May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
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Dear Readers, Greetings...!!! Neither military power nor wealth can stop the destructive global spread of COVID-19, a tiny member of the Coronavirus family. Its full human impact and economic cost will not be known for months to come. The virus is only now spreading amongst the most vulnerable populations, the millions who are cramped into refugee camps, and the hundreds of millions who live in city slums or in poverty without proper sanitation or medical support. As the pandemic is unfolding, it is revealing human vulnerabilities and showcasing the importance of good leadership and well-functioning, universal social and health care systems. While the current focus is on responding to the pandemic and on coping with its immediate effects, the lessons we will collectively learn from this crisis are equally if not more important, as we know that the next global crisis – the climate crisis – is already well under way, building up its destructive potential around the globe. This is of particular relevance for the younger generations. They will inherit the political and economic systems that are now being reshaped in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and their future is being mortgaged with enormous debt as governments are mobilizing unprecedented stimuli packages to avoid a deep recession.
May 2020
While coping with the crisis, we have an opportunity to rediscover basic values of humanity and the bonds that connect us. We now have it in our hands to lay the foundation for a safer, healthier and cleaner life on planet earth. We have the technology and the means to come out stronger if we understand that human wellbeing and the health of the planet are two sides of the same coin. Now is the time to retire old dogmas and to give way to a fresh start.
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May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
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Vizag Gas Leak: Chilling Scenes Bring Back Memories Of Bhopal Gas Tragedy A Gas Leak, reminiscent of the 1984 Bhopal Tragedy, has claimed at hundreds of lives and affected thousands of residents in five villages in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The source of the leak was a styrene plant owned by South Korean electronics giant LG, located at RRV Puram near Gopalapatnam, about 15 kms from the coast city. Ini al reports indicate that several people from the surrounding villages - RRV Puram, Venkatapuram, BC Colony, Padmapuram and Kamparapalem - fell unconscious on the roads. While six died due to prolonged exposure to the gas, another two died while trying to escape from the leak.
Vizag Gas Lead: What is Styrene? It is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene plas cs, fiberglass, rubber, and latex. According to Tox Town, a website run by the US Na onal Library of Medicine, styrene is also found in vehicle exhaust, cigare e smoke, and in natural foods like fruits and vegetables.
How Bad is the Situation in Visakhapatnam? While it unclear at the moment whether the deaths are due to direct exposure to styrene gas or one of its byproducts, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Meena has maintained that the gas is "non-poisonous" and is only fatal when exposed for longer dura ons. However, hundreds of people including many children were admi ed to hospitals. The cases are high as the gas leak was only detected at 3 am in the morning, meaning several crucial hours have been lost ll safety precau ons were taken, and the gas was allowed to spread while people were fast asleep. Officials said they immediately began making announcements over speakers but many were feared to have already become unconscious as police had to break open doors to shi people.
What caused the Leak? A statement from LG Polymers said that stagna on and
What happens when exposed to Styrene? As per the US-based Environment Protec on Agency (EPA), short-term exposure to the substance can result in respiratory problems, irrita on in the eyes, irrita on in the mucous membrane, and gastrointes nal issues. And long-term exposure could dras cally affect the central nervous system and lead to other related problems like peripheral neuropathy. It could also lead to cancer and depression in some cases. However, EPA notes that there is no sufficient evidence despite several epidemiology studies indica ng there may be an associa on between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include headache, hearing loss, fa gue, weakness, difficulty in concentra ng etc. Animal studies, according to the EPA, have reported effects on the CNS, liver, kidney, and eye and nasal irrita on from inhala on exposure to styrene. 08
changes in temperature inside the storage tank could have resulted in auto polymeriza on and could have caused vapourisa on. "We are inves ga ng the incident. Right now there is no leak as it has been contained. We will observe the facility for another four hours and give an all clear a er a thorough inspec on,'' an official said. There was 1,800 tonnes of styrene stored at the plant at the me of the leak.
Vizag Gas Leak: Is it Under Control? The leak has been plugged and NDRF teams moved into the five affected villages and have started opening the houses to find out if anyone was stranded inside. Officials said that the Covid-19 preparedness helped a lot as dozens of ambulances with oxygen cylinders and ven lators were readily available. The spread of the gas depends on wind speeds. So far it is es mated that areas within a five kilometre radius have been affected. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
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Expert Talk
EMERGING ROLE OF HARFANMAULA FIREFIGHTERS IN COVID-19 1.
Natural and Manmade disasters cannot be completely eliminated or prevented but their impact can be minimised by adop ng and implemen ng proper planning and management. Most of the administrators think that Fire Services are only saving life and property in case of fire and fire related accidents. However the ground situa on is alarming as in the absence of any organized mechanism at the State level for interven on in non-fire emergencies like, rescuing trapped persons from collapsed buildings, handling chemical emergencies or vic ms of gas and industrial disasters, drowning cases, rescuing vic ms of road and rail accidents, etc. Fire Services have been ac ng as Mul -Hazard Response Services without adequate training, equipment and also, without any legal
Mr. D K Shami Fire Advisor GOI, MHA, DG FS CD HG
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basis. Recently we have no ced the emerging role of harfanmaula firefighters in covid-19 as performing the role of disinfectant, sani zer etc.
May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
2. The COVID-19 Pandemic:
distance from other people, wearing a face mask in public se ngs, and monitoring and self-isola on for people who suspect they are infected. Authori es worldwide have responded by implemen ng travel restric ons, lockdowns, workplace hazard controls, and facility closures. Many places have also worked to increase tes ng capacity and trace contacts of infected persons.
