PREVENTING DRINKING WATER OUTBREAKS-OPERATORS CONVERTING HINDSIGHT INTO FORESIGHT

摘要

Fortunately, drinking waterborne outbreaks are relatively rare in affluent countries, but they occur more commonly than generally recognized and the causes of these failures are also too common.' Because of the low frequency of occurrence, most frontline drinking water personnel (operators, managers, regulators and public health personnel) are unlikely to experience disaster first-hand and are even less likely to have a second chance to do things right after experiencing a major disaster. Under these circumstances it seems only sensible to make experience from past failures available, accessible and meaningful for the majority of frontline personnel so that they can learn from the negative experiences of others and be better prepared to deal with an unfolding disaster if one should begin on their watch. Case studies are an effective teaching method in a wide variety of occupational settings and they should be especially effective for frontline water personnel because they can teach preventive actions by: 1.Adding personalisation and reality to the learning material (i.e. imagine this happening to you) 2.Adapting case study facts to represent local circumstances 3.Relying on the basic good intentions of personnel to avoid doing harm to their family, friends and neighbours through contamination of their community water supply.