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Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Future Environment Designs does an Asbestos Presentation to BOMA's Long Island Chapter
We were invited to do an asbestos presentation to the Long Island Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), last week. Our presentation discussed a little about asbestos in the past, current issues with asbestos, and a discussion about asbestos in the future. Visit our website at http://futureenvironmentdesigns.com/news.html to access the presentation. It was an enjoyable presentation and it was a pleasure discussing asbestos with a group of people who deal with asbestos on a facility/ownership level. Thank you Mr. Robert Bloom for inviting me. If you have any comments on my presentation please post them here.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Asbestos Fears for Port Hedland Tug Workers
Image via WikipediaAustralian Mining's website reported on October 5, 2011, that up to 10 workers at BHP Billiton’s (BHP) Port Hedland site were exposed to asbestos after completing maintenance work on a tug boat. According to the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) crew from Teekay Shipping, a BHP contractor, were exposed to chrysotile, or white asbestos, while removing gasket material on the Star Voyager last month. Two weeks earlier Teekay workers at Port Hedland walked off the job after asbestos was found in the gasket joining material on another tug, the PB Fitzroy. Both the Star Voyager and PB Fitzroy were built by Chinese shipmaker Cheoy Lee Shipyards.
Here is the problem, even though Australia has banned the use of asbestos in their country. That does not prohibit the use of asbestos in products that Australia buys. Which is the same problem the United States has.
This incident exposed workers to asbestos for 24 hours, and in one case, exposed the worker's family to asbestos after returning home from work in contaminated workclothes. Workers must be aware of the potential hazards in the materials they work with or otherwise how will they know how to protect themselves.
Here is the problem, even though Australia has banned the use of asbestos in their country. That does not prohibit the use of asbestos in products that Australia buys. Which is the same problem the United States has.
This incident exposed workers to asbestos for 24 hours, and in one case, exposed the worker's family to asbestos after returning home from work in contaminated workclothes. Workers must be aware of the potential hazards in the materials they work with or otherwise how will they know how to protect themselves.
Related articles
- Worker failed to protect tenants from asbestos (cbc.ca)
- EPA Issues a Compliance Order Against Buffalo's Public Housing Authority (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- ADAO to Livestream the film "Breathtaking" (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Asbestos Found At Plattsburgh, NY Site (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Friday, October 07, 2011
EPA Issues a Compliance Order Against Buffalo's Public Housing Authority
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a compliance order, charging Buffalo's Public Housing Authority with violations of the Federal Clean Air Act resulting in fines up to $25,000 a day for each violation. See the WIVBTV video for the full story or Phil Fairbank's article "Housing Authority faces fines on asbestos" at BuffaloNews.com.
This is part 2 of the Kensington Heights housing project where the federal government has handed indictments of nine individuals and two contractors on felony criminal charges related to the asbestos removal project. The 23-count indictment charges the contractors and individuals, including three inspectors -- one from the state, two from the city -- with improperly removing and disposing of asbestos at the complex. EPA spokesman Michael Basile said the allegations against the authority are similar but are administrative charges, not criminal charges. The authority is alleged to have violated the EPA's National Emission Standards for Asbestos.
Basile says the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority needs to first submit a plan of proper asbestos removal for what's left in the building, then a plan for a safe demolition. "We want to make sure that the building is demolished and the removal of the asbestos is done in a safe manner to protect human health and the environment, not only for the people that are going to be working on the project, but for the people that live in the immediate area,” said Basile. Basile says he hopes the fines will never be imposed, and believes the Public Housing Authority wants to get the asbestos removal and demo process done as soon as possible. He says once the plans are developed and submitted to the EPA, the approval process should take less than two weeks.
This is part 2 of the Kensington Heights housing project where the federal government has handed indictments of nine individuals and two contractors on felony criminal charges related to the asbestos removal project. The 23-count indictment charges the contractors and individuals, including three inspectors -- one from the state, two from the city -- with improperly removing and disposing of asbestos at the complex. EPA spokesman Michael Basile said the allegations against the authority are similar but are administrative charges, not criminal charges. The authority is alleged to have violated the EPA's National Emission Standards for Asbestos.
