Risk Assessment Report For Cinema Complex Construction Essay

Risk Assessment Report For Cinema Complex Construction Essay The purpose of this report is to conduct a thorough risk assessment of the premises and identify potential workplace hazards. The risk assessment was conducted using a specially designed Risk Assessment Structure which gauges the potential risk of a hazard by assessing the likelihood of the hazard occurring against the severity of outcome of the hazard. Through conducting a risk assessment of the facility, seven unaddressed hazards have been identified. The identified hazards whilst mostly low-to-medium risk in nature still present the potential to cause injury to guests and employees, well as causing damage to the companys property, plant and equipment which could ultimately have a negative impact on the companys human, financial and physical assets. The risks associated with the identified hazards are; the potential for the popcorn maker to catch fire, a lack of protective foot ware, filling the popcorn dispenser, tiling in the front-of-house area, hot oil and kernels spitting from the popcorn maker, electrical cord checking procedures and the location of emergency mapping. In order to reduce the potential risk the identified hazards pose, several recommendations have been made. The potential for a popcorn maker fire to occur can be reduced through adequate training and placing signage detailing the correct cooking method on the popcorn maker. The potential for oil to seep into employees shoes can be reduced significantly be replacing the current fabric based Converse All Stars with leather shoes. If this is not a financially viable option the role of producing popcorn can be transferred to kitchen staff that are required to wear leather shoes. The potential for slips to occur on tiling can be reduced by applying a non-slip coating or placing anti-slip grip over the most vulnerable areas. Introducing personal protective clothing will reduce the risk of burns caused by spitting from the popcorn maker. Monitoring electrical cords on a quarterly basis as opposed to annually will help to detect an electrical hazard before it occurs. Repositioning the facili ties emergency map and installing a battery operated touch light above it will increase its visibility in an emergency situation. Table of Contents 1. Introduction The Candy Bar, being a primary revenue centre, plays a vital role in the operation of a cinema complex. The Candy Bar being assessed for this report is located within a cinema complex at Bondi Junction, Sydney. Alongside the Candy Bar the multi-level cinema complex also contains seven traditional auditoriums, two V-max cinemas, two Gold Class auditoriums and a cafà © and bar. The primary focus of this report is to identify workplace hazards located within the Candy Bar and provide recommendations to reduce the risk that they pose. A risk assessment has been developed to assess the level of risk that an identified hazard poses. The assessment structure determines the level of risk associated with the hazards by measuring the likelihood of the hazard to ____ against the severity of the harm caused. 2. Background to the facility The Candy Bar is an 18-meter by 10-meter facility located within the main foyer of a multi-level cinema complex located at Bondi Junction, Sydney. The Candy Bar offers customers both hot and cold food and beverage options and is staffed by up to six employees during busy periods. The Candy Bar has been designed with the intention of being a self-service facility and thus contains a variety of specialized equipment to meet this goal. The facility consists of three primary functional sections; back-of-house, front-of-house and the cash registers. Figure 1 shows a layout of the facility. The back of house area is where all hot and cold food is prepared for sale and where all packaged goods are stored before being moved to the self service area of the Candy Bar for sale. The Candy Bar is entirely self service and contains a variety of specialized equipment designed to meet this need. The registers section of the Candy Bar consists of five touch screen, computer operated, registers, which operate using the Vista POS (Point Of Sale) system. Attached to each computer are hand held scanners which are used to process all items with barcodes. In June of 2010 the candy bar was closed for several weeks whilst it was rebranded and refurbished. The recent renovation means that a large portion of the equipment in the facility is less than six months old. With the exception of one ice machine all equipment is in good working order. At the time of reporting the carpet which covered the majority of the front-of-house floor has been removed and is in the process of being replaced with tiles. Fig. 1 Layout of the Candy Bar 3. Analysis of the facilities safety equipment and procedures 3.1. Hazard identification and reporting procedures The company has extensive hazard identification and reporting procedures similar to that outlined by ODonnell (1993). As well as actively encouraging employees to report potential hazards. A formal Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) audit of the premises is carried out each quarter by the Workplace Safety Coordinator (see Appendix __ for job description). When a hazard is identified it is immediately reported to the Duty Manager and the WSC, who assume responsibility for managing the risk. They then assess the level of risk associated with the hazard by completing a mandatory Fixing a Workplace Hazard form, which is then stored on the companies intranet and on the OHS board so that all employees are aware of the hazard. The management team then implement internal controls aimed at eliminating or reducing the risk to an acceptable level. If the hazard cannot be resolved by the management team and WSC it must be referred to the appropriate Regional Manager or the National Operations Executive (OHS) who will provide assistance in resolving the issue. In addition to dealing with hazards on a site-by-site basis a National Workplace Health and Safety Committee also convenes quarterly. The committee which consists of six representatives from various divisions within the company meets to discuss OHS issues which allows for the sharing of information across sites, as a hazard identified at one venue is likely to be present at others. 