. The primary purpose of these laws is to provide readily available information regarding the location, type, and health risks of hazardous materials to emergency response personnel, authorized government officials, and the public. These requirements are found in the:

• California Health & Safety Code (CHSC), Division 20, Chapter 6.95, Sections 25500 – 25520
• California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, Sections 2729 – 2732
• Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and EPA (SARA, Title III)

Why are we required to submit the Business Emergency Contingency Plans?

1. Any business that uses, generates, processes, produces, treats, stores, emits, or discharges a hazardous material in quantities at or exceeding 55 gallons, 500 pounds, or 200 cubic feet (compressed gas) at any one time in the course of a year. Thresholds are increased to 1,000 cubic feet for compressed gases that exhibit only the hazard of simple asphyxiation & release of pressure. Thresholds for hazardous substances, solid or liquid, that are defined as hazardous solely as an irritant or sensitizer are increased to 5,000 pounds.
2. All hazardous waste generators, regardless of quantity generated or size of container.
3. Any business that handles radioactive materials for which an emergency plan is required.
4. Any business subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act.

What should be included in the Business Emergency Contingency Plans?

• Business Activities
• Business Owner/Operator Identification
• Emergency Contacts
• Agency Notification
• Emergency Response Plans & Procedures
• Chemical Inventory
• Inventory Summary Form
• Hazardous Material Inventory Chemical Description Form
• Maps: Area Map, Site Map, Facility Map
• Map Grid Form – Site Map
• Map Grid Form – Facility Map

Who prepares the Business Emergency Contingency Plans for Loma Linda University Health?

In order to comply with these regulations, Environmental Health and Safety prepares 13 different Business Emergency Contingency Plans for the Loma Linda University Health each year.  There are 11 located in the San Bernardino County and 2 in Riverside County.

Beginning in 2013, the new California Health & Safety Code requires all regulated businesses and all regulated local government agencies, which are called “Unified Program Agencies” (UPA), to file required unified program information online. This includes facility data regarding hazardous material, regulatory activities, chemical inventories, underground and aboveground storage tanks, and hazardous waste generation.  All required information relating to the Loma Linda University Health has been submitted electronically by using the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS), a statewide, web-based system to the Local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) on time to reflect the compliance.

_____________

This article originally posted in Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management. Visit the Speaking of Safety Blog here.

As we prepare to participate in the upcoming Employee Engagement survey, perhaps it’s a good time to be reminded of opportunities for magic.

Gallup research indicates that people who focus on their strengths at work are three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life and are six times more likely to be engaged in their work. Additionally, when teams share a common strengths language and know about each other’s natural talents and non-patterns, they are more likely to be collaborative and have sustained high performance. Resonant of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Sounds like some individual and team magic to me! Let’s discuss an idea of how we can get there: adjusting the balance and content of conversations. Embedding Strengths in Your Company’s DNA (2) reminds us that all too often our conversations with teams and employees focus entirely on the task or an immediate short term issue. In other words, we’re attentive to the tactical work; hands on, single outcome.

While we admittedly need to discuss these, perhaps we should consider the longer term benefits of changing the balance of the conversation to more talent and behavior based. Maybe we move the dial and increase the percentage of time spent identifying and recognizing recurring behaviors that are contributing to desired outcomes and identifying and isolating habitual behaviors that aren’t. Then, we spend part of our ongoing dialog in growing the behaviors that are contributing and addressing those that aren’t in balance with the tactical topics.

By changing the structure of our conversations, we are providing clear behavioral support and corrections that go beyond the task. Thus, we’re better prepared for growth, long-term sustained, and predictable outcomes.

“A strengths-based approach encourages managers to reframe these conversations to focus on how employees can use their talents to consistently perform their tasks at excellence.” (2)  Tom Rath, author of Wellbeing, suggests that 75% of a manager’s time should be spent building on people’s strengths. (3)  How much time do you spend doing so? Should you begin to adjust the balance?

 There is a connection between individual talents and deliberate behaviors and performance towards expected outcomes. Strengthening Your Company’s Performance (4)  explains, “To maximize performance, you need both engagement and ability. Ability -- an innate talent for the job or task at hand -- is one key component.” The article continues, “when they also ensure that people have the opportunity to use their strengths and do what they do best every day -- a kind of organizational MAGIC happens.”

