asbestos compliance News
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The EI Group Introduces Mold Remediation Training Courses in Virginia
Effective July 1, 2011, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) now requires any contractor performing mold remediation on a project with more than 10 square feet of mold contamination to be licensed appropriately. The EI Group, Inc. (EI) offers mold remediation courses licensed by the DPOR for both Supervisor and Worker levels. EI's Mold Remediation course ...
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Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Exposure Risks in the United States
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 125 million workers across the globe are exposed to asbestos in the workplace and about half the deaths from occupational cancer are likely caused by exposure to it. The agency also shares the fact that some asbestos-related deaths are also due to exposure in the home. It has long been recognized that asbestos can cause a number of ...
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Asbestos in Floor Tiles and Flooring Materials Still a Concern in Puerto Rico
Up until the late 1970s, asbestos was added to various types of flooring materials and tiles during the manufacturing process to increase the strength and durability of the products. In fact, the Minnesota Department of Health warns that flooring, including sheet vinyl, vinyl or asphalt floor tiles and any associated paper-like backing, mastic, adhesive or glue, may contain asbestos. Virtually ...
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Lead Hazards in Homes & Buildings Found Hidden in Plain Sight
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report about two Afghan children living in the United States that were found to have exceptionally high levels of lead in their blood. The children’s parents had used a traditional black makeup known as kajal that some parents from Pakistan and Afghanistan apply around their children’s eyes. Several months ...
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Test Ceiling Materials for Asbestos before Beginning Renovation, Remodeling and Demolition Projects in Puerto Rico
Building renovation, remodeling and repurposing projects often involve changes to ceiling materials. This may include removing popcorn ceilings or taking down ceiling tiles, insulation or other actions that involve disturbing existing building materials. Before beginning this type of project, there are some important safety issues to address that involve ceiling materials. One that should not ...
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Major Upgrades Coming to Reduce Puerto Rico’s Sewage and Wastewater Pollution
Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that pursuant to a settlement modification with the agency and the U.S. Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) has agreed to make major improvements and upgrades to the island’s sanitary collection system and wastewater treatment plants. EPA claims the upgrades will allow the ...
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Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Protecting Workers and Building Occupants in Puerto Rico from Exposure Risks
The 17th annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week takes place from April 1st through the 7th. It is meant to raise public awareness of asbestos hazards and diseases that continue to impact so many people around the globe. Asbestos is a generic name given to six fibrous minerals that have been used in commercial products. Asbestos is still used in some countries, but even in places like the United ...
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It Can Be More than Just Water Damage and Mold Concerns for Building Owners and Managers in Puerto Rico Dealing with Burst Pipes
A middle school in Wisconsin was forced to temporarily close their doors earlier this month following a frozen water pipe that burst on the third floor of the school building. Although the burst pipe caused significant water damage, what resulted in the school closure was the discovery of damaged asbestos-containing ceiling tiles during the cleanup efforts. While building owners and managers in ...
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Combustible Dust Testing and Safety Resources to Protect Workers and Property in Puerto Rico
Earlier this year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a revised Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP). The purpose of the revised NEP was to continue OSHA inspections of facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts likely to cause fire, flash fire, deflagration and explosion hazards. OSHA warns that any combustible material can burn rapidly when ...
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Puerto Rico’s Premier Environmental and Building Science Consultants Celebrate 17 Years of Service
After working as a consultant at the World Trade Center site following the devastating 2001 terrorist attacks, Harry Peña wanted to return to his native Puerto Rico and open the island’s preeminent building science and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) consulting firm. In 2002, he achieved his goal when Zimmetry Environmental opened its doors for business. The environmental ...
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Asbestos Still Lurks in Many Commercial and Residential Properties in Puerto Rico
Asbestos was used for decades in many building products found in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean. It is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that when added to building products, offers desirable attributes such as increased strength, corrosion resistance, acoustical dampening, thermal insulation and fire resistance. It is most likely to be found in homes and buildings constructed between ...
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Asbestos Exposure Risks Faced by Plumbers in Puerto Rico
For decades, thousands of building materials and products that were used for construction in Puerto Rico and across the region contained asbestos. These materials included many used for various plumbing applications in residential and commercial buildings of all types. Unfortunately, many of these asbestos-containing materials can still be found, potentially posing a risk to building occupants. ...
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Workers’ Memorial Day and Occupational Health and Safety Programs to Protect Puerto Rico’s Workforce
Puerto Rico, along with the rest of the United States, will observe Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28th. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports the annual day of recognition was established to recognize workers who died or suffered from exposures to hazards at work. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says it is a time to honor those ...
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Understanding Which Asbestos-Containing Products the Federal Government has Banned
There have been thousands of consumer products and building materials produced over the years that contained asbestos. Asbestos offers many unique qualities that made it universally used, including its low cost, sound absorption characteristics and tensile strength, as well resistance to heat, fire, chemical corrosion and electricity. Unfortunately, it has also been known for some time that ...
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Residents of Puerto Rico Warned of the Potential Presence of Asbestos in Older Floor Tiles and Flooring Materials
At some point, every home or office will need to replace its flooring due to wear and tear or to simply give an indoor space an updated look. In homes, flooring projects are a common DIY project, but many people don’t realize that tearing up some old floors could be exposing their families and guests to asbestos fibers if not done correctly. For many years, up until the late 1970s, ...
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New Lower Screening Levels for Lead in Contaminated Soil and Resources to Protect Children and Families in Puerto Rico
In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was lowering recommended screening levels and strengthening guidance for investigating and cleaning up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas where children live and play. As a result of the lower screening levels, EPA also declared it expects to investigate more residential properties for potential cleanup under the ...
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Fatal Occupational Injuries Report Released by BLS and EHS Resources in Puerto Rico
Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its annual National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. This latest report covers data from 2022 and tragically shows a one-year increase in fatal work injuries of 5.7 percent. For 2022, there were 5,486 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States, an increase from the 5,190 in 2021. The fatal work injury rate was 3.7 ...
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Businesses in Puerto Rico Advised of New OSHA Guidance for Enforcement of Respirable Crystalline Silica Standards
This summer, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a compliance directive designed to ensure uniformity in inspection and enforcement procedures when addressing respirable crystalline silica exposures in Puerto Rico, and across the United States, for general industry, maritime and construction. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can cause silicosis, a ...
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Respiratory Protection Week in Puerto Rico and Resources to Identify and Mitigate Exposure to Airborne Risks
Each year, respiratory protection makes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) top ten list of the most frequently cited safety and health violations. This, despite the fact that millions of workers from across the country, and in a wide range of occupations, are required to wear respirators while performing various tasks. Recognizing the vital role that respiratory ...
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EPA Affirms Building Managers in Puerto Rico Are Responsible for Lead-Based Paint Safety Requirements When Performing Renovations
On March 21st, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will withdraw two previously published answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning property management companies and their compliance responsibility under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Lead Renovation Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. According to the EPA in a recent announcement, the withdrawal of the ...
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