3.2. Training The cinema has in place a strong OHS training program. For employees, hazard identification training begins at their induction. As well as participating in workshops employees are also required to fill in a series of workbooks relating to OHS during their first weeks of employment. As recommended by ____ ___, the company also schedules two formal and compulsory fire and armed robbery training sessions each year to ensure that employees are capable of responding efficiently to fires, evacuations, armed holdups and bomb threats. 3.3. Emergency equipment ITEM QTY LOCATION AGE LIFE CONDITION Fire blanket 2 Gasoline generator 1 Back of house 6 years 15 years Average http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/contentPages/docs/hospSafeDesignComKitchen.pdf Emergency equipment located within the Candy Bar includes __ fire extinguishers, __ fire blankets, __ fire hoses __ first aid kits, __ emergency evacuation signs, __ hazardous product information sheets and gasoline generator. 4. Risk Assessment 4.1 Risk assessment structure methodology Risk estimation can be quantitative, semi quantitative or qualitative in terms of the probability of occurrence and the possible consequence (IRM Risk Management Standard 2002). In order to identify and measure the potential risk associated with identified hazards within the cinema a qualitative risk assessment structure has been developed. The structure takes the form of a two-dimesional matrix (see table 1) measures the severity of the risk against the likelihood of the hazard occurring. The probability of the hazard occurring is divided into four categories; unlikely, possible, likely and certain as recommended by SafeWork SA (2010). An unlikely hazard is one that could occur but only in rare circumstances. A possible hazard could occur but it would be unlikely for it to eventuate. A likely hazard will probably occur at some point in time and a certain hazard poses an imminent threat. Likelihood ratings LIKELIHOOD CATEGORY DESCRIPTION Almost certain A 75% chance of occurrence. Likely B Will probably occur 25% to 75% chance of occurrence in ten-year Possible C Might occur at some point in time Unlikely D May occur in exceptional circumstances chances of occurrence are less than 2% in ten-year period. Risk consequence descriptions The objective of risk description is to display identified risks in a structured format, for example by using a table. The risk description and assessment of risks. The use of a well-designed structure is necessary to ensure a comprehensive risk identification, description and assessment process. By considering the consequence and probability of each risks set out in the table, it should be possible to prioritise the key risks that need to be analysed in more detail (IRM Risk Management Standard 2002). 1.Name of risk Minimal, Serious, Major Catastrophic. 2. Scope of risk Qualitative description of the event, its size, type, number and dependencies. 3. Nature of risk Operational, Structural 4. Risk tolerance/ Appetite Value at risk Probability and size of potential losses/gains Objective(s) for control of the risk and desired level ofperformance 5. Risk treatment control mechanisms Primary means by which the risk is currently managed Levels of confidence in existing control Identification of protocols for monitoring and review. Risk assessment matrix Probability X Severity UNLIKELY POSSIBLE LIKELY ALMOST CERTAIN Minimal:bruising, minor cuts, mild chemical irritation of eyes or skin Low risk Low risk Low risk Medium risk Serious:loss of consciousness, burns, electric shock, broken bones, injury resulting in absence from work for more than 3 days, other non-permanent chemical effects Low risk Medium risk Medium risk High risk Major:permanent injury will result, major damage to property, plant and equipment or financial assets Low risk Medium risk High risk High risk Catastrophic:loss of life, severe restrictions in the operation of the facility Medium risk High risk High risk High risk Probability: Severity of injury: Risk: (Figure Risk Assessment structure presented in a table) 4.2 Identified Hazards A thorough hazard identification assessment of the facility has identified six unaddressed risks within the Candy Bar. 4.2.1. Popcorn maker fires It is vital when making popcorn that the correct popcorn making procedures are followed. If oil is entered into the kettle before the corn kernels it can quite easily combust and catch of fire when the seed hits the hot oil. Whilst staff are trained in how to make popcorn this hazard is not highlighted and employees could easily fill the kettle with oil before adding the corn seed, believing that the order of adding the ingredients does not affect the making of the popcorn. 4.2.2 Lack of protective footwear Currently Candy Bar employees are required to wear Converse All Star shoes. Whilst the shoes complement the uniform the fabric that they are made of presents a hazard. It is possible that whilst making popcorn oil and hot seeds can spit from the popcorn maker or oil can drip from fryers which will seep through the shoes fabric and burn employees. 4.2.3. Filling the popcorn dispenser The Candy Bar features a large self-service popcorn dispenser, which is maintained by employees from the back-of-house. In order to fill the dispenser employees are required to tip the popcorn in from the top of the unit. As the warmer stands at ___cm this requires employees to stand on a stool in order to do so. To accomplish this task safely a round stool has been provided however the stool is fitted with wheels which could cause it to slip if placed on a wet floor or on top of popcorn which has been spilt on the floor. It is also common for the stool to be taken and used in other parts of the cinema with staff resorting to using milk crates to stand on when filling the dispenser. This has the potential to cause serious injury as the crates are not designed to withstand the weight of a human and also have no nonslip features. 4.2.4 Tiling in the front-of-house area As part of recent refurbishments carpet that used to cover the floor in the ques to the cash registers have been replaced with tiles. The tiles present a hazard to customers as they become highly slippery when wet which happens quite frequently as customers often spill drinks. 