When we start to move the dial and change the balance of our conversations from tactical to behavioral and learning from immediate issues in order to creating long term predictability and sustained outcomes, we get some of that magic to happen. We still address the tactical and topics for today and we begin to spend a greater percentage of the discussion towards more advanced and abstract concepts like communication and conflict resolution. Considering the phrase, “You can’t force a flower to grow on the sidewalk,” strengths-based focus can be nutrients and soil for growth.

When we are able to discuss our work in terms of behaviors, talents, and strengths we are better at recognizing and growing our skills, we understand our gaps and are equipped to deal with them. We have a clear understanding of ourselves and our team members and we have more positive interactions. We look forward to going to work and we achieve more daily. We are more satisfied personally and as a team. We bring the best of ourselves to work each day and the most satisfied of ourselves home to our family.

That’s a magic that all of our teams deserve and that we can reflect to those we serve.

Reposted from the Developing Your Strengths Newsletter March 2014 Issue. Read more from the Developing Your Strengths newsletter here.

___________________

References
1: Winseman, Albert, Clifton, Donald, and Liesveld, Curt. Living Your Strengths. Gallup Press. Third Edition 2008.
2: http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/155036/Embedding_Strengths_Company_DNA.aspx?utm_source=twitterbutton&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=sharing#1. Embedding Strengths in Your Company’s DNA. Gallup Business Journal. June 12.2012. 
3: Rath, Tom C. [@TomCRath]. (2014 February 3). Managers should spend at least 75% of their time building on people’s strengths. [Tweet]
4: http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/146351/Strengthening_Company_Performance.aspx#1.      Strengthening Your Company’s Performance. Gallup Business Journal. March 1, 2011.

Why should I have a working smoke alarm?

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

What powers a smoke alarm? 

Smoke alarms are powered by battery or they are hardwired into the home’s electrical system. If the smoke alarm is powered by battery, it runs on either a disposable 9-volt battery or a non-replaceable 10-year lithium (“long-life”) battery. A backup battery is usually present on hardwired alarms and may need to be replaced.

These batteries must be tested on a regular basis and, in most cases, should be replaced at least once each year (except for lithium batteries).

Smoke alarm maintenance

Is your smoke alarm still working? Smoke alarms must be maintained! A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all.

A smoke alarm only works when it is properly installed and maintained. Depending on how your smoke alarm is powered (9-volt, 10-year lithium, or hardwired), you’ll have to maintain it according to manufacturer’s instructions. General guidelines for smoke alarm maintenance:

Smoke alarm powered by a 9-volt battery

• Test the alarm monthly.
• Replace the batteries at least once per year.
• The entire smoke alarm unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

Smoke alarm powered by a 10-year lithium (or “long life”) battery

• Test the alarm monthly.
• Since you cannot (and should not) replace the lithium battery, the entire smoke alarm unit should be replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Smoke alarm that is hardwired into the home’s electrical system

• Test the alarm monthly.
• The backup battery should be replaced at least once per year.
• The entire smoke alarm unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking

A smoke alarm is just doing its job when it sounds while you’re cooking or taking a shower with lots of steam.  If a smoke alarm sounds while you’re cooking or showering, do not remove the battery. You should:

• Open a window or door and press the
• “hush” button,
• Wave a towel at the alarm to clear the air, or
• Move the entire alarm several feet away from the location.

WARNING:  Disabling a smoke alarm or removing the battery can be a deadly mistake.

Additional Smoke Alarm Resources

• Children and Smoke Alarms
• Fight Fire with Facts – Smoke Alarms
• Prevent Fires. Save Lives. 50 Plus Campaign
• USFA Kids Page
• White Paper: Home Smoke Alarms (PDF, 371 Kb)

Source: www.usfa.fema.gov

_____________

This article originally posted in Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management. Visit the Speaking of Safety Blog here.

