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Home My WebLink About2013-09-26 Board of Health Agenda Packet North Andover Board of Health Meeting Agenda Thursday, September 26, 2013 7:00 p.m. 120 Main Street,2°d Floor Selectmen's Meeting Room North Andover, MA 01845 I. CALL TO ORDER IT. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Ill. PUBLIC HEARINGS TV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Meeting minutes from August 22,2013 to be presented for signature. V. OLD BUSINESS V1. NEW BUSINESS A. 285 Rea Street—homeowner with failed system requests support for approval of building permit to finish the basement prior to septic system approval. B. Designation by the BOH of Joyce Bradshaw,Patricia Sifferlen,Karen Fitzgibbons and Suzanne Pelich, from the Town of North Andover's Clerk's Office, as Burial Agents for the MA death registration system. This will allow them to continue the issuance of burial permits at the Town Clerk's Office located at 120 Main Street. V11. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSION A. Senior flu clinics Monday,9/30/13 1:00-3:00 pm and Tuesday, 10/15/13 8:30-10:30 am at Senior Center B. Family flu clinic Monday, 10/21/13 5:00-7:00 pm at High School Field House C. Update of fish consumption advisory at Lake Cochichewick. D. Discussion of recent Blood Drive on 9/23/13. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE/NEWSLETTERS Ix. ADJOURNMENT 2013 North Andover Board of Health Meeting—Meeting Agenda Page I of 1 Note: The Board of Health reserves the right to take items out of order and to discuss and/or vote on items that are not listed on the agenda. Board of Health Members: Thomas Trowbridge,DDS,MD,Chairman;Larry Fi:xler,Member/Clerl<;Francis P.MacMillan,Jr., M.D.;Joseph McCarthy,Member; Edwin Pease,Member Health Department Staff:Susan Sawyer,Health Director; Debra Rillahan,Public Health Nurse;Michele Grant,Public Health Inspector;Lisa Blackburn,Health Department Assistant u RECOVED q'AL11..p D G'"M °dV8& uR° I 9/12/13 Board of Health North Andover, MA We would like to be included on the meeting agenda of the Board of Health scheduled for 9/26/13, to discuss the progress and intent of the Septic Design being done for 285 Rea St. We would also like to discuss the feasibility of getting BOH approval for a building permit contingent on installing the approved system, prior to the system actually being installed. We are currently in the middle of one portion of the work at 285 Rea St., with a second large portion of the work needing a permit to continue. The new septic system is being sized to accommodate the new work and room count. Thank you for your consideration. Matt Bendle Project Manager 508-265-3844 Burial& Cremation Page 1 of 3 i 1 The Official Website of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services(EOHHS) Health and Human Services x Departments&Divisions Home Government Departments Public Health Bureaus and Programs Environmental Health Community Sanitation Burial&Cremation Burial &Cremation J These are guidelines on the issuance of burial permits and disposition of human remains. Introduction and Overview Death Certificates Burial Permits Cremation Burial Containers/Outer Burial Containers Transportation Preparing the Body Organ and Body Donation References Introduction and Overview Individuals caring for their own dead are encouraged to plan carefully and communicate in advance with any facilities and agencies that may be dealt with such as the hospital,hospice,nursing home,board of health,crematory or cemetery)to ensure no difficulties will be encountered due to confusion about the law.Legally,there are generally two options for disposition of a body-cremation or burial in an approved cemetery.Cremation must occur in a crematory licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection,and burial must occur in a cemetery approved by the local board of health. Death Certificates Prior to moving a deceased person,a Standard Certificate of Death(R-301)also known as a death certificate,obtained from and signed by a licensed physician is required.If a Registered Nurse Pronouncement of Death Form(R-312)is used to move the remains initially,a death certificate,signed by a licensed physician,must still be obtained.Authorized persons other than funeral directors who intend to obtain the burial permit must complete items No.1-28 of the death certificate,the portion that is usually filled out by a funeral director.It should be noted that all responsibilities and obligations of funeral directors are the responsibility of an individual in charge of the disposition of the body including timely reporting and filing of death certificates and permits.When completing the form,the name of the individual in charge of the arrangements and obtaining the burial permit should be listed in item No.24(Funeral Service Licensee),while the words"other individual" should be listed in item No.25(license#).Item No.28a/b(Name and Address of Facility)should be completed by entering the residential address of the individual identified in items No.24-25.These items will be amended when the current supply of forms has been exhausted. Burial Permits Whenever possible,individuals seeking a burial permit for private disposal of a body should notify the burial agent of the city or town before death occurs and explain that a burial permit will be sought. A burial permit is issued by the local board of health or its agent(often the town clerk)in the town where death occurred, even if cremation or burial will take place in another town.A complete death certificate,with a Registered Nurse Pronouncement of Death form,where applicable,must be submitted to the burial agent prior to issuance