3. Guidelines and Instructions issued by Government of India:
As per Wikipedia the COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the co ro n aviru s p an d emic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( S A R S CoV 2). The outbreak was iden fied in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organiza on declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Interna onal th Concern on 30 January, and a pandemic on 11th March. As of 13th May 2020, more than 4.34 million cases of COV ID-19 have been reported in over 212 countries and territories, resul ng in more than 292,000 deaths. More than 1.60 million people have recovered (Worldometers.info). The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact, o en via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking. The droplets usually fall to the ground or onto surfaces rather than remaining in the air over long distances. People may also become infected by
touching a contaminated surface and then touching their face. On surfaces, the amount of virus declines over me un l it is insufficient to remain infec ous, but it may be detected for hours or days. It is most contagious during the first three days a er the onset of symptoms, although spread may be possible before symptoms appear and in later stages of the disease. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fa gue, shortness of breath, and loss of smell. Complica ons may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The me from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days, but may range from two to fourteen days. There is no known vaccine or specific an viral treatment. Primary treatment is symptoma c and suppor ve therapy. Recommended preven ve measures include hand washing, covering one's mouth when coughing, maintaining
May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
Government of India, Ministry of H e a l t h a n d Fa m i l y We l f a r e , Directorate General of Health S e r v i c e s h a d i s s u e d va r i o u s guidelines on Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) including the guidelines on ra onal use of PPE (Appendix-B). These Guidelines and Instruc ons are available on website of Health Ministry.
4. Why Fireghter should know about COVID-19? F i re s e r v i c e d e p a r t m e nt s o f States/ U T 's/ P S U 's have been engaged in sani za on/disinfec on work of very large area besides the specific buildings. Few of them are engaged even without providing proper safety kits. Therefore they are at a very large risk of catching the infec ons. Do they need more specific guidelines and SOPs as they are handling the situa on with different prospec ve? Most of the fire service organisa ons of repute have issued the guidelines/SOP's regarding do and don't by the first responders. The brief of same is given below: 11
• Personal Protec ve Equipment : Beware of fraudulent PPE. N95 or higher level respirator should be used instead of a facemask when firefighters are performing or present for an aerosol-genera ng procedure. In addi on a single pair of disposable examina on Gloves, Eye Protec on, such as face Shield or Goggles, Gown or coveralls should also be used. Personal protec ve clothing (e.g., uniforms) or other porous materials should also be de-contaminated. If PPE becomes contaminated discard and replace it and if reusing, disinfect and store properly. • Fire/Water/Rescue Tenders/EMS Vehicles: Use hospital-grade disinfectants to disinfect nonporous surfaces of Water Tenders, Ambulances, Clipboards, Radios, and other frequently touched surfaces or equipment. When cleaning the vehicle should wear a disposable gown and gloves. A face shield or facemask and goggles should also be worn if splashes or sprays during cleaning are an cipated. •
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Use alcohol-based hand sani zers with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol, or wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when soap and water are available. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. Encourage sick employees to stay home. Employees should not return to work un l the isola on periods are met, in consulta on with hospitals. Refresher training should be conducted for firefighters on proper donning, doffing, and maintenance of all PPE. All PPE should be accessible to responders when needed. Cloth face coverings are not considered PPE but can be used for source control.
5. Details of Disinfectant being used by Fireghters in India: Government of India had issued guidelines for disinfec on of common public places including offices. The Fire and Emergency Services has taken up the task of disinfec ng public places, hospitals and other places. They are using following chemicals: i. Hypochlorous Acid (HoCl): Safe Concentra on100ppm or less (0.01%) 12
May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
ii. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): safe concentra on1% or less iii. Sodium Hypochlorite (NaoCl): safe concentra on500ppm or less (0.05%)
6. Situation in India: Firefighters from approximately 4000 fire sta ons in India have disinfected public places across the country by using the Water tenders with mist technology. Sodium hypochlorite mixed with water is being used as the disinfectant solu on for cleaning public places.
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Deliver PPE and other medical supplies to NHS and care facili es; Assist in taking samples for Covid-19 an gen tes ng; Drive ambulance transport not on blue-lights (excluding known Covid-19 pa ents) to outpa ent appointments or to receive urgent care; Provide instruc on for non-Service personnel to drive ambulances (not on blue-lights); Assemble single-use face shields for NHS and care staff; Packaging and repackaging food supplies for vulnerable people Transfer known or suspected COVID-19 pa ents to and from Nigh ngale hospitals; Transfer non-COVID-19 pa ents to and from Nigh ngale hospitals.
The new areas of work above are covered in the na onal tripar te agreement made between the Fire Brigades Union, NJC Fire Service employers and the Na onal Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). With around 3,000 fire service staff currently in self-isola on, many of whom will not have the virus, services could struggle to maintain staffing levels as the pandemic progresses. Fire and rescue staff is key workers and will, in most cases, be expected to con nue going to work - so long as they do not live with anyone who has symptoms, or are displaying symptoms themselves.