On April 8 at 12 pm and April 10 at 5:30 pm, attend “Apple TV in 1-2-3” to discover how to use Apple TV with computers and devices. Interested to switching to a Mac from a PC? Attend April 8 at 5:30 pm or April 10 at 12 pm for the “PC to Mac: Got Apps?” session. Both sessions are 30 minutes long and will provide an open forum for questions regarding Apple technology following featured training topics.

All sessions are free and open to the campus community, and will be held at iLLU, located in the Campus Store. The Campus Store is in the Campus Plaza on the corner of Anderson and Mound Streets, next to the Loma Linda Market.

To learn more, call (909) 558-4129, or view the event flyer. 

The double certification is through both Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI); what this does is raise the level of training, expertise, and commitment of our patient decon team.  In accomplishing this, LLUH is better prepared for a mass casualty incident that involves hazmat or weapons of mass destruction.  In fact, through the efforts of many dedicated people here at LLUH, other local area hospitals are asking about our training model and have even requested to attend our training here.

Our mission is far from complete, however. We have grown substantially in 2013, are still in need of many more dedicated team members to join the ranks of the LLUH Decon Strike Force. With that said, the next training class is quickly approaching.  The next opportunity to train for these certification is at classes scheduled April 9^th and 10^th, 2014. 

Increase awareness about this important aspect of our overall preparedness plan by recruiting more members.  Get the word out that there is still room in the upcoming class.  For more information please contact Joe Bruno, visit the Decon Team Webpage, or simply sign up through OWL.

Join the team as we … Protect This House!

To:

All LLUH Entities

From:

Service Desk

Date:

April 10, 2014

Subject:

PolicyTech email notifications

_______________________________________________________________________________________

S (Situation) 
Since April 1 users have received email notices from PolicyTech stating, “You are required to read ______________ Policy.” These system-generated notices were mistakenly sent out for LLUMC policies 439 G-3 and 388 A-1. If you received a notification please ignore as these notices were issued by mistake. 

B (Background) 
Any accessible PolicyTech user can be assigned as a required Reader. When a document is published, all assigned Readers receive an email notification and a task to read the document.

A (Assessment) 
Requests to read the aforementioned documents were issued by mistake. All published Institutional Documents in PolicyTech are accessible to users that have access to the sites and departments assigned to a given document.

R (Recommendation) 
The notifications issued from PolicyTech worked as we anticipated. This error was the result of improper assignment of users who were not actually required Readers. Please continue to read and act on any future PolicyTech notifications. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Questions? 
If you receive a notification that does not belong to you, please notify the Service Desk x48889. For questions related to PolicyTech, please contact Jeremy Hubbard x48172 orjehubbard@llu.edu.

In the fall of 2013, LLUH unveiled a sneak preview of “PolicyTech,” a new web platform for managing policies, procedures, and other institutional documents. As of March 3, 2014, PolicyTech will officially serve as the permanent home of institutional documents for LLUH.

PolicyTech replaces several existing intranet sites while simplifying policy creation, collaboration, and distribution. PolicyTech also provides advanced search capabilities, making institutional documents much easier to find and manage. Users will still access policies much the same way as before, via links to institutional documents on VIP. These links will now simply redirect them to PolicyTech.

Instructions are available on VIP. Additional training for advanced roles will be disseminated by entity policy managers.

Questions? Please contact the Service Desk at x48889.

Explore the beta site here, then click the link to “Access PolicyTech Beta Site.”

Please note that institutional documents are still being added to the system, thus the existing institutional docs web pages will remain active until the full transition to PolicyTech is complete (anticipated January, 2014) at which time the legacy sites will be removed. Please refer to the instructions on VIP for accessing current institutional documents. There are also instructions that will guide you step-by-step on how to work in PolicyTech. 

Situation and Background

As LLU Health continues to grow, we find ourselves struggling to maintain the growing tide of policies associated with new laws and regulations. Our policy managers are often frustrated by the challenge of never-ending policy updates and publishing them to our employees in a timely manner. 

A team led by DP Harris, LLU Vice President for Information Services and Academic Information Systems, has crafted a solution (PolicyTech) that will automate creation, review, approval, and archival of institutional documents for the entire LLU Health enterprise. With electronic document management, version control, and automated workflow capabilities, maintaining these important documents will become much simpler. Rules-based workflows and alerts will keep policies moving through the process, alerting owners and managers about unread policies, and even reminding policy owners when to update or retire policies. In addition, PolicyTech provides advanced search capabilities that should dramatically improve the employee experience when searching for institutional documents. 

