indoor air quality occupational News

Measuring Carbon Dioxide as an Indicator of Indoor Air Quality Conditions

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless gas that naturally occurs in the atmosphere as a trace gas. Humans and animals also exhale CO2 as an end product of cellular respiration. In a home or building, CO2 levels can vary greatly, which is why it is sometimes measured as an indicator to help assess current indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions. According to the Minnesota Department of ...

May 7, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Clark Seif Clark Celebrates 23 Years of Environmental, Engineering and Industrial Hygiene Consulting Services

Back on April 1st of 1996, several of the leading environmental, industrial hygiene, engineering and building science professionals decided to go into business for themselves and officially opened the doors at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). The firm quickly made a name for themselves in their home state of California before expanding and opening several offices on the West Coast and Southwest. The ...

Apr. 1, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

NIOSH Releases New Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool for General Buildings

Three months ago today, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced it had developed and released a Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool for General Buildings. The document, with instructions and worksheets, is available online, along with other information from NIOSH on this important topic. David Weissman, M.D., director of NIOSH’s Respiratory Health ...

Mar. 11, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Recognizing Mold Exposure Issues in the Work Environment

Shortly after Hurricane Michael left a path of destruction across parts of the Florida Panhandle and neighboring areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a guidance document for residents and workers tasked with cleaning up and repairing damaged properties. The document covers a number of potential ...

Dec. 3, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Building Science Professionals Protect the Public from All Too Common Indoor Pollutants and Exposure Hazards

Most people spend the vast majority of their day indoors. Whether at home, in the office or attending school, many spend upwards of 90% of their time in indoor environments. With so much time inside buildings, the quality of the indoor environment and air people breathe is a key component of their health and safety. All too often, indoor pollutants and contaminants can cause exposure concerns ...

Feb. 11, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

How Exposure to Disinfectants and Cleaning Products Could Trigger Work-Related Asthma

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) describes work-related asthma as a lung disease caused or made worse by exposures to substances in the workplace. Common workplace exposures that can cause the condition include contact with dust, mold, animals, plants and various chemicals. These include some of the chemical compounds used in cleaning products and disinfectants. In fact, ...

Jan. 11, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Protecting Workers from Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene and Other Chemical Hazards

Back in 1988, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added 1,3-butadiene to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65. Sixteen years later, it was also added to the list for developmental and reproductive toxicity. 1,3-Butadiene is produced through the processing of petroleum and is a colorless gas that can also ...

Aug. 4, 2020

By Clark Seif Clark Inc.

Protecting Workers from Occupational Exposure to Glutaraldehyde and Other Chemicals

Back in 2006, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care. The 48-page document provides information for health care employers and employees to understand and control exposures to glutaraldehyde to prevent adverse health effects. In the healthcare industry, glutaraldehyde is most often used to disinfect ...

Jul. 1, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Mold and Other Potential Hazards Following Water Damage Caused by a Natural Disaster or Manmade Event

Each year, insurance claims caused by water damage are one of the most common and expensive types of claim. Water damage can not only destroy building materials, furnishing and belongings, it will also often result in the growth of mold, not to mention other contaminants that may have been introduced with the water. These frequently include sewage and even chemicals. To help homeowners and ...

Jul. 7, 2020

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Environmental Pathogens, Antimicrobial Resistance and the Importance of Surface Disinfection in Healthcare Environments

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the ability of microbes to resist the effects of drugs – that is, the germs are not killed and their growth is not stopped. These pathogens can be found in the environment in the air, water, soil and on surfaces, as well as in or on people and animals. All types of microbes have the ...

Apr. 9, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

PCBs Recently Discovered in New York have Property Owners Concerned

Due to the past use of industrial chemicals at a number of locations across New York and the tri-state area, the soil around some homes and businesses may be contaminated. A recent case in New York highlights this issue after polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in the soil of a number of homes in Salina. So far, at least 19 homes have been found with PCB contaminated soil in their ...

Jul. 5, 2016

By VOETS, LLC

New York Office Buildings and Indoor Air Quality Complaints

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. ...

Feb. 27, 2017

By VOETS, LLC

Monitoring Building Water Systems to Prevent Outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease

Legionellosis is a respiratory disease caused by a type of bacteria known as Legionella. It includes both Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever, which people can develop by breathing droplets of water from the air that are contaminated with the bacteria. Legionella is naturally found in in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams. However, according to the Centers for Disease ...

Apr. 1, 2020

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

New York Firm Identifies TCE and Other Hazardous Exposure Risks across the Tri-State Area

On November 3rd, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 14th Report on Carcinogens (RoC) containing seven newly reviewed substances. One of substances was trichloroethylene (TCE), a volatile chemical compound that is used mainly as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts and is also used in some adhesives, paint removers, and spot removers. According to the ...

Nov. 28, 2016

By VOETS, LLC

Identifying and Preventing Exposure Risks to the Growing Number of Superbugs

Last month, for only the fourth time in its history, the United Nations General Assembly took up a health issue and voted to take a broad and coordinated approach to confront antimicrobial resistance. The historic action by the United Nations was due to the growing list of drug-resistant microorganisms that are now found across the globe, including in United States. The Centers for Disease ...

Oct. 12, 2016

By Clark Seif Clark Inc.

Protecting Workers from Ear Damage due to Noise Exposure and Ototoxicants

Several months back, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published an advisory bulletin about protecting workers’ hearing. Preventing Hearing Loss Caused by Chemical (Ototoxicity) and Noise Exposure offers facts and tips to help safeguard the hearing of millions of at risk workers. The bulletin ...

Jul. 10, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Protecting Workers and the Public from Acrylamide and Other Chemical Exposure Risks

Acrylamide is described by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) as a colorless, odorless, crystalline solid that can react violently when melted. It is used to make polyacrylamides, which are mainly used in treating wastewater discharge from water treatment plants and industrial processes. In addition, the agency reports that acrylamide and polyacrylamides are used in ...

Jan. 11, 2021

By Clark Seif Clark Inc.

Identifying and Mitigating Occupational Exposures to Chloroform and Other Chemical Hazards

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes chloroform (CHCl3) as a colorless liquid that quickly evaporates into a gas. Other common names for chloroform include trichloromethane and methyl trichloride. Chloroform was once used as an inhaled anesthetic for surgeries; as an extraction solvent for fats, oils, greases and other products; as a dry cleaning spot ...

Feb. 1, 2021

By Clark Seif Clark Inc.

OSHA Top 10 Citations for 2019 and Preventing Injuries, Fatalities and Costly Noncompliance Penalties

Protecting the health and safety of the U.S. workforce has improved over the years, but as recently as 2017, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) reports that 5,147 workers still died on the job. In addition, countless more were injured on the job or developed occupational diseases. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing ...

Dec. 9, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Preventing Occupational Hazards due to Heat Exposure and Temperature Extremes

July and August are the months that typically bring the hottest outdoor temperatures. These hot and often humid conditions can create health and safety challenges for workers in countless outdoor occupations. Many other workers are subject to hot conditions year-round due to the physical activities of their jobs, contact with heated objects or radiant heat sources. All employers are ...

Aug. 7, 2017

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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