7. International Situations: In United Kingdom Firefighters are now permi ed to: • Assist Ambulance services in some specified ac vi es and drive ambulances; • Deliver food and medicines to vulnerable people; • In the case of mass casual es due to COVID-19, move dead bodies; • Assist in face fi ng masks to be used by frontline NHS staff and clinical care staff working with COVID-19 pa ents; May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
Public Health England has published guidance for first responders and others in close contact with symptoma c people with poten al COVID-19. Public Health England has also published guidance on when to use surgical face mask or FFP3 respirator. The guidance underlines the importance of having respiratory protec on when conduc ng aerosol genera ng procedures. In the fire service an example of this would be incident-ground oxygen therapy equipment. These procedures can, or rather, are likely to produce airborne droplets which will carry the virus. For these reasons eye protec on should also be worn when aerosol genera ng procedures are used on a casualty by firefighters. The most logical step for firefighters, who have access to it as a ma er of course, is for breathing apparatus to be worn as this provides complete protec on to our eyes, airways, and face. Fire and rescue services should have in place external laundry services, and appropriate arrangements for the cleaning of sta ons as well as disposal facili es and processes for the safe disposal of clinical waste. Arrangements made by fire and rescue services should conform to the highest possible standards and these standards should be as close as possible to those required and prac sed by health providers who come 13
into contact with Covid-19 carriers and sufferers. Breathing apparatus (BA) tests are essen al to protect firefighters, par cularly in the context of the pandemic, as they may be used as PPE in some cases. Normal health and safety structures should s ll be in place. BA cleaning rou nes should not be altered without consulta on with the FBU. There is no reason for fire service management to alter these arrangements. The Na onal Fire Protec on Associa on (NFPA) offers the following standards, codes, and resources and to assist in preven on, mi ga on, preparedness, response, and recovery. • •
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COVID-19 landing page NFPA 1600®, Standard on Con nuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management is the recognized Na onal Preparedness Standard®, offering vital informa on on conduc ng risk assessments, business impact analysis, capabili es, needs assessments, and developing emergency and recovery plans for myriad events including pandemic. NFPA 1999, Standard on Protec ve Clothing and Ensembles for Emergency Medical Opera ons provides requirements for the clothing and certain respiratory devices used by on-scene first responders as well as by first receiver health care workers at facili es where treatment will be rendered. NFPA 1581, Standard on Fire Department Infec on Control Program provides the minimum requirements for infec on control programs to help iden fy and limit the poten al of an infec ous exposure to fire department members as well as other first responders during the performance of their assigned du es and within the responder working and living environment. NFPA 99, Health Care Facili es Code offers healthcare decision-makers essen al safety informa on and requirements for emergency planning, isola on spaces, infec on control, IT and data infrastructure, and many other relevant topics. Tip Sheet - NFPA 1581: Infec on Control Program Resource for First Responders Emergency Preparedness Checklist Organiza onal Planning Tips for Pandemic Preparedness Temporary Compliance Op ons for Code Modifica ons, Alternate Care Sites, and Facili es Related to Health Care Maintaining Safe Health Care Facili es in Extraordinary Times
8. Financial Assistance Provided by GOI: Government of India vide le er no. 33-4/2020-NDM-I dated 14.03.2020 has par ally modified list of items and norms of assistance for containment of COVID-19 Virus in India and allowed States to book the expenditure on equipment not exceeding 10% of the annual alloca on of State Disaster 14
Response Funds towards the cost of personal protec on equipment for fire authori es.
9. Financial Assistance Provided by USA: FEMA makes addi onal $100 million available to fire/ E M S for C O V I D -19 response in supplemental funding for personal protec ve equipment (PPE) and related supplies to the fire service community to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act through the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program.
10. Support of NGO's in India: Many NGO's, /associa ons and trade bodies have been ac vely par cipa ng in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. Some of such bodies are FSAI (Fire & Security Associa on of India), ISHRAE, IPA, GEMs Council of ASSOCHAM etc. The ini a ves taken by them is as under : 1. Forming high level commi ees and task forces comprising of our members who are luminary experts in their respec ve domains. 2. Bringing out white papers in their respec ve fields on technologies that help in figh ng the spread of COVID-19. Some of the fields covered are. a. Transforming and taking help from Firefigh ng equipment specially by using them in sani za on and disinfec on. b. How to use air-condi oning and ven la on to minimize the spread of COVID-19 c. How to maintain Plumbing systems to reduce contamina on in buildings 3. Proposing guidelines to operate workplaces with minimum risk of spreading contamina on etc. 4. D e s i g n i n g v a r i o u s d i s i n f e c o n a n d sani za on systems so that they can be using locally available materials and producing them at the lowest cost. 5. Sugges ng the right concentra on of disinfectant and spray mechanics for sani za on. 6. Free distribu on of equipment trolley mounted disinfec on systems to municipal corpora ons. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
7. Free distribu on of Sani za on chambers to Police and Govt agencies. 8. Free distribu on of Backpack spraying systems to hospitals. 9. Free distribu on of PPE and mask to various municipal and health centers.
FAQ COVID-19-MOHFW.GOV.IN Detail Question and Answers on COVID-19 for Public: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
What is Corona virus? What is COVID-19? What are the symptoms of COVID-19? How does COVID-19 spread? Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmi ed through the air? 6) Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms? 7) Can I catch COVID-19 from the feces of someone with the disease? 8) What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease Protec on measures for everyone? 9) Protec on measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading. 10) How likely am I to catch COVID-19? 11) Should I worry about COVID-19? 12) Who is at risk of developing severe illness? May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
