I will delegate the responsibility of cleaning up the premises to the Environmental Manager (EM) in the team. The EM would in turn monitor dry and wet cleaning operations by workers. The dry cleaning will be done using ‘bristle brushing studs’, which would remove most of visible molds in the premises. Later the surfaces could be vacuum-cleaned with the help of a HEPA filter attachment. Wet cleaning, on the other hand, would be done using sponge mops and hand sponges to “wash down surfaces with a non-trisodium phosphate solution of sodium sesquicarbonate detergent and 15% dilution of household chlorine bleach” (Smith, 2008). It is important for the EM and workers under his/her charge to ensure that the dry cleaning process is done before wet cleaning begins.
To the Safety Supervisor, I would delegate the task of conducting Biostat treatments. Usually, after the dry and wet cleaning processes are over, it is standard procedure to do biostat treatment with “one of two borate formulations to prevent future emergence of mold” (Smith, 2008). Bora-Car (manufactured by Nusus Corporation) and Termite Prufe (manufactured by Copper Brite Corpration) are quality products to use for this purpose. The disodium octoborate tetra-hydrate present in these products are effective fungicides and will aid in restoring the hospital to its original standards of hygiene. Bleaching powder is another effective disinfectant that I would recommend strongly recommended. (Smith, 2008)
In the chaos ensuing Hurricane Katrina, many people might have taken temporary abode in the hospital. Given that the ground floor was flooded to the height of 6 feet, the first floor space might have helped many from getting drowned. Hence there is bound to have been overcrowding and over usage of basic amenities in the first floor. Amenities such as running water, toilets, sinks and showers would surely have been overused as they were not built to deal with huge numbers of desperate refugees. A properly functioning plumbing system is crucial to the restoration effort, for without it the practice of hand-washing would be impeded, which could spread infectious disease.
And finally, I would like to conclude by saying that having a well-thought out plan of action and list of recommendations is not a substitute for being able to think on the feet. As the plans made for restoring the hospital to minimum hygiene and safety standards is implemented, there will be situations in which ad-hoc plans have to be devised. I would thus assure the Incident Commander that no stone would be unturned and no effort would be spared in cleaning up the hospital and bring it back to minimum requisite standards.
References
Chew, G. L., Wilson, J., Rabito, F. A., Grimsley, F., Iqbal, S., Reponen, T., et al. (2006). Mold and Endotoxin Levels in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: A Pilot Project of Homes in New Orleans Undergoing Renovation. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(12), 1883+.
Elledge, B. L., Boatright, D. T., Woodson, P., Clinkenbeard, R. E., & Brand, M. W. (2007). Learning from Katrina: Environmental Health Observations from the SWCPHP Response Team in Houston. Journal of Environmental Health, 70(2), 22+.
Smith, S. (2008, May). Young Leaders in Industrial Hygiene: While Their Careers Have Taken Different Paths, These Four Industrial Hygienists Share a Commitment to the Profession, a Passion for Protecting Workers and the Environment and a Positive Attitude about the Future. Occupational Hazards, 70, 25+.