4.2.5. Hot oil and kernels spitting from the popcorn maker The popcorn machine presents a hazard to employees as it is possible for hot oil and popcorn seeds to spit out of the machine and burn employees. 4.2.6. Electrical cord checking procedures It is company policy that all electrical cords located within a hostile work environment are inspected on a twelve monthly basis and that they are tagged with the inspection date (see fig. ). The company defines a hostile work environment as a working environment where the electrical equipment is normally subjected to events or operating conditions likely to damage equipment i.e. exposure to moisture, heat, vibration, dust and fumes and cord flexing (Greater Union, Birch, Caroll and Coyle 2008). In accordance with company policy the Maintenance Officer who also acts as the SWC inspects the cords on an annual basis. However only inspecting the cords on an annual basis leaves employees at risk of electric shock if the cords are to become frayed or damaged during the year. 4.2.7. Location of complex map 6. Recommendations Listed below are a series of practical and realistic recommendations for minimizing the risk of the five identified hazards. 6.1. Popcorn maker fires To reduce the likelihood of an employee incorrectly entering ingredients into the popcorn maker it is suggested that informative signage is attached to the popcorn maker. The signage should warn of the dangers associated with incorrectly making popcorn and should also demonstrate the correct popcorn making procedure. The signage could easily be attached to the bottom of the middle section of the popcorn maker (see figure _ for example of where to place signage). 6.2. Lack of protective footwear Two possible options have been identified for reducing the risk of this hazard. This hazard could be eliminated by removing the Converse shoes and replacing them with similar leather shoes which still fit with the theme of the uniform and which would stop spilt oil from burning employees feet. This however could be a costly solution as the shoes which are less than six months old would need to be replaced. It is also suggested that the job of making popcorn could be transferred from those who are working in generally in the Candy Bar to employees who are working specifically in the kitchen. Employees working in the kitchen are required to wear protective leather shoes and having them prepare the popcorn would significantly reduce the chance of oil seeping through shoes. 6.3. Filling the popcorn dispenser It is recommended that the stool that is currently being used as an aid when filling the popcorn warmer is replaced with a small step ladder. Replacing the stool with a ladder similar to that in figure _ will provide a sturdy platform for employees to work with. The ladder is fitted with non-slip steps and non-slip stoppers on its legs which will help to prevent the ladder from becoming unsteady and slipping. 6.4. Tiles in the front-of-house area To reduce the risk of customers slipping on wet tiles it is recommended that the tiles are covered with a non-slip tile coating. Several companies offer non-slip coatings which are simply washed onto the tiles. The coatings are invisible, do not cause a sticky sensation and can easily be mopped away at the end of service and reapplied the next day. 6.5. Hot oil and popcorn spitting from the popcorn maker It is recommended that in order to reduce the risk of injury from spitting oil and popcorn kernels, new protective clothing is introduced. It is suggested that employees making popcorn should be required to wear protective glasses and apron which will reduce the likelihood of spits from the popcorn machine from injuring staff. Measures such as these are already mandatory conditions across the United Kingdom (Joyce 2010). 6.6. Electricity checking procedures As part of an overall strategy of risk control, there are a number of general precautions that should be observed when working with electrical equipment such as computers or printers at the front office. Always turn off and disconnect the computer from the power point before moving it or doing any electrical work on it. Remember, a computer carries at lease 240V and needs to be treated with respect. Become familiar with electronic equipment before operating or servicing it. Try to avoid working on live equipment but when it is unavoidable never work alone. When servicing electrical equipment never leave it turned on when unattended. Observe warning signs or stickers on computer equipment. Due to its public nature, the establishment has to maintain emergency system to use in the event of a power failure. The system includes gasoline-powered generators to provide sufficient power for lighting computers, corridors and limited elevators service. Frequently this emergency system is automated. Although in some instance the workers have to switch the main electric plug. The workers should be educated and prepared for such instances to avoid panicking situation. (Dittmer 2002) 6.7. Appropriate Emergency Planning The staff at the Candy Bar should be trained according to the guidelines of Emergency Planning Committee. The management should ensure that appropriate people are assigned to specific roles on each shift and their responsibilities in emergency situations are clarified. (Van der Wagen Goonetilleke 2004). 7.0 Conclusion The Risk Assessment Report has analysed present and potential risks at the Candy Bar of Event Cinema Bondi Junction. It was found that the premises were surrounded by various hazards such as pop-corn maker fires, lack of protective footwear, tilling in-front of the house-area and Hot oil and kernels spitting from the popcorn maker. Due to its Public nature offering hospitality to a large number of people everyday even though the management followed OHS policies and procedures for risk prevention. The identified risks are then analyzed to establish the exposure for each risk and to determine which risk items are the most important ones to address. The report also provides effective recommendations on how to implement risk prevention strategies and risk treatments such as establishing a three-day employee-training workshop to ensure employee and customer safety at the premises. Also appropriate emergency planning should be implemented involving specific people assigned to specific role s in emergency situations.

