Safety And Health

Health and Safety Are Affected By Policy

Whether we realize it or not, each of us is affected daily by public policy issues and decisions. When we buy a product at the store, drive a vehicle or just go about our daily business, we are in some way influenced by public policy. Laws, regulations and public mandates are the direct result of public issue analysis and resolution, and these impact our lives every day.

Review what you have done today and identify any of those activities that may have involved or been influenced by a public policy decision. When you showered or bathed and brushed your teeth, there could very well be local ordinances in place that control water and sewage. If you ate breakfast the nutrition labels on cereal boxes, bread products, milk, juice, etc. came about as a result of public issues. There are food and drug inspections of meat and poultry products. Cooking your breakfast required energy, and there are policies and rules that address the safe use of gas and electricity.

If you traveled by car or truck, there are auto production and emission standards. There are laws regarding the use of seat belts, air bags and child restraints. There are driving laws, including speed limits. If you went for a walk through the park, there are regulations for your safety and for protection of the property. If you watched TV, municipalities control cable rights of way and award cable franchises.

From this incomplete list of activities most of us are involved in every day day, it is evident that there are local, state and federal government decisions that have been put in place with our health and safety in mind. Many of the decisions come about as a result of someone being injured -physically, mentally or financially - and others vowing that no one else should have to experience similar devastation.

Legislation on social services, education, childcare, housing, nutrition, consumer rights, product safety and the environment affects all of us. Local, state or federal government makes and administers rules and regulations to improve the safety of everyone. Governments also provide direct services that families or individuals could not afford on their own.

Governmental regulations may include laws to protect the health and safety of children in child care and in the schools, safety regulations for nursing homes and hospitals, standards for education and training for health care providers, and safety standards for food and medicines. Governmental services support the public welfare, such as health programs, aid to the needy, disaster relief, fire/police/military protection, streets and education.

The media keeps us posted on new legislation being considered, particularly when the legislature is in session. And not all of the new laws or policies are agreeable with all of us. Public policies can both help and hinder people by expanding or restricting resources. Public policy should not add to problems. It is up to families, groups and individuals to ensure that policies support people and family life.

The late Paul Simon, a former two-term U.S. Senator from Illinois, founded the bipartisan Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in 1997. The Public Policy Institute acts on significant and controversial issues impacting the region, the state, the nation and the world. For example the institute has been tackling one of the most important issues we are facing - health care. Many of these organizations are considered "think tanks," which is not a title that aptly describes the SIU institute. Paul Simon spoke often of his institute as a "do tank" because it seeks and achieves positive results and concrete actions based on its work. For more information go to www.siu.edu/~ppi/.

Ruby Lingle is an Extension Educator, Community and Economic Development, located at the Springfield Center and can be reached at P.O. Box 8199, Springfield, IL 62791; (217) 782-6515. E-mail: rlingle@uiuc.edu.

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