Chronic diseases—such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis—are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Heart disease accounted for 27% of deaths in California in 2005, while stroke caused 7% of deaths.  23% of all deaths in California in 2005 were due to cancer and 7,697 of adults in California died from diabetes mellitus.  In 2009, 20% of adults in California reported being diagnosed with arthritis, the most common cause of disability in the US.  Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases.

The Chronic Disease Control Branch mission is to prevent and control chronic diseases. The branch supports evidence-based programs to promote healthy behaviors, conduct research, and improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic disease. Critical to the success of these efforts are partnerships with local public health and education agencies, voluntary associations, private organizations, and federal agencies.  

SDS Quiz

New 2012 changes to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) are bringing the U.S. into alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), improving safety and health protections for America’s workers. These new revisions to OSHA’s current Hazard Communication Standard, the GHS is expected to prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives and improve trade conditions for chemical manufacturers. The Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 gave the workers the ‘right to know,’ but the new Globally Harmonized System gives workers the ‘right to understand.’

The new Hazard Communication Standard still requires chemical manufacturers and importers to evaluate the chemicals they produce or import and provide hazard information to employers and workers by putting labels on containers and preparing safety data sheets. However, the old standard allowed chemical manufacturers and importers to convey hazard information on labels and material safety data sheets in whatever format they chose. The modified standard provides a single set of harmonized criteria for classifying chemicals according to their health and physical hazards and specifies hazard communication elements for labeling and safety data sheets.

 

Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard:

• Hazard classification:
• Labels:
• Safety Data Sheets:
• Information and training:

What you need to do and when:

• Chemical users: Continue to update safety data sheets when new ones become available, provide training on the new label elements and update hazard communication programs if new hazards are identified.
• Chemical Producers:

 

Fiscal Year 2017-18
First Quarter:      Jul – Sept	Easy Food Preparation	English Spanish
Second Quarter: Oct – Dec	Vitamins & Minerals	English Spanish
Third Quarter:   Jan – Mar	Food Safety	English English 2 Spanish
Fourth Quarter: Apr – Jun	Fiber	English Spanish

 

Fiscal Year 2016-2017
First Quarter:       Jul – Sept	Diabetes: Carbs & Protein	English Spanish
Second Quarter:   Oct – Dec	Exercise & Weight Control	English Spanish – Diet Spanish – Exercise
Third Quarter:     Jan – Mar	Food Safety & Controlling Food Waste	English Spanish
Fourth Quarter:   Apr – Jun	Hypertension	English Spanish

 

Fiscal Year 2015-16
First Quarter:      Jul – Sept	HTN / Weight Control	English  Spanish
Second Quarter:  Oct – Dec	Arthritis / Gout	English
Third Quarter:     Jan – Mar	Brain Health	English Spanish
Fourth Quarter:   Apr – Jun	Healthy Gut / Healthy Body	English Spanish

Fiscal Year 2014-15

First Quarter:        Jul – Sept	Kidney Disease	English Spanish
Second Quarter:   Oct – Dec	Diabetes	English Spanish Chinese
Third Quarter:      Jan – Mar	Vit/Min- Anti-inflammatory diet	English Chinese Spanish
Fourth Quarter:    Apr – Jun	Safe Food Handling	English Spanish  Chinese

Other information:

Fiscal Year 2013-14

First Quarter:        Jul   – Sept	Fiber
Second Quarter:   Oct   – Dec	Brain Health	English Spanish
Third Quarter:      Jan   – Mar	Exercise & Motivation	English
Fourth Quarter:    Apr   – Jun	Food Safety – Food Storage	English Spanish Chinese

 

Other Topics:

 

If it is not documented – it’s not done!

Documenting training is important for many reasons. Employees and volunteers represent the organization and the face of the services provided. Safety in the workplace should be a high priority and should include the well-being of customers served. Also, in this litigious society employers, supervisors and colleagues must protect themselves from needless lawsuits by ensuring adequate training is provided and recorded. Records should be simple and easy to use.

 

Sample Training Logs:

Training Log with Topics

Blank Log – No Topics

Routine training is required for staff and volunteers working with the Senior Nutrition Programs. Training needs to be documented and all trainees are to have an opportunity to evaluate the training.

• Annual Training Plan

• Volunteer Training Log – by topic

• Volunteer Training Log – open topics

Hazard Communication

The standard that gave workers the right to know, now gives them the right to understand.

In order to ensure chemical safety in the workplace, information about the identities and hazards of the chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) requires the development and dissemination of such information:

• Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers;

• All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.

Major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard

Hazard classification: Provides specific criteria for classification of health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.

Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided.

Safety Data Sheets: Will now have a specified 16-section format.

Information and training: Employers are required to train workers by December 1, 2013 on the new labels elements and safety data sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding.

 

Policy: CalCode Cooling PHF

114002.1.

(a) The rapid cooling of potentially hazardous foods shall be accomplished in accordance with the time and temperature criteria specified in Section 114002 by using one or more of the following methods based on the type of food being cooled:

(1) Placing the food in shallow pans.

(2) Separating the food into smaller or thinner portions.

(3) Using rapid cooling equipment.

(4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer. California Retail Food Code Effective January 1, 2012

(5) Adding ice as an ingredient.

(6) Using ice paddles.

(7) Inserting appropriately designed containers in an ice bath and stirring frequently.