13) Are an bio cs effec ve in preven ng or trea ng the COVID-19? 14) Are there any medicines or therapies that can prevent or cure COVID-19? 15) Is there a vaccine drug or treatment for COVID-19? 16) Is COVID-19 the same as SARS? 17) Should I wear mask to protect myself? 18) How to put on use take off and dispose of a mask? 19) How long is the incuba on period for COVID-19? 20) Can humans become infected with the COVID-19 from an animal source? 21) Can I catch COVID-19 from my pet? 22) How long does the virus survive on surfaces? 23) Is it safe to receive a package from any area where COVID19 has been reported? 24) Is there anything I should not do? In any case, if you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early to reduce the risk of developing a more severe infec on and be sure to share your recent travel history with your health care provider. Answer to all above ques ons can download from MOHFW. Appendix-“B” 15
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Directorate General of Health Services [Emergency Medical Relief] Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Guidelines on Rational Use of Personal Protective Equipment About this Guideline : This guideline is for health care workers and others working in points of entries (POEs), quaran ne centers, hospital, laboratory and primary health care/community se ngs. The guideline uses se ng approach to guide on the type of personal protec ve equipment to be used in different se ngs. Introduc on : Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with MERS and SARS. The outbreak of Novel coronavirus disease (now named COVID-19) was ini ally no ced from a seafood market in Wuhan city in Hubei Province of China in mid-December, 2019, has spread to more than 185 countries/territories worldwide including India. The causa ve agent for COVID-19, earlier termed provisionally as novel Coronavirus has been officially named as SARS-CoV-2. Mode of Transmission : There is clear evidence of humanto-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It is thought to be transmi ed mainly through respiratory droplets that get generated when people cough, sneeze, or exhale. SARSCoV-2 also gets transmi ed by touching, by direct touch and through contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Healthcare associated infec on by SARS-CoV-2 virus has been documented among healthcare workers in many countries. The people most at risk of COVID-19 infec on are those who are in close contact with a suspect/confirmed COVID-19 pa ent or who care for such pa ents. 16
Personal Protec ve Equipment (PPE) : Personal Protec ve Equipments (PPEs) are protec ve gears designed to safeguard the health of workers by minimizing the exposure to a biological agent. Components of PPE : Components of PPE are goggles, face-shield, mask, gloves, coverall/gowns (with or without aprons), head cover and shoe cover. Each component and ra onale for its use is given in the following paragraphs: Face Shield and Goggles : Contamina on of mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth is likely in a scenario of droplets generated by cough, sneeze of an infected person or during aerosol genera ng procedures carried out in a clinical se ng. Inadvertently touching the eyes/nose/ mouth with a contaminated hand is another likely scenario. Hence protec on of the mucous membranes of the eyes/nose/mouth by using face shields/goggles is an integral part of standard and contact precau ons. The flexible frame of goggles should provide good seal with the skin of the face, covering the eyes and the surrounding areas and even accommoda ng for prescrip on glasses. Masks : Respiratory viruses that includes Coronaviruses target mainly the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Hence protec ng the airway from the par culate ma er generated by droplets/aerosols prevents human infec on. Contamina on of mucous membranes of the mouth and nose by infec ve droplets or through a contaminated hand also allows the virus to enter the host. Hence the droplet precau ons/airborne precau ons using masks are crucial while dealing with a suspect or confirmed case of COVID-19/performing aerosol genera ng procedures. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
Masks are of different types : The type of mask to be used is related to par cular risk profile of the category of personnel and his/her work. There are two types of masks which are recommended for various categories of personnel working in hospital or community se ngs, depending upon the work environment: Triple Layer Medical Mask, N-95 Respirator Mask. Triple Layer Medical Mask : A triple layer medical mask is a disposable mask, fluid-resistant, provide protec on to the wearer from droplets of infec ous material emi ed during coughing/sneezing/talking. N-95 Respirator Mask : An N-95 respirator mask is a respiratory protec ve device with high filtra on efficiency to airborne par cles. To provide the requisite air seal to the wearer, such masks are designed to achieve a very close facial fit. Such mask should have high fluid resistance, good breathability (preferably with an expiratory valve), clearly iden fiable internal and external faces, duckbill/cupshaped structured design that does not collapse against the mouth. If correctly worn, the filtra on capacity of these masks exceeds those of triple layer medical masks. Since these provide a much ghter air seal than triple layer medical masks, they are designed to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne par cles. Gloves : When a person touches an object/surface contaminated by COVID-19 infected person, and then touches his own eyes, nose, or mouth, he may get exposed to the virus. Although this is not thought to be a predominant mode of transmission, care should be exercised while handling objects/surface poten ally contaminated by suspect/confirmed cases of COVID-19. Nitrile gloves are preferred over latex gloves because they resist chemicals, including certain disinfectants such as chlorine. There is a high rate of allergies to latex and contact allergic derma s among health workers. However, if nitrile gloves are not available, latex gloves can be used. Nonpowdered gloves are preferred to powdered gloves. Coverall/Gowns: Coverall/Gowns are designed to May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
protect torso of healthcare providers from exposure to virus. Although coveralls typically provide 360-degree protec on because they are designed to cover the whole body, including back and lower legs and some mes head and feet as well, the design of medical/isola on gowns do not provide con nuous whole-body protec on (e.g., possible openings in the back, coverage to the mid-calf only). By using appropriate protec ve clothing, it is possible to create a barrier to eliminate or reduce contact and droplet exposure, both known to transmit COVID-19, thus protec ng healthcare workers working in close proximity (within 1 meter) of suspect/confirmed COVID-19 cases or their secre ons. Coveralls and Gowns are deemed equally acceptable as there is a lack of compara ve evidence to show whether one is more effec ve than the other in reducing transmission to health workers. Gowns are considerably easier to put on and for removal. An apron can also be worn over the gown for the en re me the health worker is in the treatment area. Coveralls/gowns have stringent standards that extend from preven ng exposure to biologically contaminated solid par cles to protec ng from chemical hazards. Shoe Covers : Shoe covers should be made up of impermeable fabric to be used over shoes to facilitate personal protec on and decontamina on. Head Covers : Coveralls usually cover the head. Those using gowns, should use a head cover that covers the head and neck while providing clinical care for pa ents. Hair and hair extensions should fit inside the head cover.
