Going nowhere fast…nothing like the sun

I received an interesting question this week regarding whether or not there was a need for UV protection in a supply room with windows (for the purposes of this discussion, I’m thinking exterior windows).

In looking at the 2018 FGI Guidelines (the route to a read-only version can be found here, if you’ve not already purchased it: https://fgiguidelines.org/guidelines/purchase-the-guidelines/read-only-copy/, though I think you would be well-served by dropping the dough – consider it a holiday gift to your facility), I don’t see anything that specifically addresses UV radiation as a function of storage / supply rooms.

I suppose, all things being equal, that exposure to UV radiation over time might have a deleterious impact on stuff that’s stored for long periods of time (for some reason, I’m flashing on the cover for my gas grill and my wood rack – the sun beats the heck out of those over time). But it makes me think that there can’t be a ton of circumstances in which the windows used in a facility do not have some level of UV protection integral to the window panes.

And, of course, there are certainly trace amounts of radiation coming from lighting in the space, but nothing close to what emanates from that shiny object approximately 92 million miles away. I suppose you could make it your life’s work to go through the items you have stored in the room, check the IFU’s to see if there’s anything that specifically dictates a storage methodology that protects from UV radiation, but that seems like an awful lot of work. But maybe a risk assessment could be packaged to identify any “real” risks and then to strategize accordingly.

Having said all that, I figured I’d ask you folks if this is something that’s come up on your (collective) radars? It seems rather esoteric, to say the least. But perhaps this is something new sweeping across the compliance landscape to wreak havoc for no good reason…if this has darkened your door, please share with the group!

And speaking of this season of Yule, I recently finished a book that I found to be a very compelling read – “The Shepherd’s Life: Modern Dispatches From An Ancient Landscape” by James Rebanks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shepherd%27s_Life); it’s a story about family, family history, career arcs (you never know where you might end up), animal husbandry, etc. I’m not entirely certain how I came to seek it out, and I was prepared not to be inclined to finish it, but I think it speaks very eloquently of the importance of connections and a solid work ethic. I’m a big fan of books that I can hold in my hand, but there are tablet and audiobook versions for those of you who embrace the technological advances of the time. Not strictly safety related, though I think the concept of safety and facilities professionals as shepherds of the environment is not so much of a stretch…

About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Greeley Company in Danvers, Mass. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is also a contributing editor for Healthcare Safety Leader. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.