(8) In accordance with an HACCP plan adopted pursuant to this part.

(9) Utilizing other effective means that have been approved by the enforcement agency.

(b) When placed in cooling or cold holding equipment, food containers in which food is being cooled shall be arranged in the equipment to provide maximum heat transfer through the container walls, loosely covered, or uncovered if protected from overhead contamination during the cooling period to facilitate heat transfer from the surface of the food, and stirred as necessary to evenly cool a liquid or a semi-liquid food.

Sample Cooling PHF Standard of Practice

Sample Cooling Log

 

 

The following are updates on State of California laws & regulations:

As of October 2013

AB 1252 Establishes changes to the California Retail Food Code.  The attached document is a summary of the Bill.  The highlighted sections are changes that impact the OAA nutrition programs, be sure to read the entire summary there is interesting information on service animals and other issues that may impact your food service systems. 

The Bill was further amended after the attached analysis to include a definition of “highly susceptible population.” 

 

“Highly susceptible population” means a group of persons who are more likely than other people in the general population to experience foodborne disease because both of the following conditions exist:

(a) The group is comprised of immunocompromised persons, preschool age children, or older adults.

(b) The group obtains food at a facility, including, but not limited to, a kidney dialysis center, hospital, nursing home, or senior center, that provides services, such as custodial care, health care, assisted living, or socialization services.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1252&search_keywords=

If you have any questions about the CRFC language changes required by AB1252 contact your CDA RD. 

New California Retail Food Code handbooks including the AB 1252 language will not come out until next spring.  Watch the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators website for information. 

http://www.ccdeh.com/legislation/24-caeha Go to “Navigate Our Site” and then to CRFSC(CalCode)

Barbara Estrada M.S., R.D.N.

Introduction:

Fire safety and evacuation plans outline staff duties and responsibilities in time of emergency. Ongoing training is required to help ensure that staff is aware of those duties and responsibilities. Fire drills serve as an opportunity for staff members to demonstrate, under simulated fire conditions, that they can perform those duties and responsibilities safely and efficiently. It’s also a time for them to show that they are aware of defend-in-place strategies and can take advantage of your facility’s fire safety features and vacate facilities to protect the people in their care.

Fire drills are more than an exercise designed to evaluate staff response to a simulated emergency. They are also a test of your facility’s fire safety/evacuation plans and staff training programs. Not all fire drills run smoothly. That’s okay, so long as staff and management learn from them and correct mistakes made. It’s important, therefore, that there be a critique of each drill so that any problems encountered can be addressed. Perhaps the problems are due to incomplete or outdated fire safety/evacuation plans. Perhaps there’s a need for additional staff training.

Fire Drill & Earthquake Activity Form

Certification Requirements:

Elderly Nutrition Program Community Centers must perform at least one fire drill annually and records must be kept of these drills. At a minimum, these records include:

• Site manager or person conducting the drill.
• Date and time completed.
• Length of time needed to evacuate.
• Number of participants present.
• Number of participants who would not cooperate.
• Number of staff & volunteers directing activitie(s)
• Comments and observations such as notification method used, special conditions simulated, problems encountered, etc..

It is preferable that the local fire department participate in the activity. If possible have them provide information on personal fire safety and emergency preparedness at home.

It is strongly encouraged that the fire department be asked to participate in a fire drill. Such drills must, however, be carefully planned – advance notice should be given to participants to avoid upsetting or exciting them.

It is expected that all persons subject to the drill will participate (if some staff members are allowed to be excused from drills, there is a danger that, in an actual emergency, the evacuation and relocation process will be compromised). All participants should participate in drills to the extent possible.

 

Performing the Drill:

Drills should be scheduled on a random basis – they need to be held at unexpected times and under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions that can occur in an actual fire. Fire is unpredictable. Staff must be able to react to the conditions present and adjust their actions accordingly to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation. Conducting drills at varying times using different locations and scenarios not only tests their ability to do so, but makes them confident enough that the potential for confusion or panic under actual fire conditions is significantly reduced. If staff can remain calm and self-assured under emergency conditions, there is less likelihood of upsetting or exciting the facility’s residents and visitors.

There are a number of ways that can be used to alert staff of a fire in a fire drill scenario including:

• Place a sign, flashing light, picture of a fire or red-colored cloth in the area of simulated fire origin.
• Hand a note to a staff person outlining a fire scenario they’ve just discovered.
• Activate a manual fire alarm pull box and have staff respond accordingly.

Staff should be expected to activate the nearest fire alarm box. Because the alarm is to be sounded during drills, it’s important that any company or agency monitoring the fire alarm system be notified in advance of the drill to avoid dispatching the fire department. It’s equally important that the monitoring company/agency be contacted after the drill to verify the time that an alarm signal was received and to serve notice that the drill has been completed.

The drill must include complete evacuation of the smoke compartment containing the area of simulated fire origin and all occupants moved to a safe location (e.g. outside on sidewalk, etc.). The emphasis when conducting drills needs to be on safe and orderly evacuation rather than speed.

           

This an other organizations can help boards and directors manage their organizations.

All companies in the Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations governed by their nonprofit member-insureds with board of directors elected by member nonprofit organizations. As nonprofits ourselves, we understand the unique needs of this sector and provide liability insurance coverages and services to help nonprofits better manage their risks and accomplish their missions.

 

 

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