Rational use of PPE The PPEs are to be used based on the risk profile of the health care worker. The document describes the PPEs to be used in different se ngs. (Download from MoHFW)
Points to remember while using PPE : 1. PPEs are not alterna ve to basic preven ve public health measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory e que es which must be followed at all mes. 2. Always (if possible) maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from contacts/suspect/confirmed COVID-19 cases. 3. Always follow the laid down protocol for disposing off PPEs as detailed in infec on preven on and control guideline available on website of MoHFW. 17
Expert Talk
“Safety isn't Expensive, it's Priceless” Going to your favorite restaurant/ hotel for a date, party with friends, or a family dinner - sounds good, but what if the place that you are hanging out is not Fire Compliant, as most of the hotels are always do ed with fire hazards at every corner. They have parking spaces, cooking oils, electrical connec ons, and paper products. One small spark can turn a great evening into a disaster. Fire will not only cause material damage but will cost lives, just because the owner of the restaurant was not aware of the hazards or didn't care about safety. Importance of Gas Leak Detec on System| P E S O Cer fied | LPG Gas Detector | Manufacturer in India Our Mission at Ambetronics Engineers Pvt. Ltd. is to provide the best quality and the op mum solu on that is needed for the Human and Industrial Safety. We are the largest manufacturer of Gas Detectors, Gas Analyzers, Flame Detectors, Data Loggers, Cold Chain Solu ons, Clean Room Solu ons, Industrial Automa on & Internet of Things (IoT). According to the Na onal Fire Protec on Associa on, more than 8257 eateries report an annual fire in the USA alone, the USA being so strict in regula ons & rules, s ll the restaurants claim more than $259 million. Therefore, it is a mandatory requirement to measure Combus ble and Toxic Gas Hazards. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Piped 18
Natural Gas (PNG) have a constant risk to the chefs, managers, servers & the staff. Talking about India, 87% of the restaurants/eateries do not comply with the fire standards & regula ons. We have designed a state of the art solu on to tackle such hazards and prevent fire disaster. The solu on consists of three major components: 1. LPG/PNG/CNG Gas Leak Detector (Model No. GT4220-FLP) 2. Gas Monitor (Model No. Smart IoT Gateway - IoT Based Gateway) 3. Alarming System (Audio & Visual Alarm)
Whereas PNG is lighter than air, so it would escape higher to the ceiling, therefore, we install the detector which is one foot above the pipeline. 3. Do you have PESO Approval for the following LPG, PNG, CNG, or LNG Detectors? Answer: Yes, we are approved and have a PESO Cer ficate, that is a must for all the restaurants, cafes, hotels, LPG Banks, LPG Bullet Yards.
Applica ons where LPG/PNG/CNG Gas Detectors can be used? 1. Hotels or Eateries 2. Restaurants 3. Cafe's or Cafeterias 4. Lounges & Bars 5. LPG Bullet Yards 6. Commercial Kitchens & Pantries 7. Gas Storage Banks & Gas Banks 8. Food Processing Plants 9. Food Courts in Malls 10. Boiler Sec on in Industries 11. District Regula ng Sta on(DRS) 12. Meter & Regula ng Sta on(M & R) 13. Meter Regula ng Skid 14. Chemical Storage Areas 15. Sewage Plants Frequently Asked Ques ons to us by our Clients/Poten al 16. Fer lizers Plant Customers/Users 1. What is the Gas sensor used in Ambetronics Gas Detectors? Answer: We use Pellistor/Cataly c Bead Sensor that is capable of detec ng the concentra on of LPG/PNG Gases in 0–100%LEL range having a resolu on of 1 and an accuracy of (plus-minus 2% of Full Scale) 2. Where will the gas detector be located? Answer: LPG is heavier than air, therefore it will se le on the ground level, therefore we need to install it 6 inches or 1 foot from the ground. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
19
Expert Talk
The Indenite In January 2020 the World Health Organiza on (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new corona virus disease in Hubei Province, China to be a Public Health Emergency of Interna onal concern. WHO stated there is a high risk of the 2019 corona virus disease (COVID 2019) spreading to other countries around the world. WHO and public health authori es around the world are taking ac on to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Source: World Health Organisa on
As there is no vaccine yet & according to American authori es a vaccine remains atleast 12-18 months away, the risk of infec on will loom over everyone even when authori es across the globe li the lockdown nevertheless with specific guidelines for specific areas with no case for few weeks may see some relaxa ons from safety perspec ve of ci zens, as well as a step forward to boost economy. This can be done by se ng up advisory board to help guide & lay country's strategy to re-open businesses amid the pandemic. As this pandemic of COVID 2019 outbreak grew demanding unprecedented lockdown across the globe it pushed global economy into deeper decline, the repercussions are being felt more strongly with every passing day and despite the unprecedented steps and cumula ve efforts undertaken by governments, businesses and individuals across the globe to stem its growth, the virus con nues to play havoc causing loss of life and diversely hi ng businesses, industries, ver cals across the globe. It is the wri ng on the wall that the ongoing COVID 2019 outbreak will impact businesses across the globe as well as Indian businesses. Slowdown of businesses & employers facing business 20
con nuity crisis will lead to salary cuts, leave reduc on, reduc on in manpower, Lay-Offs, a way to cut costs as a saving measure & moreover as a survival tool, thereby jobs are at high risk as the Covid 2019 pandemic plays a havoc. Over the last few weeks this pandemic crisis has caused an unprecedented collapse in economic ac vi es all over the world, thereby throwing the global economy in deeper decline. Amid the outbreak of COVID 2019 pandemic threat, what lays in pipeline are a slew of serious and some mes unprecedented challenges for organiza ons, including global supply chain disrup ons, increase in trade barriers, travel restric ons, a possible liquidity crunch, and a shi ing consumer mindset. The outbreak, which has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed more than 180,000 globally, has also crippled manufacturing, shu ng factories and upending supply chains. Source: Economic Times, 23rd April 2020
Further, according to the World Bank's assessment, India is expected to grow 1.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent. And IMF projected a GDP growth of 1.9 per cent for India in 2020 because the global economy is affected by the COVID pandemic, the worst recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Also, we can't ignore that the lockdown and pandemic hit several sectors including MSME, hospitality, civil avia on, agriculture and allied sector. According to KPMG, the lockdown in India will have a sizeable impact on the economy mainly on consump on which is the biggest component of GDP. In terms of trade, China is the world's largest exporter and second-largest importer. It accounts for 13% of world exports and 11% of world imports. Up to a large extent, it will impact the Indian industry. In imports, the dependence
Ar. Shrreyash Sarmalkar Architect I Interior & Tex le Designer Project Management & Safety Professional
of India on China is huge. Of the top 20 products that India imports from the world, China accounts for a significant share in most of them. India's total electronic imports account for 45% of China. Around one-third of machinery and almost two-fi hs of organic chemicals that India purchases from the world come from China. For automo ve parts and fer lisers China's share in India's import is more than 25%. Around 65 to 70% of ac ve pharmaceu cal ingredients and around 90% of certain mobile phones come from China to India. Therefore, we can say that due to the current outbreak of corona virus in China, the import dependence on China will have a significant impact on the Indian industry. Source: Jagran Josh
The Ministry of Health & Family th Welfare in its 30 April 2020 update said that 33,050 have been tested posi ve for Covid 2019. There have been 1074 deaths & 8,324 have been cured in India. Source: The Hindu.
