A health professional has the responsibility of ensuring maximum safety for all individuals within an organization regardless of their gender and backgrounds. Based upon the scenario the investigation process requires adequate resource for it to be effective. Therefore, the health officer is obliged to take into consideration the importance of setting up a communication process that would facilitate identification of potential or possible causes for the employees’ dizziness and feeling sick. This would increase the chances of conducting effective and proper evaluation of workers allegations. It is fundamental to state the major reasons for conducting an investigation. This normally takes place before commencing with the actual investigates in order to act as a guideline for achieving desired results (Healy, 2011).
The suitable approach to this scenario is by conducting an actual investigation process. This means that the health officer has to visit the warehouse and evaluate the present conditions. The officer would have to inquire whether the establishment of the warehouse abided to the health rules and regulations which govern the safety of health workers and other staffs. This includes the availability of necessary equipments for workers to perform their duties adequately without causing health hazards.
The refrigerated section would have to be evaluated to ensure its temperature is in line within the recommended standards (Morse and Finkelstein, 2009). The investigation process would include interviewing or questioning both employees and the relevant authority. A thorough evaluation would be conducted to determine whether the warehouse has maintained the required heat-out and cold-in. It implies that the health officer would be in a suitable position to conclude on the reliability of the special seal on the loading dock doors. Workers’ complaints would also serve as the determining factor throughout the investigation process. That is, the officer would need to evaluate any possible causes for the emergence of the dizziness and sickness of workers (Hall, 2012).
An appropriate method of identifying possible sources for dizziness and sickness of workers is by comparing the workers who have reported the same complication in the warehouse. This should include worker from different sections of the warehouse. It would provide the health officer with reason to rule out on the possible causes of the emerging trend in the refrigerated section. In other terms, because most the reported cases are within the refrigerated section calls, there is need for more concern and attention. The best way to identify possible sources is by performing a medical test on the affected workers and compares their symptoms. Also, it is prudent to conduct an interview with workers on matters concerning their working conditions and any other relevant information. Performing an analysis of the entire activities taking place in the refrigerated section would assist in establishing the possible sources within the warehouse.
Other possible source can be identified by conducting interviews with the management of the warehouse (Morse and Finkelstein, 2009).
The interview questions should entail issues that deal with the workers welfare within the warehouse. Inspecting safety kits and set measures in the warehouse is another major aspect that needs to be taken into account during the process of establishing the possible sources. Affected worker complaints would be used as a point of reference for identifying the possible source. It thus means that employees’ symptoms would be very helpful to the health professional for inspecting elements within the organization that might suggest or associate with the issue at stake. On a personal point of view, the conducted investigation indicates that the major sources are within the refrigerated section. These include lack of adequate air conditioning. That is, the section lack standard cold in and heat out which highly recommended for the safety of the workers (Healy, 2011).
Temperatures of about 40 degree F contribute to the emergence of illness as compared tote standard working environment for such activity. Worker responsible of blister packing foods are in the likelihood of falling sick and feeling dizzy due to the nature of the job, and the workplace. In other terms, the fact the railroad and loading docks are directly inside the warehouse increases the vulnerability of sickness. It is evident that a significant portion lacks environment monitor and sensor hence serving as the main possible source for the workers condition in the warehouse.
The manager mentioned that the entire warehouse is ventilated by according to employees’ claims, it stands out that the possible causes of their sickness and dizziness are lack of sufficient temperature and oxygen. For instance, dizziness is attributed to lack of sufficient oxygen in the body as well as fatigue. Sicknesses arise in a situation where employees are congested in a refrigerated section which is not well ventilated.
The applicable standard for suitable room temperature on which worker should perform their duties is about 37 Celsius. The warehouse management should set in place strategic measure that would ensure there is standard room temperature for worker to perform their duties without any inconveniences. Oxygen supply needs to be given much concern because non-conducive air condition or environment would result to low productivity levels of employees and affects their health adversely. The warehouse has to pay more attention to welfare of its employee’s thorough negotiations with relevant authorities such as worker unions to come up with standard policies that would regulate and govern all activities (Morse and Finkelstein, 2009).
In any organization setup duty, allocation takes place in accordance to the laid policies. The warehouse management team requires restructuring the work force formation. That is; it should consider working efficiency of its employees. It thus means that employees should not be overloaded with work. To cut down employee redundancy it is recommended that their number should be increased. This should include gender sensitive to allow flexibility of duties. The refrigerated section needs to be upgrade to meet required standards in order to eradicate scenarios of worker dizziness and sickness due to lack of friendly working environment.
Another important element is health safety for the employee. Therefore put in place sensor that facilities necessary to monitor the environment would eliminate emergence of illness and complaints regarding health issues. Abiding by the health and safety rules and regulation is a key factor for observing welfare of employees with an organization (Farley, 2009). It thus calls for implementation of strict rules that would regulate and safeguard life and health of the worker in the warehouse especially those working under harsh conditions. In conclusion, the investigation would pin point all loop hole in the warehouse and provides a suitable solution to resolve the current and future casualties.
References
Farley, D. (2009). Assessing patient safety practices and outcomes in the U.S. health care system. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.
Hall, M. A. (2012). The health care "safety net" in a post-reform world. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.
Healy, J. (2011). Improving health care safety and quality reluctant regulators. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate.
Morse, C., & Finkelstein, J. (2009). Fundamentals of health care improvement: a guide to improving your patients' care. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 18(5), 416-416.