Basile says the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority needs to first submit a plan of proper asbestos removal for what's left in the building, then a plan for a safe demolition. "We want to make sure that the building is demolished and the removal of the asbestos is done in a safe manner to protect human health and the environment, not only for the people that are going to be working on the project, but for the people that live in the immediate area,” said Basile. Basile says he hopes the fines will never be imposed, and believes the Public Housing Authority wants to get the asbestos removal and demo process done as soon as possible. He says once the plans are developed and submitted to the EPA, the approval process should take less than two weeks.
Related articles
- NYSDOL Asbestos Inspector Indicted in Kensington Towers Probe (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Owner of Asbestos Abatement Training School Sentenced to Prison (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- ADAO to Livestream the film "Breathtaking" (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYS Education Department Issues Clarification on Asbestos Material Testing (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com
Image via WikipediaThis video of Steve Jobs' commencement speech is amazing and so true about how to live your life (I see many similarities to my own life). We lost Mr. Jobs today, but his impact on our lives will remain for so many years.
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com
Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com
Related articles
- How to Live Before You Die, by Steve Jobs. (empoweredchic.wordpress.com)
- Thank You Steve Jobs (inkhouse.net)
- "DO WHAT YOU LOVE": Watch Steve Jobs' Legendary Stanford Commencement Speech In 2005 (AAPL) (businessinsider.com)
- RIP :: Apple Announces Steve Jobs Has Died (theoriginalwinger.com)
Friday, September 30, 2011
Strong Link Between Mold & Asthma in Children.
Image via WikipediaThe current issue of Indoor Environment Connection's front page article is "Strong Link Between Mold and Asthma in Children" written by Tom Scarlett. The article discusses a new study that appeared in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, this study indicates that children living in homes with high levels of mold had more than twice the risk of developing asthma than did children in mold-free homes. The article does a really good job of putting together results from several studies to point out the risk of children developing asthma from mold exposures. Discussed in the article is the metric, "Environmental Relative Moldiness Index" (ERMI) that was used in the study to determine the exposure level of the occupants. It will be interesting how we can use ERMI to help us quantitatively describe the mold burden in future studies and testing.
Related articles
- Mold Exposure Has Greater Impact on Infants (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Will Rogers Institute Creating Asthma Awareness (thefoodallergymom.wordpress.com)
- Mold Exposure in Infancy Raises Asthma Risk (webmd.com)
- Household Mold During Infancy May Trigger Asthma (nlm.nih.gov)
- Well Blog: Asthma More Likely Among Children of Overweight Mothers (well.blogs.nytimes.com)
- What Causes Asthma Attacks? (healthadel.com)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Chemical Lab Safety Refresher in IH News
The current issue of the Industrial Hygiene News has an excellent article on laboratory safety called "A Chemical Lab Safety Refresher" written by Mr. Phillip G. Retallick, who is the Senior Vice President Regulatory Affairs for Clean Harbors. The article covers the typical information regarding lab safety - training, storage, disposal, labeling, and compliance audits. One of the more interesting sections was the discussion on the requirements of a good industrial hygiene program. This section discussed the need for a worksite analysis and a well-defined and monitored work practices. The need for a Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registry software and routine monitoring of the air to ensure lab staff are protected is not typically discussed. The assumption is that sufficient ventilation will handle any potential problems. However, how do you know you have sufficient ventilation? Monitoring is the best way to ensure that. The article list important resources such as the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Environmental Management Guide for Small Laboratories" and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) hazardous materials portion (Section H) of 29 CFR 1910. A short and to the point article on Lab Safety.
