Hurricane Preparedness Survey Reveals Public Health Worries As Texas and Florida clean up from recent tropical storms, what are residents in coastal areas most worried about when it comes to hurricanes? A new survey says most of them are probably concerned there may not be enough fresh water or medical care. According to an article on the Infection Control Today 
magazine website, the survey by the Harvard School
of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security shows that one-third (34 percent) of those people in hurricane-prone areas say they are very prepared if a major hurricane were to strike their communities in the next six months. The survey asked respondents who were either
threatened or hit by Hurricane Katrina what were their biggest worries in the aftermath of a hurricane. Forty-two
percent were very worried there would not be fresh water to drink, while 41 percent were very worried they would not be able to get needed medical care. Those who weren't affected by Katrina? Those respondents said their biggest concern was getting the gas needed to evacuate (39 percent very worried). This is a concern that Katrina-affected respondents share (36 percent very worried) but it ranks below worries about fresh water and medical care. Those not affected by Katrina are much less likely to be worried about fresh water (27 percent very worried) and getting needed medical care (29 percent very worried). "The top concerns of people in high-risk hurricane areas - having enough fresh water, getting medical care, and obtaining gas to evacuate - are all things that public officials can plan for before the major storms of this season hit," Robert J. Blendon, professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health, told the publication. You can read the entire article at the Infection Control Today website.  | |
NLRB Counsel Issues Guidelines for Analyzing Charges Involving Worker Political Advocacy National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Ronald Meisburg recently issued a guideline memorandum describing a framework for analyzing unfair labor practice charges involving discipline of employees who engage in political advocacy, such as participating in pro-immigration demonstrations. Employees' right to engage in concerted activity for "mutual aid or protection" is protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, Meisburg said in the memo to regional office personnel. After reviewing U.S. Supreme Court and board precedent, Meisburg wrote, he found that the test for determining whether political advocacy is protected under Section 7 is "whether there is a direct nexus between the specific issue that is the subject of the advocacy and a specifically identified employment concern of the participating employees." However, Meisburg said qualifying political advocacy can lose the protection of the NLRA if it is carried out by unprotected means. Political advocacy that meets the basic test, is non-disruptive, and takes place during the employee's own time and in non-work areas is protected, the general counsel said. But he found that engaging in qualifying political advocacy while on duty, and leaving or stopping work to engage in it, "is subject to restrictions imposed by lawful and neutrally-applied work rules." Personnel under the general counsel's supervision investigate unfair labor practice charges and decide whether to issue a complaint and prosecute the case before administrative law judges and the board. "As a matter of enforcement policy under the Act, we do not want to equate political disputes with labor disputes, or promote the use of strikes and similar activity for resolving what are essentially political questions," the general counsel said. But Meisburg emphasized that "we are bound to follow Supreme Court and Board precedent recognizing that certain employee political advocacy is protected activity under the Act." He said the purpose of the memo was "to set out a framework for harmonizing our enforcement policy with that precedent, and thereby provide guidance to employees, unions, and employers in this important and developing area of the law." He instructed regional office personnel to submit all cases involving employee political advocacy to the Division of Advice along with the region's recommendation as to whether a complaint should be issued. | |
Take Steps to Become a Safer Workplace Recognizing that responding to domestic violence is "good business," companies increasingly are implementing policies that help employees who are facing domestic violence. By working to mitigate the economic, legal and productivity risks related to domestic violence, businesses create a workplace that is safer for victims. Beneficial practices for companies include:  Supervisor/Manager Training: Train managers and supervisors
to recognize and respond appropriately to the signs of domestic violence in their staff. Educate managers and supervisors to discuss the workplace policies that apply to the issue in a confidential manner. Security: Security can play a critical role in protecting an employee at work. Companies can provide special training in domestic violence for security personnel. Employees can provide security personnel with a copy of their protection order and photograph
of a batterer in case he comes to the workplace.
There are other steps security can take like relocating an employee to a safer workspace, installing a panic button or other security device at an employee's workstation, escorts to parked cars, installing extra lighting in the parking lot, and priority parking near the building for employees who fear an attack at work. You also can read more suggested security steps by reading the entire article. For more information on Huffmaster's Workplace Violence Prevention programs, please visit this section on our website or call 800.446.1515. Passport Card Now Used for I-9 Verification Purposes The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service announced that the new U.S. Passport Card may be used in the Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9) process.
Last month, the Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that the new U.S. passport card was in full production. The new card provides a less expensive and more portable alternative to the passport book, and will expedite document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry for U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
While more portable, the new U.S. passport card does have limitations. It may not be used for international air travel. Nonetheless, it is a valid passport that attests to the U.S. citizenship and identity of its bearer.
The passport card is considered a "List A" document that may be presented by newly hired employees during the employment eligibility verification process to show authorization to legally work in the U.S. "Obviously, it's an ongoing concern for us. Not only is there a financial impact, but there is also a significant safety impact as well," he said. "Our employees who work in substations have safety training and they're required to wear all the protective equipment and take the necessary safety precautions. The people who are breaking into facilities and that type of thing, safety is not really a concern for them." Brokaw, Carville Headline ASIS 2008 Speakers Former NBC Nightly News Anchor Tom Brokaw and Political Icon James Carville will highlight this year's speaking seminars at the 2008 ASIS International 54th Annual Seminar and Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia. ASIS 2008 occurs September 15-17 at the Georgia
World Congress Center and features more than 23,000 security, business and government professionals from around the globe to exchange ideas, information and experiences through a variety
of educational sessions, after-hours events and
exhibit floor booths. Other keynote speakers will include: Mary Matalin, Political Strategist and Presidential Advisor; Kevin Mitnick, The World's Most Famous Former Hacker;
and James Bradley, Best Selling Author of Flags
of Our Fathers. You also can stop by Huffmaster's booth (#1745) to learn about our new services including remote monitoring capabilities, CFATS compliance through our chemical security program, healthcare strike services and SecurPLACE property insurance program. This year, Huffmaster will be awarding a Garmin GPS to a visitor to our booth and will once again sponsor Monday's luncheon. For more information about the ASIS International 54th Annual Seminar and for speaking times, please visit http://www.asisonline.org/asis2008 or e-mail at asis@asisonline.org. | 
