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Occupational Medicine in Time of Crisis
Title: Occupational Medicine in Time of Crisis
Author: Tee L. Guidotti
Date: 2005
Institution: Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI)
Bibliographic Entry: Guidotti, Tee L. " Occupational Medicine in Time of Crisis." Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 2005. Vol. 2, Issue 3, Article 4. http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol2
Electronic Link: http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol2
Key Words: occupational medicine, emergency management, dual benefit, workforce protection, infrastructure protection, business continuity, occupational health
Summary of Key Issues, Points, Conclusions:
Serving as Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at The George Washington University, Dr. Guidotti is also Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Director of the Division of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology School of Medicine and Health Sciences. In this article, Dr. Guidotti argues that establishing a robust emergency management capability within a company’s occupational health service could serve to reduce actual loss in the event of an attack or disaster while reducing exposure for possible claims of negligence or omission. Being prepared should make accusations of ignoring a threat less likely. In addition, continuity of operations and workforce protection are serious planning responsibilities for every enterprise.
Dr. Guidotti reviews the core functions of an occupational health service, which may be corporate, community-based, or consultant-based. He notes the investment in emergency management capacity also serves traditional health services required by industry and the government, and results in a dual benefit to the enterprise. Dr. Guidotti outlines steps necessary to build occupational health department capability to support this private sector need. He adds that the Occupational Health Sub-Council (OH-SC) within the National Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services) serves as a resource for human resources protection across critical sectors and the Occupational Health Disaster Expert Network (OHDEN), an Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) is being developed.
Name of Researcher: Ann Marie Pease
Institution: Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: Sept. 18, 2007