Legionella is a bacterium that causes a type of serious lung infection known as Legionnaires’ disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health departments reported approximately 6,100 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States in 2016. Unfortunately, about 10  percent of people diagnosed with this disease will die – with the majority of fatalities occurring among the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Legionella thrives in a narrow temperature range that includes the human body temperature. And since the symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to other illnesses, it is likely underdiagnosed and the true number of cases underestimated by the CDC. Due to the large number of Legionella cases each year and the resulting personnel and economic costs, Legionella    water management programs are now an industry standard for large buildings in the U.S. Continue Reading →

Lead has been one of the most important and widely-used metals in construction for thousands of years.  Successive societies have dealt with the numerous acute and chronic health consequences of occupational exposure to lead for just as long. Despite its widespread availability and useful characteristics – historically used in construction materials such as plumbing materials, surface coatings, roofing materials, etc. – the United States has recognized lead as a dangerous substance. Although the Consumer Product Safety  Council has banned the use of lead-containing paint in residences since 1978, lead-based paints and surface coatings are still used in outdoor applications, especially on large steel structures for its anti-corrosion and rust properties. The toxic properties of lead have spawned some innovation for material substitution, but lead remains in many new building materials and products as well.

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After several years, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is still waiting for approval of its proposed regulatory changes to the Lockout/ Tagout (LO/TO) Standard (1910.147). First proposed in 2012, and then again at the end of 2016, the former administration attempted to make the changes under OSHA’s Standards Improvement Project-Phase IV (“SIP IV”)¹. These changes are still pending under the current administration.

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On June 23, 2018, new standards for silica exposure became effective for all operations in general industry as well as in maritime. The standards for the construction industry went into effect last year on September 23. So what does this mean for employers whose workplaces have exposure to crystalline silica? Continue Reading →

School indoor air quality (IAQ) affects the health, performance and comfort of school staff and students. Routine classroom and school activities – such as art, biology and chemistry – can contribute to indoor pollutants. Normal cleaning and sanitizing of school buildings can release particulates and hydrocarbons. In newly-constructed school facilities, exposure to indoor air pollutants has increased due to a variety of factors – including construction of tightly-sealed buildings; reduced ventilation rates to save energy; off-gassing from synthetic building materials and furnishings, such as medium density fiberboard; use of personal care products; and increased use of vehicles and power equipment within and around the buildings. Aging and poorly-maintained school facilities are also affected by some of these issues, as building materials decay and water infiltration can lead to fungal growth.

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There is renewed concern for the quality of indoor air both in the workplace and the home environments. Many indoor air contaminants – including formaldehyde – can pose serious human health risks. Continue Reading →

The United States experienced several large hurricanes over the past few years, resulting in loss of life and billions of dollars in property damage. Hurricane force winds damaged roofs, building envelopes, and electrical power distribution systems. Overwhelmed and obstructed public drainage systems allowed falling rainwater to accumulate and flood the lower levels of residential and commercial facilities. For most of these hurricane events, the rapid moisture intrusion, combined with the inability to remove and/or dehumidify the water-damaged building materials, resulted in odors and visible mold inside of wall cavities, on building interior surfaces, and on contents. Some of these damaged facilities were addressed promptly and properly, however many were not. This edition of HETI Horizons discusses the residual effect on indoor air quality (IAQ) that may occur when insufficient remediation efforts are conducted to address large water intrusion events.

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If you heard the chemical names PFOA or PFOS, you may not recognize them. They are better known by the products in which they are found – Teflon™, Gore-Tex™, Scotch Guard™ and many other commercial goods. Over the past ten years, these chemicals have become recognized as serious environmental pollutants and human health hazards.

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By now, most employers and industry environmental health & safety (EHS) professionals should be familiar with the general requirements of the Global Harmonized System (GHS) and how it affects the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) update. However, being familiar does not always directly translate into being compliant and/or having the needed understanding of these requirements.

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Winter is in full force and with it comes ice and snow-laden roadways that create hazardous travel conditions. For many years, U.S. municipalities have turned to use of “road salt” (sodium chloride) as a cost-effective solution that provides a first line of defense to minimize vehicular and pedestrian accidents. More than 20 million tons of road salt were reportedly spread on U.S. roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways last year – attempting to lower the melting point of ice. Three times as much salt is used on roadways as is consumed through food. Unfortunately, road salt usage has spiraled out of control. Usage has increased dramatically to almost “unlimited” use – with the mantra, ‘the more the better”. But with overuse comes unintended damages and potential long-term environmental impacts – requiring balancing the economic and social benefits and short-term safety risks with long-term acute and permanent consequences to the environment. Continue Reading →