Tuesday, January 15, 2008 — Vapor IntrusionWhat is vapor intrusion? Why is it now a concern? Is occupant health affected? Are there risk-assessment criteria? According to the EPA, “Vapor intrusion is the migration of volatile chemicals from the subsurface into overlying buildings. Volatile chemicals in buried wastes and/or contaminated groundwater can emit vapors that may migrate through subsurface soils and into indoor air spaces of overlying buildings in ways similar to that of radon gas seeping into homes.” As w...
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Friday, August 31, 2007 — Asbestos Operations and ManagementIf you operate a building built before 1980, you may have asbestos-containing materials that must be managed. These may include floor tiles, mastic, pipe insulation, fittings on fiberglass-insulated pipes, transite panels, roofing materials, and others. If the building was built before 1973, there may be surfacing materials such as spray-applied fireproofing, acoustical plaster, and other friable materials. Many of these materials may be hidden or enclosed under...
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Sunday, April 15, 2007 — Legionella Bacteria Prevention PlanningLegionella bacteria can be found in a variety of naturally occurring sources (e.g., soils, ponds and streams) in addition to man-made sources such as cooling towers, potable water systems, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Legionella bacteria are present in public and well water supplies at extremely low concentrations. Legionella bacteria grow well in cooling towers and other indoor water systems, primarily because of the presen...
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Monday, January 15, 2007 — OSHA Outreach Training Programs – 10-Hour and 30-Hour Construction and General Industry TrainingThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Outreach Training Program is a voluntary train-the-trainer training program through which OSHA authorizes trainers to teach construction and general industry occupational safety and health standards and policies. OSHA has promoted workplace safety and health by authorizing trainers since 1971. In the last three years, over 1.1 million workers ...
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Saturday, July 15, 2006 — What You Should Know About Mold During ConstructionThe cost impacts when mold growth occurs during construction can be huge. A recent settlement in California for roof leaks was made for $33,000, and an $11.5 million claim was made against an architect, construction manager and subcontractors in Florida. The primary reason for mold growth during a construction project is uncontrolled moisture incursion in the form of liquid flow, condensation, high humidity and/or capillary action that dampens b...
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Saturday, April 15, 2006 — Ergonomics: Micro to Macro Success StoriesThe OSHA ergonomics standard was rescinded several years ago, yet many companies continue to establish and/or expand ergonomics programs in their workplaces. Why is that? The reason is that effective ergonomics programs save companies money!Ergonomic risk factors in the workplace continue to plague many employers. In Pennsylvania in 2004, sprains and strains represented 43.1 percent of the claims by nature of injury. The number one cause of accidents or ...
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Sunday, January 15, 2006 — Emergency Response PlanningWhat you need to know to be preparedHistorically,
Emergency Response Planning has been focused on major events such as
fires, floods, explosions, power outages, and chemical spills. Although
they can certainly be significant, they are not the most significant
with regards to the impact on occupant safety and health. In recent
years, facilities managers of offices, retail establishments,
schools/universities, healthcare and other non-manuf...
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Saturday, October 15, 2005 — Building Contamination AssessmentsReuse or demolition of industrial buildings that have been shutdown, idled or abandoned may pose a unique set of potential health issues to construction workers and future occupants. These issues must be considered as the owner or potential buyer determines the fate or reuse opportunity of a building along with the overall planning process. This is particularly true if there was extensive use of chemicals; however, there are many other variables that are of conc...
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Friday, April 15, 2005 — Managing Your Business Construction Safety ProgramsWritten safety programs are the foundation of a comprehensive safety program for employers in the construction industry. Specialized
trade contractors, general trade contractors and construction managers
should all have effective safety programs in place to control the many
hazards employees face during a construction project. All
companies want to keep their workers safe and prevent accidents and
incidents. Many contra...
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Saturday, January 15, 2005 — Accidental Falls – The Leading Cause of Fatalities in Construction IndustryThe
leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry is falls.
Since 1995, more than 300 fall-related deaths have occurred each year,
or approximately one third of all construction deaths. The sad part of
the story is that most of these deaths could have been prevented. How do these accidents occur?Employees
in the construction industry have a high risk of falls because they are
expo...
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Friday, October 15, 2004 — Indoor Air Quality - It Pays to Be ProactiveMany
organizations respond to indoor air quality (IAQ) issues only after
they receive complaints, and sometimes not even then! Organizations
using the “wait and see” approach often suffer considerable liabilities
and losses, due to problems ranging from simple odor issues to
building-related diseases to widespread mold problems. With colder
weather upon us, companies and organizations would be wise to institute
a proa...
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Thursday, July 15, 2004 — OSHA’s VPP Benefits Employers and WorkersIf
you want to excel professionally, lead your industry in the health and
safety field, and have a strong positive impact on your company’s
bottom line, you should consider being part of the OSHA Voluntary
Protection Program (VPP). VPPs promote effective worksite-based safety
and health. In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish
cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a
comprehensive safety ...
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