of the permit (M.G.L.c.114,s.45).As soon as possible(preferably within 36 hours after death)a burial permit must be obtained.It is legal to transport a body within the same town or city(from a Boston hospital to a home in Boston,for example)after receiving the death certificate but before obtaining a burial permit.However,a burial permit must be obtained before transporting a body across the town or city line. Cremation For cremation,an additional certificate from the medical examiner stating that he has viewed the body and that no further examination or judicial inquiry concerning the same is necessary(M.G.L.c.114,s.44).Such authorization is for the protection of the deceased,because once a body is cremated all evidence of possible crime destroyed.Some crematories will hold a body under refrigeration for all or part of this period,provided they have room.The crematory will arrange for the medial examiner who will complete the required document after viewing the body. I http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/comm-s... 9/19/2013 Burial & Cremation Page 2 of 3 Upon burial or cremation,the person in charge of the cemetery or crematorium will countersign the burial permit and return it to the issuing municipality.Cremation must be carried out in a facility approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.Unless the death has been attributed to a communicable disease,cremation cannot occur until 48 hours after death. Burial There is no requirement to hold a body before burial.Burial can take place as soon as the cemetery is ready and must take place in an approved municipal or private cemetery approved by the local board of health.There is no restriction as to the disposition of ashes once cremation had occurred,however if the ashes are to be buried in a cemetery,a burial permit must be provided to the cemetery. It should be noted that in the case of violent or unexplained death,the body must be turned over to a medical examiner or coroner and may be kept several days,which gives the family time to make preparations. If death occurs in Massachusetts,but families wish to transport the body to another state for disposition,families should contact the health authorities for those states the body will pass through for specific requirements. Containers/Outer Burial Containers M.G.L.c.114,s.44A requires a body to be place in a"suitable receptacle"in order to be cremated.The body should be placed in a rigid container lined with plastic sheeting to prevent leakage of body fluids.The use of a simple covered box allows for some dignity for all Involved in the handling and moving of a body,regardless of final disposition.A simple container,often made out of strong cardboard,sometimes with a plywood base,designed to be destroyed during cremation and often called an"alternative container,"can be obtained from a crematory or funeral director. Most cemeteries require that the container be placed inside a concrete grave liner to prevent the ground from subsiding. These may be purchased from some cemeteries or at a funeral home.Most cemeteries do not permit anyone other than their own staff to open or fill a grave. Transportation There are existing state regulations governing transportation of a body specifically pertaining to licensed funeral directors. The are no such regulations governing the transportation of a body by non-funeral directors.Regardless,the length of the box for transporting a body should be considered in choosing the vehicle for transportation to ensure the dignity of the body is preserved. Preparing the Body Time is an obvious constraint when preparing a body for burial.Nursing homes and hospitals often want a body removed immediately,even in the middle of the night.It is important to plan ahead whenever possible. Many people who are involved in the care of their loved one's body after death were involved in their care and comfort before death.The common sense measures to prevent spread of infection in persons who need nursing and other care before death should apply after death as well.Measures are good hygiene,avoidance of direct contact with body fluids, and most importantly,good handwashing. The human body decomposes rapidly after death.Care must be taken to keep the body as cool as possible in order to slow the decomposition that results in noxious odors and the leakage of body fluids from body orifices.A human body can be kept in a cool room for at least 24 hours before decomposition begins.Heat in the room should be turned off I the winter, and air conditioning should be turned on in summer.Ice can be used instead of refrigeration. Individuals who do not have any infections prior to death present little to no infection risk after death.If an individual does have a diagnosis of an infectious disease prior to death,the person's health care provider or the physician signing the death certificate should be consulted regarding any special considerations to prevent infection risk in the handling of the body. Infections are spread from person to person through coughing,sneezing,contaminated hands,intimate contact or through contact with contaminated drainage,blood or body fluids.Thus,many infections are not likely to be transmitted after death unless body fluids containing the infectious agent come in contact with living persons in a way that allows the infections to be passed. Some infections are silent(with no signs or symptoms in the person who is infected),especially infections spread through the blood or other body fluids.Since persons may have blood-borne infections without a diagnosis or without their knowing it all blood and certain other body fluids,regardless of source,should be considered infected