indoor air quality occupational News

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 ...

Mar. 31, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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. 10, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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 ...

Feb. 10, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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 ...

Feb. 26, 2017

By VOETS, LLC

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 ...

Jul. 4, 2016

By VOETS, LLC

It may be hard for everyone to accept, but some people are actually allergic to their work.  For countless employees in a wide range of professions, occupational allergens can make it difficult, if not impossible, to be a productive employee. Occupational allergies occur when a worker is exposed to a substance or substances that cause them to have an allergic reaction.  The ...

Sep. 30, 2015

By Clark Seif Clark Inc.

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. 11, 2016

By Clark Seif Clark Inc.

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 ...

Nov. 27, 2016

By VOETS, LLC

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 ...

May 6, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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 ...

Jan. 13, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

New demolition regulations are coming soon for businesses involved with demolition activities in seven counties surrounding San Francisco Bay. Effective July 1st, 2019, companies involved with the demolition of buildings constructed between 1950 and 1980 will face new regulations concerning polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as part of the demolition permit application process.   These new ...

Apr. 7, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Several months back, WUSF in Tampa published a story about a deputy from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that passed out after exposure to suspected airborne fentanyl. The event occurred during a traffic stop when the car’s occupants tried to hide a white powder. Two responding firefighters also became ill as did one of the people in the car that was pulled over.   Due to cases ...

Jul. 31, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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. 6, 2017

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Lung Cancer Awareness Month begins tomorrow and runs the entire month of November. This month of recognition is acknowledged across the globe and is a time to raise awareness and engagement in the fight against lung cancer. It is also the ideal opportunity to educate the public and workers about things they can do to minimize their chances of getting the disease.   In the United States, the ...

Oct. 30, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

In late March of this year, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, also known as Cal/OSHA, issued serious health and safety citations to a construction company after two of its employees contracted Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis). Both employees were hospitalized after being diagnosed with the infection.   According to Cal/OSHA, the workers were exposed to the ...

Apr. 30, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

While there is no federal law that mandates recycling, many states and municipalities have introduced recycling requirements over the past several decades. Some states and cities have even enacted landfill bans on certain recyclable items and yard waste, and in some areas, government entities can fine people for including recyclable materials with garbage waste.   The end result of these ...

Jan. 5, 2020

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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 ...

Jun. 30, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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. 8, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Protecting the health and safety of the U.S. workforce has improved over the years, but as recently as 2016, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) reports that over 5,190 workers still died on the job. This is a dramatic improvement from the estimated 14,000 workers killed on the job each year before the creation of OSHA back in 1971, but a 7% increase from the 4,836 fatal ...

Jan. 6, 2019

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Later this month, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) is recognized across the United States. The event takes place from October 21st through the 27th in what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes as a weeklong campaign to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and state and local governments to help increase lead awareness by using their efforts and ...

Oct. 7, 2018

By Cochrane & Associates, LLC