VOETS, LLC news

New York City and the surrounding area have some of the most valuable and high-density real estate in the country. As these properties age, or are reconditioned for new uses, construction and remodeling activities bring new life and economic value to these residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. 

Often times, these construction activities take place while parts of the property are still occupied. Unfortunately, all too often, these types of projec

New York has the highest population density of any major city in the United States, with over 27,000 people per square mile. To support this many people, the city and surrounding suburbs are filled with millions of homes, schools, offices, and industrial complexes.

In many of these buildings, air ducts play a pivotal role in keeping people comfortable and productive. This critical component of a building’s HVAC system allows for venti

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report about a rise in the number of deaths associated with malignant mesothelioma. Detailed in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the number of annual deaths in the United States due to the condition actually increased from 2,479 in 1999 to 2,597 in 2015.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease where cancer cells are found in the thin layer of tissue that lines th

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that millions of workers in the United States are exposed to solvents on a daily basis. The agency goes on to state that solvents share many chemical, physical, and biological properties that warrant national attention be directed to them as a group.

Solvents, as described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), are substances that are capable of dissolving or

According to a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey conducted in 2011, 5.9% of residents in New York had been told they have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by a health care professional.  That year, the percentage equated to over 1.15 million residents of the state being afflicted by a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems.

COPD includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma.  The Nati

Millions of people work in office buildings in New York City and the surrounding tri-state area. Over the past decade, a growing number of workers and many of their employers have increasingly recognized the importance of a healthy, comfortable, and productive indoor environment. 

This awareness has created a growing demand for good indoor air quality (IAQ) in the office environment. Unfortunately, many office buildings have significant indoor air pollution sou

In late 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the 14th Report on Carcinogens (RoC). It contained newly reviewed substances that are known or reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans. Included in this list were the metallic element cobalt and cobalt compounds that release cobalt ions in vivo. 

The National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency program whose mission is to evaluate agents of public health concern by developing

Of the more than 500,000 workers in U.S. that are involved in welding, cutting, and brazing, many are employed in occupations in New York City and the surrounding tri-state region.  These can be dangerous occupations according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which reports that the risk from fatal injuries alone is more than four deaths per thousand workers over a working lifetime.

A significant health risk for those involved with wel

Several years back, Environmental Health Perspectives published a paper about a study that examined the cognitive function of workers in conventional and green office environments.  The study garnered the attention of business leaders, human resources professionals, and occupational health professionals from across the country.

Two dozen participants were observed by researchers over six full work days.  The participants were expo

Throughout New York and the tri-state area there are countless workers in numerous occupations that are exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter, also known as PM. Some particulate matter, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, is large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes particulate matter as a