Questions? 

Please contact Jeremy Hubbard by e-mail at jehubbard@llu.edu, or by phone at ext. 48172.

Recently, the organization was cited regarding placement of waste receptacles by the Joint Commission survey. Henry Cairus explains, "We could easily be cited for this again if we are not intentional about compliance and where we place our waste receptacles." It is important to review the organizational guidelines for these containers in this Speaking of Safety blog post.

Mihray Sharip, in her post Labels, Labels, Labels, describes the importance of labels on waste receptacles, especially the biohazard containers.  "The label is the communication tool to identify the hazard and risk," she explains. 

Review guidelines and further explanation on these two issues in the Speaking of Safety blog. For questions regarding waste receptacles or other safety topics, contact the Environmental Health & Safety department at 909-651-4018, or on-campus at ext. 14018.

Loma Linda University Health employees, faculty, and students are also eligible to receive the Apple® education discount on qualifying Apple® computers, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac. This discount is available year-round, and can be combined with the Back to School promotion.

As an Authorized Apple Campus Store, the Campus Store offers basic technical support and assistance on Apple® devices. Also find technology accessories, books, gifts, and Loma Linda University apparel at the Campus Store, located in the Campus Plaza adjacent to the Loma Linda Market.

For more information regarding receiving a free $100 or $50 app card through the Back to School offer, or to learn more about Apple products at the Campus Store, call (909) 558-4129 (on-campus ext. 44129). To learn about other services provided by the Campus Store, call (909) 558-4567 or visit www.llu.bncollege.com. 

Remember, our first operational thought is Safety, which is a shared responsibility across our fine organization.  If handling a chemical and there is a spill or release, get to a Safe location: even if the substance is relatively benign.  Do a self assessment to ensure you are not contaminated.  If you are contaminated, then change your level D protective clothing (aka everyday work wear) and wash hands or body & flush eyes as needed. 

The big miss-step I have seen is in Isolating the spill.  If a person spills a chemical that they work with everyday they may take this situation for granted.  Even when I am notified of a spill, I have shown up and witnessed people still working in the area, and even though your diligence is inspirational, it is not Safe to yourself or the environment.  Additionally, it complicates the spill cleanup process via cross contamination.  Walking through the contaminated area only slows the remediation process because it will take longer to properly clean a larger area from tracking it around.  Isolation is a very important step in the SIN method, ifIsolation does not take place than Safety is not an operational thought.

Once the area is Safely Isolated, Notifications must be made.  First, communicate this information to people who work in the area (including supervisors); they can help with Isolation.  Most units and labs have a limited capability to Safely clean up small spills, if you can do it Safely, clean up the spill.  At this point, submit a hazardous waste removal form to EH&S which can be found on our web page.  If the chemical spill is beyond your capability or you need technical assistance, please notify us immediately.  After hours Security Control Center has our on-call group on speed dial—someone is always available to help.

Read more about other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Hot work operators are employees/contractors who perform hot work operations.  It is mandatory for a Hot Work operator to obtain a Hot Work Permit before commencing hot work.  However, a Hot Work Permit is not required for emergencies.

Safety Measures for Hot Work Permit

• All flammable and combustible materials within a 35 foot radius of hot work must be removed.
• When flammable and combustible materials within a 35 foot radius of hot work cannot be removed, they must be covered with flame retardant tarps and a fire watch must be posted.  Safety measures as provided in the Hot Work Permit checklist needs to be ticked as applicable.

General Guidelines

• Hot work should be performed in designated hot work rooms whenever it is practical.
• A Hot Work Permit is valid for one day – one month, depending on time needed for hot work.  Renewal can be requested after expiry date of the Hot Work Permit. Not all renewals will need re-inspection on site by a Safety Representative.  Re-inspection of Hot Work Permit site will be at the discretion of the Safety Representative, depending on the nature of the hot work.
• Hot Work Permit should be posted in the designated area of hot work as per duration of the activity.

