M10.1- Video Response

1) Consider your workplace or a workplace of one of your family members. Are there chemical, biological, radiological or ergonomic issues?    

• My aunt is a flight attendant. I knew about the dangers of their inconsistent sleep schedules and those long term effects, but I hadn't thought about their chemical exposures until our guest speaker a few weeks ago.
• Both chemical (cleaning products, fumes, airplane materials), biological (vomit, airborne diseases, other bodily fluids), and radiological (cosmic radiation, solar flares, other plane material) issues

Using the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls, how might you address the issues? How are they being addressed in reality?

• PPE- protect the flight attendants with Personal Protective Equipment (least effective)
• Administrative Controls- Change the way the flight attendants work (conditions in which they work, policies that prohibit unsafe environments)
• Engineering Controls- Isolate the flight attendants from the hazard. I don’t think this is possible, considering they have to fly at a certain altitude.
• Substitution- Replace the hazard. Planes can begin to be built with non-hazardous materials as much as possible
• Elimination- Physically remove the hazard (most effective)
• I'm not sure how they're being addressed in reality, if they are at all. In addition to her inconsistent sleep schedule due to the time changes and strange hours, I worry about her chemical exposures.

2) What might be the barriers to workers exercising their rights to a healthy and safe workplace?

• I know flight attendants have a very secure union and the FAA keeps very good track of attendants, pilots, and staff, but I can imagine fear of termination, reduction in pay, unequal treatment, or reduced seniority status due to complaints.