Bioremediation

BIOREMEDIATION Bioremediation is such type of technology in which microorganism, fungi, bacteria, plant and there is use to convert polluted condition in to original condition. Through bioremediation process microorganism act on pollutant or on chemicals due to which pollution occur and help that thing to come back in its original condition. Bioremediation is an option to offers the possibility to destroy or renders various harmful thing through natural biological activity. PRINCIPLES OF BIOREMEDIATION Bioremediation is the field of environmental biotechnology . y definition bioremediation is the use of microorganism, to degrade environment pollutant in to less toxic form. in this microorganism may be indigenous to a contaminant area or may be isolated from different area and brought to that area. Microorganisms start utilizing toxic substance and convert in to non toxic form from toxic form. In bioremediation metabolic process is also involved through which different enzyme release and act on toxic substances or on contaminants due to this biodegradation occur. When microorganism bought to contaminated or polluted site to enhance degradation that process is called bioaugmentation. For bioremediation to be effective, microorganism must enzymatically attack the pollutants and converts them in to non toxic form. n Bioremediation has its limitation, some contaminants such as chlorinated organic compound and aromatic hydrocarbon are resistant to microbial attack . bioremediation techniques are typically more economical than traditional method. FACTORS OF BIOREMEDIATION These factors include the existence of a microbial population capable of degrading the pollutants, the availability of contaminants to the microbial population, the environment factor (soil,temperature,pH,the presence of oxygen or other electron acceptor, and nutrients. ) MICROBIAL POPULATION FOR BIOREMEDIATION PROCESS Microorganism isolated from from any environment condition. microbes adapt nd grow at subzero temperatures ,as well as extreme heat, in water with excess of oxygen and in anaerobic condition,with the presence of hazardous condition or hazardous compound or any waste stream. the main requirements are an energy source and a carbon source. because of microbes and other biological system ,these can be used to degrade or remediate environmental hazards. Microbes can be divide in to groups according to their activity and condition. Anaerobic- in the absence of oxygen. naerobic bacteria cannot used frequently as a aerobic bacteria. There is an increa sing interest in anaerobic bacteria use for bioremediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)in river sediment,ination of dechlorination of solvent trichloroethylene(TCE),and chloroform Lingninolytic fungi-fungi such as the white rot fungus phanaerochaete chrysosporium have the ablity to degrade an extremely diverse range of persistent or toxic environmental pollutants. Common substrate used include starw,sawdust,or corn cobs. Methylotrophs-aerobic bacteria that grow utilizing methane for carbon and energy. the initialenzyme in the pathway for aerobic degradation,methane monooxygenase,has a broad substrate range and active against a wide range of compounds ,including the chlorinated aliphatics trichloroethylene and 1,2-dichloroethane For degradationnit is necessary that bacteria and contaminant in proper contact and in proper amount. Class of contaminants |Specific examples |Aerobic |Anaerobic |More potential sources | |Chlorinated solvents |Trichloroethylene | |+ |Drycleaners | | |Perchloroethylene | | |Chemical manufacture Electrical | |Polychlorinated biphenyls |4-Chlorobiphenyl | |+ |manufacturing Power station | | |4,4-Dichlorobiphenyl | | |Railway yards Timber treatment | | | | | |Landfills | |Chlorinated phenol |Pentachlorophenol | |+ | | |â€Å"BTEX† Benzene Toluene |+ |+ |Oil production and storage | | |Ethylbenzene Xylene | | |Gas w ork sites | | | | | |Airports | | | | | |Paint manufacture Port | | | | | |facilities Railway yards | | | | | |Chemical manufacture | |Polyaromatic hydrocarbons |Naphthalene Antracene |+ | |Oil production and storage | |(PAHs) |Fluorene Pyrene | | |Gas work sites Coke plants | | |Benzo(a)pyrene | | |Engine works Landfills | | | | | |Tar production and storage | | | | | |Boiler ash dump sites Power | | | | | |stations | | |Atrazine Carbaryl | | |Agriculture | | |Carbofuran Coumphos | | |Timber treatment plants | | |Diazinon Glycophosphate | | |Pesticide manufacture | |Pesticides |Parathion Propham |+ |+ |Recreational areas Landfills | | |2,4-D | | | | ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Nutrients Although the microorganisms are present in contaminated soil, they cannot necessarily be there in the numbers required for bioremediation of the site. Their growth and activity must be stimulated. Biostimulation usually involves the addition of nutrients and oxygen to help indigenous microorgan- isms. These nutrients are the basic building blocks of life and allow microbes to create the necessary enzymes to break down the contaminants. All of them will need nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon (e. g. , see Table 2). Carbon is the most basic element of living forms and is needed in greater quantities than other elements. In addition to hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen it constitutes about 95% of the weight of cells. Table 2 Composition of a microbial cell. ElementPercentageElementPercentage |Carbon |50 |Sodium |1 | |Nitrogen |14 |Calcium |0,5 | |Oxygen |20 |Magnesium |0,5 | |Hydrogen |8 |Chloride |0,5 | |Phosphorous |3 |Iron |0,2 | |Sulfur |1 |All others |0,3 | |Potassium |1 | | | ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Nutrients Although the microorganisms are present in contaminated soil, they cannot necessarily be there in the numbers required for bioremediation of the site. Their growth and activity must be stimulated. Biostimulation usually involves the addition of nutrients and oxygen to help indigenous microorgan- isms. These nutrients are the basic building blocks of life and allow microbes to create the necessary enzymes to break down the contaminants. All of them will need nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon (e. g. , see Table 2). Carbon is the most basic element of living forms and is needed in greater quantities than other elements. In addition to hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen it constitutes about 95% of the weight of cells. Table 2 Composition of a microbial cell. ElementPercentageElementPercentage Carbon |50 |Sodium |1 | |Nitrogen |14 |Calcium |0,5 | |Oxygen |20 |Magnesium |0,5 | |Hydrogen |8 |Chloride |0,5 | |Phosphorous |3 |Iron |0,2 | |Sulfur |1 |All others |0,3 | |Potassium |1 | | | Microbial growth and activity are readily affected by pH, temperature, and moisture. Although microorganisms have been also isolated in extreme conditions, most of them grow optimally over a nar- row range, so that it is important to achieve optimal conditions. If the soil has too much acid it is possible to rinse the pH by adding lime. Temperature affects bio- chemical reactions rates, and the rates of many of them double for each 10  °C rise in temperature. Above a certain temperature, however, the cells die. Plastic covering can be used to enhance solar warming in late spring, summer, and autumn. Available water is essential for all the living organisms, and irrigation is needed to achieve the optimal moisture level. The amount of available oxygen will determine whether the system is aerobic or anaerobic. Hydrocarbons are readily degraded under aerobic conditions, whereas chlorurate compounds are degraded only in anaerobic ones. To increase the oxygen amount in the soil it is possible to till or sparge air. In some cases, hydrogen peroxide or magnesium peroxide can be introduced in the environment. Soil structure controls the effective delivery of air, water, and nutrients. To improve soil structure, materials such as gypsum or organic matter can be applied. Low soil permeability can impede move- ment of water, nutrients, and oxygen; hence, soils with low permeability may not be appropriate for in situ clean-up techniques. BIOREMEDIATION STRATEGIES Different techniques are employed depending on the degree of saturation and aeration of an area. In situ techniques are defined as those that are applied to soil and groundwater at the site with minimal distur- bance. Ex situ techniques are those that are applied to soil and groundwater at the site which has been removed from the site via excavation (soil) or pumping (water). Bioaugmentation techniques involve the addition of microorganisms with the ability to degrade pollutants. In situ bioremediation These techniques [11,12] are generally the most desirable options due to lower cost and less disturbance since they provide the treatment in place avoiding excavation and transport of contaminants. In situ treatment is limited by the depth of the soil that can be effectively treated. In many soils effective oxy- gen diffusion for desirable rates of bioremediation extend to a range of only a few centimeters to about 30 cm into the soil, although depths of 60 cm and greater have been effectively treated in some cases. The most important land treatments are: Bioventing is the most common in situ treatment and involves supplying air and nutrients through wells to contaminated soil to stimulate the indigenous bacteria. Bioventing employs low air flow rates and provides only the amount of oxygen necessary for the biodegradation while minimizing volatiliza- tion and release of contaminants to the atmosphere. It works for simple hydrocarbons and can be used where the contamination is deep under the surface. In situ biodegradation involves supplying oxygen and nutrients by circulating aqueous solutions through contaminated soils to stimulate naturally occurring bacteria to degrade organic contaminants. It can be used for soil and groundwater. Generally, this technique includes conditions such as the infil- tration of water-containing nutrients and oxygen or other electron acceptors for groundwater treatment. Biosparging. Biosparging involves the injection of air under pressure below the water table to increase groundwater oxygen concentrations and enhance the rate of biological degradation of contam- inants by naturally occurring bacteria. Biosparging increases the mixing in the saturated zone and there- by increases the contact between soil and groundwater. The ease and low cost of installing small-diam- eter air injection points allows considerable flexibility in the design and construction of the system. Bioaugmentation. Bioremediation frequently involves the addition of microorganisms indigenous or exogenous to the contaminated sites. Two factors limit the use of added microbial cultures in a land treatment unit: 1) nonindigenous cultures rarely compete well enough with an indigenous population to develop and sustain useful population levels and 2) most soils with long-term exposure to biodegrad- able waste have indigenous microorganisms that are effective degrades if the land treatment unit is well managed. Ex situ bioremediation Ex situ bioremediation These techniques involve the excavation or removal of contaminated soil from ground. Landfarming is a simple technique in which contaminated soil is excavated and spread over a pre- pared bed and periodically tilled until pollutants are degraded. The goal is to stimulate indigenous biodegradative microorganisms and facilitate their aerobic degradation of contaminants. In general, the practice is limited to the treatment of superficial 10–35 cm of soil. Since landfarming has the potential to reduce monitoring and maintenance costs, as well as clean-up liabilities, it has received much atten – leum hydrocarbons they are a refined version of landfarming that tend to control physical losses of the contaminants by leaching and volatilization. Biopiles provide a favorable environment for indigenous aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Bioreactors. Slurry reactors or aqueous reactors are used for ex situ treatment of contaminated soil and water pumped up from a contaminated plume. Bioremediation in reactors involves the pro- cessing of contaminated solid material (soil, sediment, sludge) or water through an engineered con- tainment system. A slurry bioreactor may be defined as a containment vessel and apparatus used to cre- ate a three-phase (solid, liquid, and gas) mixing condition to increase the bioremediation rate of soil- bound and water-soluble pollutants as a water slurry of the contaminated soil and biomass (usually indigenous microorganisms) capable of degrading target contaminants. In general, the rate and extent of biodegradation are greater in a bioreactor system than in situ or in solid-phase systems because the contained environment is more manageable and hence more controllable and predictable. Despite the advantages of reactor systems, there are some disadvantages. The contaminated soil requires pre treat- ment (e. g. , excavation) or alternatively the contaminant can be stripped from the soil via soil washing or physical extraction (e. g. , vacuum extraction) before being placed in a bioreactor. Table 4 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of bioremediation. Table 4 Summary of bioremediation str ategies. Technology |Examples |Benefits |Limitations |Factors to consider | |In situ |In situ bioremediation |Most cost efficient |Environmental constraints |Biodegradative abilities of | | |Biosparging Bioventing |Noninvasive Relatively |Extended treatment time |indigenous microorganisms | | |Bioaugmentation |passive Natural attenuation |Monitoring difficulties |Presence of metals and | | | |processes | |other inorganics Environmental| | | |Treats soil and water | |parameters Biodegradability of| | | | | |pollutants Chemical solubility| | | | | |Geological factors | | | | | |Distribution of pollutants | |Ex situ |Landfarming Composting |Cost efficient |Space requirements |See above | | |Biopiles |Low cost |Extended treatment time | | | | |Can be done on site |Need to control abiotic | | | | | |loss | | | | |Mass transfer problem | | | | | |Bioavailability limitation| | |Bioreactors |Slurry reactors |Rapid degradation kinetic |Soil requires excavation |See above Bioaugmentation | | |Aqueous reactors |Optimized environmental |Relatively