Read more about hot work safefy and other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Read more about safety coordinators and other safety topics in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Well, in slightly more technical terms, a strength is the ability to consistently produce a nearly perfect positive outcome in a specific task. Strengths are counted on, and they are appreciated.

Consider these people who consistently deliver a nearly perfect performance on a specific task.

• A waiter who is consistently one step ahead of your needs
• A call center representative who quickly “wins over” every upset customer
• A nurse who routinely administers injections so smoothly that patients “don’t feel a thing”

These are examples of people performing with strength. How did these strengths develop?

First, strength requires talent. Our talents help us understand who we are. Talents are a person’s innate abilities – what we do without even thinking about it. They are what a person does well – naturally. You might even say our talents are hard-wired.

Second, strength develops from investment. If we want to use our talents productively, we must invest in them. We do this by thinking about how we can add our current knowledge and skills to our talents. Additionally, we want to think about what new knowledge and skills we need to be even more effective.

We also invest in our talents through patience. As we become aware of our talents, we can practice using them every day. The investment of skills, knowledge, and practice propels us to strength – the ability to consistently produce a specific positive outcome.

Talent (natural way of thinking, feeling, or behaving)
X
Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge)
____________________________________________________________________________
= Strength (the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance)

Source: Gallup Introduction to Strengths-based Development

Republished with permission from the "Developing Your Strengths" May 2013 newsletter, written and published by LLUHC Health Information Management. For more information on "Developing Your Strengths," contact saabates@llu.edu.

Shield harmful rays

The best way to lower the risk of skin cancer is to avoid intense sunlight for long periods of time and to practice sun safety. Tanning booths and sunlamps are not a safe alternative to natural sun—they use UV rays that can still cause damage. Follow these easy precautions:

• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest

• Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun

• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher; reapply after swimming, toweling dry or perspiring (it is recommended to apply a full ounce with each application)

• Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your ears, face and neck

Don’t close your eyes to the danger

Although drowning isn’t age specific, children four years and younger have the highest deathrate due to drowning. Most incidents occur when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. Keep yourself and your children safe with these tips:

• Never leave a child alone near water: on the beach, at a pool or in the bathtub

• Take swim lessons – everyone needs the skills to be able to swim

• Follow the 10/20 rule around water (a supervising adult needs to position themselves to scan the area within 10 seconds and reach the water within 20 seconds)

• If you own a pool, make sure to be trained in infant and child CPR

Read more about summer safety and other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Loma Linda University Campus Tech Store is located within the Loma Linda University Campus Store, and provides Apple technology at educational pricing for the students, faculty, staff and employees of Loma Linda University Health. The store recently marked its remodel with a grand opening celebration in February. 

The Campus Store continues to celebrate grads and new alumni with Loma Linda University Alumni apparel,  gifts, diploma frames, and more. Stop by the Campus Store, located next to the Loma Linda Market, to learn more or call (909) 558-4567.

Quantities and models of third-generations iPads are limited. Save an additional $50 off of laptops, which also qualify for education pricing. For more information, call the Loma Linda University Campus Tech Store at (909) 558-4129.

When planning for a potential emergency, the basics of survival are important. Always consider the following items when creating your emergency preparedness kit.

An emergency supply kit should include:

• Water (one gallon per person, per day for at least three days)
• Enough nonperishable food (for at least three days) and can opener
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Tool kit
• Moist towelettes and garbage bags for sanitation
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Cell phone and portable charger

Additional items to consider:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Pet food and extra water for pet
• Important family documents stored in a waterproof container
• Cash and change
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Matches in a waterproof container

Practice makes perfect

Make sure your family has a plan in case of an emergency, and practices it at least twice a year. Drills are especially crucial for fires, but are also valuable for natural disasters. 

Read more about emergency preparedness and other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Kofax, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of capture enabled business process management (BPM) solutions. ECS has partnered with Kofax to automate various processes in departments such as HIM, Risk Management, Human Resources, and Finance. 

ECS develops strategies for automating paper-driven workflows in the organization, and is always looking for ways to further streamline operations, increase productivity, and better engage our customers. To learn more about ECS or about how ECS can help your department work more efficiently, call Scott Martell, Manager, at ext. 42582, or e-mail ecssupport@llu.edu .

