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COVID-19 in BC: End of health care mask mandate violates rights, commissioner says

BC’s human rights commissioner says the province is failing to uphold the rights of those who are vulnerable and marginalized by ending mask mandates in health-care settings On Tuesday, Kasari Govender issued a public statement weighing in on the move. “I have repeatedly expressed concerns about the human rights implications of these policy decisions: that the removal of mask mandates has a disproportionate impact on marginalized people, seniors and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable,” she said. “This represents a violation of their rights to equal participation in our communities.” The end of the mandate was announced by officials last…
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China General Nuclear Europe Energy – RoSPA Workplace Safety Blog

At the close of a successful 2019 RoSPA Health and Safety Awards, 20% of entries received were from international organizations… that’s more than ever before! From Mauritius to Hong Kong, our community awards continue to grow year after year. Based at their head office in Shenzhen, China, we spoke to Huang Yuan Zheng, President of China General Nuclear Europe Energy (CGN EE), about their awards journey towards their first RoSPA Health and Safety Award… What motivated you/your organization to enter the RoSPA Awards? RoSPA is an international organization for the prevention of accidents, it is an honor for CGN EE…
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driver fatigue – RoSPA Workplace Safety Blog

Experiencing fatigue at work, home or the road can massively increase your chances of being in a fatal or serious accident. With the darker nights and colder weather upon us, you are more likely to feel tired when going about your daily routine. Fatigue and road accidents Falling asleep at the wheel is a more prevalent occurrence than most people realize. In 2018 a survey1 revealed of 20,000 motorists, one in eight admitted falling asleep while driving, while 37% said they had been so tired they were frightened they would drop off behind the wheel. Contrary to popular belief, common…
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The Blue Monday Myth – RoSPA Workplace Safety Blog

‘Blue Monday’ may not be supported by hard evidence, but depression and other mental health issues are a real concern in the workplace. Before 2005 no-one talked about Blue Monday. The reason for this is because the idea that the third Monday in the month of January, later dubbed ‘Blue Monday’, was invented in a press release 15 years ago. The method used to develop the concept has since come under a lot of scrutiny, but despite this, a lot of people do suffer with their mental health during the winter. According to research conducted by pollster YouGov, as many…
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To a Mouse – RoSPA Workplace Safety Blog

This year the birth of Robert Burns and the Lunar New Year fell on the same date, 25th january. A time for Scots and Asian heritage to be celebrated, a time for reflection and forward planning. My favorite Robert Burns poem is ‘To a Mouse’, written in 1785 it tells the story of Burns disturbing a mouse nest whilst plowing a field, a panic stricken mouse, its ruined nest and with winter just around the corner, its world in disarray . There is a line in the poem, ‘The best laid plans o’mice an’ men gang aft agley’ that resonates…
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We’re off to Chennai – RoSPA Workplace Safety Blog

Only a few months into the year, 2020 is already proving to be more exciting than ever. This March, RoSPA will be launching our first ever Awards Excellence Forum in India. taking place on Tuesday, March 24at Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Campus in Chennai, India. This free event is a phenomenal example of just how far the RoSPA Health & Safety Awards scheme has reached across the globe. Hosting this international event is International Awards Ambassador Stephen Storey. With over 27 years of experience in the health and safety industry, combined with his rich RoSPA Award winning history, Stephen will…
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The News Journal archives, week of March 26

“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal. March 27, 1953, Wilmington Morning News New polio vaccine passes test, but will be delayed The new polio vaccine has passed its first human test on 90 children and adults with flying colors. But “there will be no polio vaccine” for general use this summer. This was announced last night by Dr. Jonas E. Salk, 38, young virus researcher of the University of Pittsburgh. Front page of the Wilmington Morning News from March 27, 1953. The creamy vaccine, homogenized in mineral…
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Superbug fungus cases rose dramatically during pandemic | HealthNews

The fungus, Candida auris, can be a fatal risk to fragile hospital and nursing home patients. Cases of a dangerous fungus tripled in the United States over just three years and more than half of the states have now reported it, according to a new study. The COVID-19 pandemic likely drove part of the increase, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote in a paper published on Monday by Annals of Internal Medicine. Hospital workers were strained by coronavirus patients, and that likely shifted their focus away from disinfecting some other kinds of germs, they said.…