high cost |Toxicity of amendments Toxic | | | |parameters |capital |concentrations of contaminants| | | |Enhances mass transfer |Relatively high operating | | | | |Effective use of inoculants |cost | | | | |and surfactants | | | Advantages of bioremediation †¢Bioremediation is a natural process and is therefore perceived by the public as an acceptable waste treatment process for contaminated material such as soil. Microbes able to degrade the con- taminant increase in numbers when the contaminant is present; when the contaminant is degrad- ed, the biodegradative population declines. The residues for the treatment are usually harmless products and include carbon dioxide, water, and cell biomass. †¢Theoretically, bioremediation is useful for the complete destruction of a wide variety of contam- inants. Many compounds that are legally considered to be hazardous can be transformed to harm- less products. This eliminates the chance of future liability associated with treatment and dispos- al of contaminated material. †¢Instead of transferring contaminants from one environmental medium to another, for example, from land to water or air, the complete destruction of target pollutants is possible. †¢Bioremediation can often be carried out on site, often without causing a major disruption of nor- mal activities. This also eliminates the need to transport quantities of waste off site and the poten- tial threats to human health and the environment that can arise during transportation. Bioremediation can prove less expensive than other technologies that are used for clean-up of hazardous waste. Disadvantages of bioremediation †¢Bioremediation is limited to those compounds that are biodegradable. Not all compounds are sus- ceptible to rapid and complete degradation. †¢There are some concerns that the products of biodegradation may be more persistent or toxic than the parent compound. †¢Biological processes are often highly specific. Important site factors required for success include the presence of metabolically capable microbial populations, suitable environmental growth con- ditions, and appropriate levels of nutrients and contaminants. It is difficult to extrapolate from bench and pilot-scale studies to full-scale field operations. †¢Research is needed to develop and engineer bioremediation technologies that are appropriate for sites with complex mixtures of contaminants that are not evenly dispersed in the environment. Contaminants may be present as solids, liquids, and gases. †¢Bioremediation often takes longer than other treatment options, such as excavation and removal of soil or incineration. †¢Regulatory uncertainty remains regarding acceptable performance criteria for bioremediation. There is no accepted definition of â €Å"clean†, evaluating performance of bioremediation is difficult, and there are no acceptable endpoints for bioremediation treatments. PHYTOREMEDIATION Although the application of microbe biotechnology has been successful with petroleum-based con- stituents, microbial digestion has met limited success for widespread residual organic and metals pol- lutants. Vegetation- based remediation shows potential for accumulating, immobilizing, and transform- ing a low level of persistent contaminants. In natural ecosystems, plants act as filters and metabolize substances generated by nature. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that uses plants to remove contaminants from soil and water [14–16]. The term â€Å"phytoremediation† is relatively new, coined in 1991. Its potential for encouraging the biodegradation of organic contaminants requires further research, although it may be a promising area for the future. We can find five types of phytoremediation techniques, classified based on the contaminant fate: phytoextraction, phytotransformation, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, rhizofiltration, even if a combination of these can be found in nature. Phytoextraction or phytoaccumulation is the process used by the plants to accumulate contami- nants into the roots and aboveground shoots or leaves. This technique saves tremendous remediation cost by accumulating low levels of contaminants from a widespread area. Unlike the degradation mech- anisms, this process produces a mass of plants and contaminants (usually metals) that can be transport- ed for disposal or recycling. Phytotransformation or phytodegradation refers to the uptake of organic contaminants from soil, sediments, or water and, subsequently, their transformation to more stable, less toxic, or less mobile form. Metal chromium can be reduced from hexavalent to trivalent chromium, which is a less mobile and noncarcinogenic form. Phytostabilization is a technique in which plants reduce the mobility and migration of contami- nated soil. Leachable constituents are adsorbed and bound into the plant structure so that they form a stable mass of plant from which the contaminants will not reenter the environment. Phytodegradation or rhizodegradation is the breakdown of contaminants through the activity existing in the rhizosphere. This activity is due to the presence of proteins and enzymes produced by the plants or by soil organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Rhizodegradation is a symbiotic rela- tionship that has evolved between plants and microbes. Plants provide nutrients necessary for the microbes to thrive, while microbes provide a healthier soil environment. Rhizofiltration is a water remediation technique that involves the uptake of contaminants by plant roots. Rhizofiltration is used to reduce contamination in natural wetlands and estuary areas. In Table 5, we can see an overview of phytoremediation applications. Table 5 Overview of phytoremediation applications. TechniquePlant mechanismSurface medium PhytoextractionUptake and concentration of metal viaSoils direct uptake into the plant tissue with subsequent removal of the plants PhytotransformationPlant uptake and degradation of organicSurface water, groundwater compounds PhytostabilizationRoot exudates cause metal to precipitateSoils, groundwater, mine tailing and become less available PhytodegradationEnhances microbial degradation inSoils, groundwater within rhizosphere rhizosphere RhizofiltrationUptake of metals into plant rootsSurface water and water pumped PhytovolatilizationPlants evaportranspirate selenium, mercury,Soils and groundwater and volatile hydrocarbons Vegetative capRainwater is evaportranspirated by plantsSoils to prevent leaching contaminants from disposal sites Phytoremediation is well suited for use at very large field sites where other methods of remedia- tion are not cost effective or practicable; at sites with a low concentration of contaminants where only polish treatment is required over long periods of time; and in conjunction with other technologies where vegetation is used as a final cap and closure of the site. There are some limitations to the technology that it is necessary to consider carefully before it is selected for site remediation: long duration of time for remediation, potential contamination of the vegetation and food chain, and difficulty establishing and maintaining vegetation at some sites with high toxic levels. .