Cell Phone Distracted Driving

An estimated 1 in 4 crashes involve cell phone use. To ensure the safety of yourself and those around you:

• Refrain from phoning, texting or emailing while driving – even with a hands-free device

Speeding

Speeding is one of the top unsafe driving behaviors that contributes to collisions and driving violations. Speed limits are not arbitrary, but set for safety reasons. Many drivers don’t understand the risks being taken when speeding.

• Speed determines the force of impact if you crash – the faster you go, the worse the damage

Sharing the Road

We all share the roads. Understanding the limitations and capabilities of different vehicles, especially motorcycles, will help keep all of us safer.

• Allow greater following distance behind a motorcycle
• Be extra cautious in intersections – most crashes occur when a driver fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of a motorcycle

Read more about driving more responsibly and other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Bedroom

• Place a lamp and telephone close to your bed where they are easy to reach.

Living areas

• Arrange furniture so you have clear pathways.

Bathroom

•  Place a slip-resistant rug adjacent to the bathtub for safe exit and entry.

Kitchen

• Never stand on chairs or boxes to reach upper cabinets or shelves. If you must use a step stool, use one with a bar to hold on to.

Stairs and steps

• Always keep all objects off stairs.
• Fix any loose, uneven or broken steps. 

Read more about keeping your home a fall-free zone and other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Keep it Clean

• To keep dust mites at bay in the bedroom, put allergy-control covers on mattresses and pillows, and be sure to wash bedding weekly in hot water and dry on high heat.

Keep it Well-Ventilated

• Good ventilation reduces indoor pollution. Open up your windows to allow for natural ventilation during mild weather and air exchanges while cleaning. Keep windows operable and unobstructed so it’s easy to do so.

Keep it Dry

• Check plumbing fixtures to be sure connections are tight, seals properly functioning, and pipes free of cracks or other signs of deterioration.

Keep it Safe

• Keep your floors clear of anything that may cause tripping. Pick up hazards such as toys, shoes and magazines.

Keep it Pest-free

• Roaches and rodents can trigger asthma and allergies. They need food, water, warmth, and shelter to survive. You can control roaches, mice, and other pests by making these things hard to get.

Keep it Contaminant-free

• Don’t allow smoking in your house.

Read more about keeping your home healthier and other safety issues in Environmental Health & Safety's "Speaking of Safety" blog. 

For questions regarding Environmental Health & Safety or the "Speaking of Safety" blog, please contact Vicki Brown at vibrown@llu.edu. 

Pictured, from left, are James Ponder, PR writer and editor; Rolinda Luevano, administrative assistant; Herbert Atienza, media relations specialist; Mary Clement, tour coordinator; Carol Berger, operations coordinator, Office of Public Affairs; Rachelle Bussell, CFRE, Senior Vice President for Advancement; Kevin Lang, MBA, President, LLU Shared Services; Tony Yang, MBA, Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs; Briana Pastorino, media relations specialist; Larry Kidder, MA, PR writer and editor; and Dustin Jones, MA, Associate Director, Public Relations. Not pictured are Heather Reifsndyer, MA, PR writer and editor; and Nancy Yuen, MPW, PR writer and editor.

There are many different types of interview questions. These include behavioral, situational, and psychological, to name a few. So, what can you do to prepare for interviews at our organization? Keep track of your workplace successes daily and highlight our values in these accomplishments. Doing this can have positive effects on your career and personal life.

Here are 3 reasons why:

1. Good Interview Stories. When you interview for a promotion, you’ll have plenty of good examples in response to interview questions. And you’ll appear like an engaged employee.
2. Your Resume Writes Itself. When you draw from your documented successes, updating your resume can take minutes instead of hours. 
3. Builds Self-confidence. When you are aware and recognized for your contributions, your confidence will grow. This can affect your overall well-being. 

Accomplishing and tracking workplace success is the #1 thing you can do to prepare for your next interview!

Dominic Bokich, Recruiter Strategist

Article reposted from LLUH Newsletter, published biweekly by Human Resources Management.