In my last ar cle, 'On High Alert' published in the same magazine April 2020 edi on the count was less than 300 infected at the me I wrote the ar cle in mid-March 2020. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
Today the count seems to have increased mul -fold, but thanks to the mely decision of Lockdown taken by our Government in later part of March 2020 which in many parts is s ll underway & further extensions may be required subject to severity of the pandemic. As the 40-day na onwide lockdown nears an end, the economy is staring at a precipice. Swiss bank UBS on Wednesday projected the country's economy to contract 3.1% if mobility restric ons stay in place un l endJune and economic ac vity returns to normal by end-August. Source: Live Mint
Impact on Agriculture sector In India lockdown has affected rural economy dras cally which is currently under stress leading to looming credit crisis. Unseasonal rainfall has damaged the crops. As regards to seasonal fruit growers, market disrup on is a bigger threat than the virus. Transporta on challenges & disrup on in wholesale markets adds to rural distress. To add to the wounds in remote areas of India, there is a looming food crisis which may result in hunger deaths if not addressed well in me. Impact on Pharmaceutical sector Despite being one of the top formula ons of drug exporters in the world, the pharma industry of India relies heavily on import as of bulk drugs. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, it will also be impacted. Source: Entrepreneur, 14th April 2020
Impact on Retail sector With lockdown across the world, has led to an unique situa on where there is demand as far as essen als are concerned, subdued demand in some niche areas, and big challenges May 2020 - www.safesecuremagazine.com
in the luxury items segment, and we are likely to see several retailers down their shu ers while many others will be severely challenged on opera ng margins and models. Source: Entrepreneur, 14th April 2020
Impact on Realty sector With produc on at a stands ll challenges such as material availability & sourcing, manpower availability may be a concern in ini al period post lockdown is li ed ci ng fear of ge ng infected, labours may avoid travelling back to their work loca ons soon. As few daily wages workers have fled to their na ve places are nearly insurmountable & many are eyeing for relaxa on of travel norms to start for their na ve places. With residen al projects in execu on stages requiring addi onal me for comple on & delay on property sale will result in Builders facing liquidity crunch. This will be subject to out of box thinking, the withstanding & fund raising capabili es of builders in current crisis situa on and post Covid 2019 world. Dip in sale of residen al & commercial proper es will be a common scene which may see light post a year or more. A rac ng customers with customer centric genuine schemes, lucra ve offers & heavy discounts, ease of payments, distress sale in turn resul ng in steady conversion rate, can be among few of the solu ons towards survival in the post Covid 2019 world. One can even see customers postponing their purchases for new residences for minimum a year or so. On the other hand, demand for commercial real estate may fall & require quite some me to even reach pre Covid 2019 due to the fact that more & more companies will adapt to working from home culture from the staff safety perspec ve to support the
business con nuity plans effec vely, which in a way could dwarve their short term requirement of physical office spaces. Reduc on in rentals for exis ng tenants in commercial proper es can be a solu on to support the companies trying hard to steady themselves. Impact on Supply Chain sector Massive disrup ons in supply chain due to the pandemic spread origina ng from China which is a major player in supply chain sector across the globe. Impact on Core Services sector The situa on in Italy, Spain, the US or China worsened further due to the essen al services providers such as medical professionals, nurses and forces being impacted by the virus. The top countries lacked inves ng on medical facili es. This is also visible in some of the newer impacted areas like India as well. Impact on Travel, Tourism & Hospitality sectors With avia on, hotels, restaurants, bars and other leisure op ons closed, holidays cancelled and travel restricted, the situa on in the services industry is dire. Resul ng in revenue impact on avia on & tourism sectors. These sectors may require more me to stabilize. Impact on Automobile sector With lockdown restric ons auto industry has come to a halt. Dip in produc on, less orders both resul ng in sales curve dipping too. Its impact on Indian companies will vary and depend upon the extent of the business with China. China's business no doubt is affected. Impact on Electronics sector The major supplier is China in electronics being a final product or raw material used in the electronic industry. India's electronic industry may face supply disrup ons, 21
produc on, reduc on impact on product prices due to heavy dependence on electronics component supply directly or indirectly and local manufacturing. Source: Entrepreneur, 14th April 2020
Impact on Textiles sector Due to corona virus outbreak, several garments/ tex le factories in China have halted opera ons that in turn affec ng the exports of fabric, yarn and other raw materials from India. In India manpower availability may be a concern in ini al period post lockdown is li ed ci ng fear of ge ng infected labours may avoid travelling back to their work loca ons soon. There may be as many as One crore job cuts in Tex le industry without government support & revival package, says CMAI. Further with around 80% of the garment industry mostly micro, small & medium enterprises, CMAI which have around 3700 members employing over 7 lakh people, said most of its members do not have the kind of reserves to see them through 3-6 months of this magnitude. In China, a er the markets opened post Covid 2019 crisis, the apparel garment retailing has witnessed a 59% decline. [CMAI: Clothing Manufacturers Associa on of India]. Source: Economic Times. Research Source: World Health Organisa on, Economic Times, Live Mint, Jagran Josh, Entrepreneur, The Hindu.