Evolution of health care information system Essay

In this paper, we will compare and contrast Skilled Nursing Facilities from 20 years ago to today. Skilled Nursing facilities of today are both similar and different from what they were like two decades ago. Similarities comprise of the organizational structure, including different departments, and the various roles within those departments. The roles of nurses, doctors, administrators, and therapists have not changed much in the last 20 years, and it is still the same hierarchical approach where a top down approach to administration and management is used . The differences outweigh the similarities as many changes have taken place over the years. Most of the changes have been as a result of the advances in information technology in health care. Some of the differences include utilization of information systems such as e-mail for communication, documentation using electronic medical records (EMR), and utilization of advanced medical equipment. Two significant advances in health care information system over the last two decades has been the use of EMR and the advances in medical devices. These two advances have changed how care is being delivered in health care in general and more specifically, in skilled nursing facilities. Two decades ago, majority of documentation was done by hand, often resulting in disjointed, redundant documentation without the ability to extrapolate meaningful data for analytical and benchmarking purposes. By contrast with the current EMR documentation, there is very little duplication of documentation, and internal and external benchmarking is available for quality improvement purposes. Today’s skilled nursing facility is dependent upon computer and information systems to run practically every aspect of the organization. Billing systems, pyxis systems for medication dispensing, minimum data set documentation and transmission to The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Systems are just some examples of the use of computer technology used in nursing facilities of today. Skilled Nursing Facilities using outdated technology, hand- written documentation, and outdated medical equipment will have to adapt to and invest in technology and equipment if they want to stay competitive with the market. Information System in Skilled Nursing Facility of Today The skilled nursing facility that I currently work at is a long-term care facility founded in 2001 and is affiliated with a local nonprofit hospital. This 150-bed state-of-the-art facility has 40 sub-acute beds, 30 dementia beds, and the remainder, are long-term beds. The sub-acute unit has all private rooms. All beds are Medicare and Medicaid certified. This modern facility has electronic medical records and uses internal and external benchmarking data to track and trend data. They use this data to improve clinical and financial outcomes and as a result of this, have been able to improve their financial viability and have a five-star rating on the CMS Nursing Home Compare website. The physicians and nurses can access lab results, and x-ray results online via a secure connection. The admissions department can cost out patients medications and the rehabilitation department, in collaboration with the MDS coordinators can determine reimbursement based on patient needs, prior to the patient being admitted. Data is stored in a data warehouse (server) where it can be mined by authorized personnel only. The advanced medical equipment use has resulted in high level of job satisfaction and resulted in staff retention. Analysis of Data Used: 20 Years Ago to Now Twenty years ago, skilled nursing facilities did not have the ability to collect and analyze data. The need to collect data was there, and some manual data collection was done, but it was impossible to collect significant clinical and financial data and use it for analytical purposes. Fast forward 20years to the present and we now have the ability to have access to significant data that can be used to improve systems and processes for better outcomes. Of significance has been the minimum data set in nursing homes. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is part of the federally mandated process for clinical assessment of all residents in Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes. This process provides a comprehensive assessment of each resident’s functional capabilities and helps nursing home staff identify health problems. Care Area Assessments (CAAs) are part of this process, and provide the foundation upon which a resident’s individual care plan is formulated. MDS assessments are completed for all residents in certified nursing homes, regardless of source of payment for the individual resident. MDS assessments are required for residents on admission to the nursing facility, periodically, and on discharge. All assessments are completed within specific guidelines and time frames. MDS information is transmitted electronically by nursing homes to the national MDS database at CMS. National and regional benchmarking is available through reports and government rates nursing homes based on these benchmarks. Examples of available benchmarking are percentage of restraints used, facility-acquired wounds, infection rates, falls, and decline in activities of daily living. Two Major Technological Advances influencing Health Care Information System (HCIS) Health care information systems are a prerequisite for coordinated, integrated, and evidence-informed health care. Introduction and use of EMR has changed how health care is delivered across the spectrum and will continue to change. It has allowed us to collect clinical data and use it to use evidence-based best practices. It has given the ability to decrease redundancy in documentation and increase patient safety by flagging medications that may be contraindicated if given in combination with another medication. Another major technological advance has been in the area of medical devices and equipment. Advanced medical devices used for diagnosis has helped detect diseases more rapidly and as a result, saved lives. The use of telemedicine is for patients who wish to remain in their homes versus a nursing home have been significant. Nurses can check patients’ vital signs frequently and collaborate with the physician to monitor patients and change treatment as needed before patient becomes acutely ill. This has lessened the need for the patients to be re-hospitalized, hence, better outcome for the patient as well as lesser financial impact. Formally defined, telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status. Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, e-mail, smart phones, wireless tools, and other forms of telecommunications technology. Conclusion There are some similarities and vast differences between the operations of a long-term care facility of today versus one from 20 years ago, specifically as it relates to information systems and how data was used than in comparison with the way it is used today. Today, every process, and system in a long-term care facility is dependent upon information technology to function. Financial and clinical outcomes are measured and compared with other organizations, both, nationally, and regionally to gauge and improve processes. One major technological advance has been in the area of use of EMR and access to patient information, such as lab results being readily available, enabling providers with quick decision-making ability. Another major technological advance has been in advanced medical equipment and telemedicine, allowing exchange of information for improved patient health status. Future advancement in information technology will change the way health care is delivered and facilities that embrace this change and use it to their advantage will come out ahead. References www. americantelemed. org/learn www. cms. gov www. lse. ac. uk