and capable of transmitting infection.Barriers,such as rubber gloves,protective clothing and eye protection are used when contact with blood or other potentially hazardous infectious materials is likely.In general,any approach that prevents exposure to blood and body fluids prevents transmission of infection.In fact,exposure of intact skin rarely results in infection,so handwashing is an important way of limiting infection risk. Soiling of the environment or materials with body fluids should be avoided.Soiled equipment,sheets,clothes,etc.should be carried out as they would in the care of a living person who is ill.Disposable materials should be bagged in non-leaking plastic and disposed of in the rubbish.Non-disposable materials should be disinfected.A quarter cup of household bleach In water is a very effective disinfectant. http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/comm-s... 9/19/2013 Burial & Cremation Page 3 of 3 Organ and Body Donation Persons wishing to be an organ donor should obtain a donor card from the Registry of Motor Vehicles,which,after being signed and witnessed,is attached to an individual's drivers license.Individuals wishing to become a body donor should contact a medical or dental school and ask about their donation program.In Massachusetts,donation must be arranged by the donor personally before death.There are some restrictions on the acceptance of bodies to schools.It is important to make alternative plans in case the school is unable to accept the body. References Massachusetts Department of Public Heath Registry of Vital Records and Statistics 150 Mt Vernon St,"Floor Dorchester,MA 02125-3105 617-740-2600 www.mass.gov/dph/rvrs Funeral Consumers Alliance of Eastern MA(serving Eastern and Central Massachusetts) 66 Marlborough Street Boston,MA 02116 617-859-7990 www.FCAEMass.org Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western MA P.O.Box 994 Greenfield,MA 01302 413-774-2320 www.Funera]ConsumersWMass.org Funeral Consumers Alliance 33 Patchen Road So.Burlington,VT 05403 800-765-0107 www.funerals.org Caring for the Dead:Your Final Act of Love(1998) Upper Access Books P.O.Box 457 Hinesburg,VT 05461 802-482-2988 This information is provided by the Community Sanitation Program within the Department of Public Health. 02013 commonwealth of Massachusetts. Accessibility Policy EOHHS Web Feedback EOHHS Site Policies Contact Us Mass.Gov®is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. About This Website http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/comm-s... 9/19/2013 � f�� il"l/�li�l i • �l�l�llll��Il1D��JJJJ��l�� OWN OF NOWFH �p ELDERLY & HIGH FLU CLINICS ; �,..,.�. .,..�.�.w. ,� .w .3 North Andover:Public Health Nurse Debra Rillahan gives John Costel- lo,93,flu shot Photo by Tiffany Shyu/Eagle-Tribune .Senio'r Cen tee° W ear izi `ti t ._,5g .ptemher 30...01 10.00-3-00P112 ly, Octoher 15, 2013 8.30110.00 am AH senior.5 are encouraged to attend d2 e e cIMICS. Please he advised dj at t h ere are to xc flu clinics apt th e North An dcoca Hous'(11gAuthority, cummunities. .._....TE,: Please be, prepared—e As eucry year, residentyaged 65 and older will need to.L jjg,-tIi,cir Medicare Part_�... card or applicable current bea. a h2surance card. "Everyone r and older" 1,'Anyotie with as serious l rr,!-term he lda problem such as- Im--art or lung, disease, c "a etes, asthma', kidneydisease, car bloo c crr r s" 'Ai227 .r7. lr aalrrec rrarrcrrr w � .rrr" 0 1 ,V „ 4j CL cu u a w *� 0 Worth Andover Health Department (ommunity Development Division For Immediate Release PUBLIC HEALTH FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY: LAKE COCHICHEWICK The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has reviewed more recent fish toxics data generated by the Department of Environmental Protection for Lake Cochichewick. Mercury has been detected in fish caught from Lake Cochichewick. The mercury level in smallmouth bass was below the Food and Drug Administration Action Level for mercury of 1.0 mg/kg but within a level that may pose health concerns. Mercury may accumulate in individuals who frequently eat fish contaminated with mercury, thus leading to an increased risk of health effects. Fetuses, nursing infants, and young children are particularly sensitive to the developmental and health problems associated with mercury exposure. Because of health concerns associated with exposure to mercury, MDPH offers the following updated recommendations: RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Children under 12,pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should refrain from consuming largemouth bass and smallmouth bass from Lake Cochichewick to prevent exposure of developing fetuses,nursing infants and young children to mercury. 2. The general public should limit consumption of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass caught from Lake Cochichewick to two meals per month. For more information contact: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health(617) 624-5757 August, 2013 1600 Osgood Street,Bldg 20 Unit 2035,North Andover,Massachusetts 01845 Phone 978.688.9540 Fax 978.688.8476 Web www.townofnorthandover.com IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII a I � h'� I I�I�II�III�I�I�IIII II U I�I�IIIII�I I I�II01�11 IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII� IIIIIIII�� I�IIIIVI° IIII III III Illllllu IIII � IIII u IIII Illlllllllui II alai ip illll pl IIII u� Mu �� n °�� N ��N uu uu uu uuuuuu�uuu a uu'uVuuuuuu��uuuuuuuuuuuu '',.�VF u�w� uuuuu � ��,� �, �i � �, '. �, "��,� uglp,IV uuuu a uum uullllllllpllu Illu I Ilu Illlllllli,ppp I III�IIII��I� II I��IIII�I ��i I� ill�l��llllllllll�l�llll �l IIII ��IIIII�IIIIIIIIIIII i III