With the rate of unemployment in our country already at a high in pre - Covid 2019 period, during & post Covid 2019 this will further go up. In this fight for survival, a ba le where we are unaware of the me it will last & how we can shape up in future. Going forward a lot will be required to survive this pandemic current scenario, post Covid 2019 world & start recovering. Although the recovery may take 2021 to see light, our government has to align few very important plans for carving a future growth on every front in 22
our march towards stability & success. Prepare a risk management & mi ga on plan. Prepare a con ngency plan. Prepare plan to safe guard common man, businesses, ver cals, domains across industries from Legal impacts. Restructuring of few exis ng plans considering the pandemic crisis resul ng in economic decline. To avoid seeing a permanent impairment of a large sec on of the industry, which may lose the opportunity to come back to life again, on top most priority Government has to announce substan ve economic packages, subsidies for SME's, Ac on plans for people losing jobs over a period which well have commenced from March 2020 and this pa ern may be seen atleast ll 2020 year end. Prepare recovery model prototypes. Prepare ac on & survival plans for the people in middle class sec on who have been the torch bearers as genuine tax payers and are pushed in tremendous economic decline during this pandemic crisis It is of paramount importance to prepare a revival plan for farmers, people under poverty line, businesses, domains, ver cals across industries. A clear focus on ensuring job con nuity and job crea on will be highly impera ve. Prepare a plan for deferring of statutory payments. Government should announce fresh exemp ons and prepare ac on plans with correc ve measures for smooth business con nuity. There is urgent need to mobilise resources to
s mulate the economy for increased demand and employment. Global crisis and the lockdown restric on due to pandemic of COVID 2019 across the globe, stalwarts across industries, ver cals, domains and businesses are trying to find out innova ve ways of doing business to support their respec ve organiza ons in this hard crisis situa on. It is a ma er of few weeks or months for organisa ons to look at the next steps and the best ways to remain ac ve in the market with current scenario. Without pinpoin ng on what are the varied changes that could come in, few posi ves of the COVID 2019 scenario has been exposing us to the possibili es of remote working across industries, ver cals, domains and businesses, such as working from home to being employee focus , working with limited strength, etc., and if sustained in the post COVID 2019 world, this trend will lead to a renewed focus on environment-friendly opera ng principles. Be er air quality is seen in absence of pollu on due to lockdown in India. Some economies may adopt de-risking strategies and shi their manufacturing bases from China. This can create opportuni es for India, all subject to how quickly the economy recovers and the pace at which the supply chain issues are addressed, nevertheless with paramount support from Government. The current ongoing pandemic outbreak scenario could be very well the trigger for some of the 'Out of Box Thinking' coming at play soon. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
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Videonetics Launches ‘SAJAG’ World’s First AI & DL Powered Video Analytics Based Pandemic Management Suite Empowering COVID-19 Warriors Videone cs launches world’s first video analy cs based Pandemic Management Suite ‘SAJAG’ powered by its AI & DL framework, commits to empower C O V I D-19 warriors and crusaders by delivering ac onable intelligence with in-depth insights to combat spread of the novel coronavirus.
is intelligent enough to classify types of face covers such as mask or any other objects such as cloth, scarf so on. In addi on, it also detects health workers with or without “Personal Protec ve Equipment” at health care facili es like hospitals & nursing homes.
Videone cs SAJAG has been 4. Detec on of Vehicles of trained with real- me video Interest: data to address real-world The so ware provides challenges pertaining to unique feature of detec ng COVID-19 such as social vehicles of interest such as distancing, queue and crowd unauthorised vehicles management, Masks & plying on the road without PPE detec on, iden fying due permissions vehicles of interest to name a few. The video analy cs based 5. Integra on of Body Pandemic Management Suite Temperature Detec on has been efficiently scaled up to act as a true decision support Camera: system to not only reduce Number of camera incidents of infec ous disease, manufacturers proposed to in current situa on, but also bring ‘fever detec on' ensuring compliance with SAJAG: The Video Analytics based Pandemic Management Suite cameras to fight coronavirus. guidelines post the lockdown. comprises: Videone cs is offering its API to integrate such cameras Expressing on the launch, 1. Social Distancing Management: with its Intelligent VMS. Dr. Tinku Acharya, Fellow IEEE, Videone cs ‘Social Distancing Management’ technology automa cally Fusion of such thermal Founder & MD, Videone cs calculates the distance between two neighbouring persons in real me as camera with visual imagery said, “I am proud that we are the well as average distance between them within the field of view (FOV). If two can become another tool to World’s first company to unveil or more people violate predefined social distancing norm, authori es will iden f y people in the AI & DL powered Pandemic get an alert of the incident. It is also seamlessly integrated with a sta s cal crowd with symptoms of Management Suite to vanquish analysis tool to evaluate and monitor social-distancing compliance within possible corona infec on and fight against COVID-19. the FOV during certain interval and use the data to aid decision making of and track these people Built for tough environmental the authority. within the crowd. Videone cs condi ons, SAJAG has mul Intelligent Video Analy cs faceted applica ons which will 2. Queue and Crowd Management: can play a vital role in certainly equip on-ground team Videone cs Queue and Crowd Management is now enhanced with social this applica on, par cularly as well as stakeholders at command control center to distancing norms. The places like airports, shopping malls and railway in airports, railway sta ons, improve response management sta ons etc are the areas wherein Queue & Crowd Management can help bus sta ons, supermarkets, malls and other crowded and help in taking precau onary providing ac onable intelligence in such cri cal situa ons. places to fight the measures in saving lives of ci zens as well as their own 3. Masks & PPE Detec on: coronavirus and manage It iden fies human faces in real me who are not wearing masks. The system pandemic. lives.” 24
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FIREFIGHTERS JOIN THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19 Not just police and health ofcials, but even ofcers of the Fire and Rescue Services Department in the district are working overtime to carry out Covid-19 prevention activities in the district. Not just Police and Health Officials, but even officers of the Fire and Rescue Services Department in the district are working over me to carry out Covid-19 preven on ac vi es in the district. Their work has increased as summer is at its peak increasing the likelihood of fire-related accidents. S ll, the officers carried out more than 2,293 disinfec on and decontamina on ac vi es in this tenure of the lockdown. As per the data with the department, more than 1,016 decontamina on ac vi es were carried out at Public 26