Genetic Engineering and Infertility - 1243 Words

Children are the brightness of life. Children are what make many sad people happy. Children are the future. This world is full of these tiny, energetic, innocent creatures. Most of the people have the chance to be a parent and have a child, but there are many that couldn’t. These people have problems. They are infertile people. These people wish to have kids. These people try so hard to fix their problems. One of four couples is infertile or dealing with infertility problems in developing countries, and one third to one half of these cases result from male infertility( Ethics for gene therapy). Blood test is what is used for measuring several factors that affect infertility (Salk Study). The question becomes can theses infertile people be parents? Based on many studies infertility can now be cured by gene therapy. There are many causes for male and female to be infertile. Infertility in men is when they are unable to produce sperm. The key that tells this man is infertile is changing in hair growth. ( Web Med) For male infertility there are many causes. There are three factors: genetic defects, hormonal imbalances, and anatomical problems. 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm count and poor sperm quality or both. Men who live a healthy life style are more likely to produce a healthy sperm. Smoking, alcohol, tight underwear, and stress are causes of infertility too. There is a small percentage of male infertility cause by hormonal problems. There also canShow MoreRelatedSale - Pro Plans Are 20% Off Today View Plans. Gradeproof1164 Words   |  5 PagesSentence Count: 28 Readability: 11.52 % Grade Level: 16.59 years Reading Time: 2 minutes Speaking Time: 4 minutes Type your title here... Genetic Engineering is a common theme of Gattaca, Splice, and Blade Runner. Gattaca takes place in a future where the best opportunities are given people that have the best genes, as a result from Genetic Engineering (cite). The main character Vincent has not been genetically engineered and has many health issues like Myopia (cite). He aspires to become anRead MoreEssay about The Ethical Controversy of Gene Therapy 1590 Words   |  7 PagesThe major ethical controversy is whether to alter the natural human genetic structure. Many researchers were successful in curing both the genetic and non-genetic diseases by altering the somatic cells of the individual. It has been accepted as a good practice. The main reason is only the individual in question receives the altered somatic cells but it will not pass to his off-spring. Thus it doesn’t change the original genetic structure of that individual. Public debate over the ethics of usingRead MoreHuman Genetic Engineering Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesGenetic engineering is a practice commonly used in foo d to produce yields of superior size or quality. Recently this technology has been tested on humans. The human race will now be able to improve upon itself and their offspring. With this technology disease can be disposed of and normal people can become better than average. Not all technology needs to be utilized. Genetic engineering that should not be used in humans unless done to prevent or treat disease until it is fully understood since theRead MoreEssay on The Dilemma of Cloning1522 Words   |  7 Pagescloning a human being. Once regarded as a fantastic vision dreamed up by imaginative novelists, the possibility of creating a person in the absence of sexual intercourse has crossed over the boundaries of science fiction and into our lives. 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Couples around the world are either delighted or disgustedRead MoreEssay about Genetics In Life1450 Words   |  6 Pages Genetics In Life Genetics is the study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits (Poretto). This knowledge could be used to alter the course of a future human life. This knowledge could even be used to stop a potentially painful life before it starts. Genetic engineering, like any other science, is a tool. Like any other tool Genetic Engineering is neither inherently positive nor inherently negative. Genetic engineering’s benefits outweigh the potential negatives, and in spite of someRead MoreThe Hunger Crisis And Its Effects On The World1532 Words   |  7 Pagestoday. Currently, we are in a world hunger crisis and the solution that our scientists and government have come up with is genetically engineered food and genetically modified organisms, GMOs. These organisms such as plants and animals have had their genetic codes altered using biotechnical techniques. This scientific process sparks debate among many people even though everyone acknowledges that world hunger is an important problem. One side claims that genetically engineered foods are beneficial. TheirRead MoreWhat Is Genetic Engineering?954 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is genetic engineering? Genetic engineering is the modification of an organisms genetic composition by artificial mans, it often involves the transferring a specific traits- genes from one organism to the other- this could be a plant or an animal. It is the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genes- the genetic material. What is genetic engineering used for? It is used to change the genetic makeup of cells which spontaneously includes the transferRead MoreHuman Genetic Engineering : Ethical Or Not?1117 Words   |  5 PagesKendal Gower Professor Fountain English 101 17 September 2014 Human Genetic Engineering: Ethical or Not? If man could prevent his child from having Tay Sachs Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome and other life threatening genetic disorders, should he be able to? Using human genetic engineering, scientists have developed the skills and techniques to do just this. Human genetic engineering, however, is fairly new in the science world and many questions and unresolved problems still remain. ThisRead MoreGenetic Engineering Should Be Controlled By Law1323 Words   |  6 Pages This paper explores scientists points of view about genetic engineering. Some of them are sure that it should not be controlled by law; others consider that genetic engineering has crossed the line and as a result should be limited. Nobody doubts that with the help of genetic engineering we can treat some diseases, change the appearance of our offspring and even give infertile women an opportunity to have children. But genetic engineering has also an opposite side. The case is that scientists