Places, Including ATMs, Market, FCI Godowns, Bus Stands and Railway Sta ons in the district in the past two months. Around more than 123 decontamina on drives were held in hospitals. Isola ons wards and quaran ne areas were decontaminated 25 mes, while vehicles transpor ng essen al goods were disinfected several mes. The officers also delivered medicines to elderly persons and delivered food from community kitchens also helped transport pa ents to hospitals in
ambulances. Many fire officers were roped in for the various ac vi es. Meanwhile, fire sta ons in the district are stretched out thin as there is a rise in fire-related mishaps in the summer. The Fire sta on, which has two fire tenders and a limited number of officials, doused fires, including the one that broke out at a waste dumping yard. The en re team has to be on high alert as a large number of fire-related accidents are reported between February and April. In most cases, dry grass in remote places catches fire. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
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Temperature Screening Solution: Helping to Monitor Temperature in Unsure Times Submi ed by Prama Hikvision India Keeping people safe and healthy in unsure mes is a very modern challenge. Authori es and companies alike are scrambling to find ways to help manage this and reduce risks. Hikvision offers temperature screening solu ons to help them build processes and infrastructures to prevail. Taking the temperature of the situa on Temperature is an important indicator of physical health. In many scenarios, people with abnormal temperatures could have a health issue. To have a proper effect, it's crucial that this is detected and monitored quickly and accurately. But tradi onal methods of temperature measurement are me-consuming and can put operators at risk. At mes like these, technology can provide an efficient alterna ve. With advanced detectors and algorithms, Hikvision's Temperature screening Thermographic Cameras are designed to detect elevated skin-surface temperatures. This means they can be used for rapid and preliminary temperature screening in hospitals, sta ons, airports and other public places. The cameras have an accuracy rate of up to ±0.5°C, giving a valuable indica on of which persons should be further tested for fever. It takes just one second to detect a person's skin-surface temperature, and the system can measures mul ple people at the same me. This means it is efficient in an entrance, for example, where a number of people will be passing at the same me. The use of AI technology means non-human heat sources, for example a hot coffee, are ignored, reducing false alarms. Once a person is iden fied by the camera as having a higher skin-surface temperature, they can be flagged for further measurement. The system can also be useful to monitor a situa on, providing useful anonymous data from a safe distance suppor ng end users' poten al analysis or research. All this is also achieved with fewer people, not only making it easier to manage and more efficient but also reducing the overall risk of unnecessary exposure. 28
Flexible Solu ons Hikvision's thermal por olio has a number of op ons to help with temperature screening. For example, a Turret/Bullet Camera with AI combined with iVMS 4200, a laptop and a bracket can be used as a quick solu on that can be easily and quickly installed. For higher accuracy, a solu on with a Blackbody calibrator gives an accuracy of ±0.3°C. There's also a more mobile op on, using a Handheld Camera that can connect to a smart phone or PC through wifi to a Hik-Thermal app. This also features a built-in speaker for audio alarm. There are also solu ons that combine temperature screening with access control, allowing lobbies to be monitored and, if necessary, people measuring above a certain skin-surface temperature refused entry un l they are double-checked by alterna ve methods. It's important to remember that Hikvision's temperature screening thermographic cameras are designed for the detec on of skin-surface temperatures so as to achieve rapid preliminary screening in public areas. Actual core body temperatures should be further confirmed using clinical measurement devices. This is just one element of a complex infrastructure to overcome challenges in unsure mes. It can also give managers and researchers useful informa on, collected in a safe manner. Hikvision is commi ed to developing technologies to empower vision for decision-makers and prac oners, and enhance safety and advance sustainable development around the world.
For more informa on visit: www.hikvisionindia.com May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
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GLOBAL NEWS
INTERSCHUTZ Postponed By One Year - New Date In June 2021
INTERSCHUTZ, which was scheduled for June 2020, will be postponed by one year. This is the mutual decision of the organizers and partners of the world's leading trade fair for fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security. The reason is the COVID 19, which directly affects both exhibitors and visitors of INTERSCHUTZ and requires them to be available for duty at other locations. INTERSCHUTZ will now th th take place from 14 to 19 June 2021 in Hannover. About three months before the actual start of the event, it is now certain that the next INTERSCHUTZ will take place in summer 2021. "The people who under ordinary conditions would have come to INTERSCHUTZ in June this year are precisely those who are most needed due to the coronavirus crisis," says Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Managing Board, Deutsche Messe AG. "As INTERSCHUTZ, we are part of the industry. With our decision, we therefore take responsibility and provide security in planning". 30
More than 150,000 visitors from all over the world attend INTERSCHUTZ. However, in times of pandemic, helpers and rescuers are needed to maintain supplies and security. The same applies to exhibiting emergency aid organizations or authorities with security tasks whose capacities are needed elsewhere. But also exhibitors from the industry are directly or indirectly involved in the crisis situation, such as manufacturers of protective equipment, suppliers of digital deployment technology or even vehicle manufacturers whose customers cannot or are not allowed to visit a trade fair in this situation. "We were on an excellent path - and we are aiming for a strong INTERSCHUTZ," says Gruchow. "Under the current conditions, however, this is not possible. We therefore would like to wish all the players and the entire INTERSCHUTZ community all the best and every strength for the tasks ahead. We will see each other in Hannover in June 2021, where we will have the opportunity to take a detailed
and analytical look at the pandemic - and what we can learn from it". Postponing a trade fair on the scale of INTERSCHUTZ has an enormous number of organizational consequences. The 29th German Firefighters' Day will also be postponed until next year: "The synergy between the trade fair and the top firefighters' meeting is important to us the postponement is a joint decision," explains Hermann Schreck, permanent representative of the President of the German Firefighters' Association (DFV). The most important questions arising from such a postponement for exhibitors and visitors of INTERSCHUTZ will be published in an FAQ on the INTERSCHUTZ homepage. Further questions will be clarified via the usual communication channels. INTERSCHUTZ has a network of strong partners who have also voted for a postponement and who will now work with Deutsche Messe to set the course for a successful event in June 2021. May 2020 - www.visionmediahitech.com
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