Related articles
- ACS Council takes up academic lab safety (cenblog.org)
- Friday chemical safety round-up (cenblog.org)
- The Laboratory Safety Song [video] (guardian.co.uk)
- ACC's chemical prioritization tool: Helpful, but flawed and off the mark for EPA to use without TSCA reform (blogs.edf.org)
- Chemical Accidents Sickens 54 in Bohemia, NY (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Safety costs of harmonised laws revealed (safetyatworkblog.wordpress.com)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
New Joint NIOSH/OSHA Publication on Nail Gun Safety
Image via Wikipedia
The National Institue of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have a new publication called "Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors." This publication was created as a resource to prevent injuries in the construction industry, including residential construction. While nail guns may boost productivity, nail guns are responsible for tens of thousands of painful injuries each year. One study found that 2 out of 5 residential carpenter apprentices experienced a nail gun injury over a four-year period. When these injuries occur they are often not reported or given any medical treatment. The risk of injury is twice as high when using a multi-shot contact trigger versus using a single-shot sequential trigger nailer. Many years ago, Linda Archipolo of Massapequa made the news on Long Island, when she was working in a Burger King at the Sunrise Mall. A three-inch nail, shot with a nail gun, accidentally went through two walls and landed in Ms. Archipolo's skull. Luckily, she survived. This new publication is intended for residential home builders and construction contractors, subcontractors, supervisors and workers to prevent these kinds of injuries. The guidance was developed in response to a unanimous recommendation by employer, labor and public members of OSHA’s Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), asking OSHA to develop awareness and materials about nail gun risks. OSHA and NIOSH worked together to make sure the guidance reflects the most current information available. The publication highlights what is known about nail gun injuries, describes the common causes of nail gun injuries and provides six practical steps that contractors can take to prevent these injuries. The guidance includes actual workplace cases along with a short section on other types of nail gun hazards and sources of additional information.
Related articles
- Buyer beware when purchasing nail guns, salespeople know little about safety risks [The Pump Handle] (scienceblogs.com)
- Construction Worker Survives Nail Gun Brain Injury (first4lawyers.com)
- Nail gun attacker blinds workmate, walks (heraldsun.com.au)
- Suicide by nail gun more common, less successful, than you might guess (boingboing.net)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
EPA Warns New York City Residents about Dangers of Illegal Pesticides
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), last week, conducted an investigation of businesses in several New York City neighborhoods revealing dangerous and illegal pesticides are widely available. Federal and state experts conducted 47 inspections and found 16 different types of illegal pesticides. The pesticides were not registered by EPA and consumers have no way of knowing how dangerous they are, because they were not subject to testing requirements or manufacturing controls that are required in the registration process. In all, nearly 350 illegal products were collected from the businesses in just three days. Store owners and vendors found with the illegal pesticides were given a warning and told why selling these products are dangerous and illegal. Separate but related criminal investigations conducted by EPA with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs, the U.S. Postal Service and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office produced similar results and several charges were made against individuals last week, resulting in 12 arrests.
EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck said, "I encourage all New York City retailers to check their shelves and make sure all their pesticides have the required EPA labels. Consumers should be careful to look for the EPA registration number printed on product labels, and to follow the directions for use, storage and disposal. If a pesticide product does not have an EPA registration number, it should not be purchased.”
“The sale of illegal pesticides poses a direct threat to the health and safety of our community. In the cases charged by our Office, that threat was particularly imminent in the Chinatown neighborhood,” said District Attorney Vance. “Some of these illegal products look and smell like cookie crumbs, making them dangerously tempting to children. Some of the other products are so toxic that one small vial can kill an adult male. It is my hope that our collective criminal and civil law enforcement actions will prevent future injury or death.”
The inspections, which took place the week of September 12, targeted stores in neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Among the items confiscated were various rodenticides, mosquito repellants and mothballs. These items will be safely destroyed.
Under federal pesticides law, all products sold in the United States that contain pesticides must be registered with EPA. Before a pesticide product is registered, the producer of the product must provide data from tests done according to EPA guidelines, to ensure that the product does not make people sick. EPA then examines the ingredients and the way in which the product will be used, and assesses a wide variety of potential human health and environmental effects associated with use of the product. Distributors and retailers are responsible for ensuring that all pesticides distributed and sold fully comply with the law.
Pesticides have been linked to various forms of illnesses in humans, ranging from skin and eye irritation to cancer. Some pesticides may also affect the hormone or endocrine systems. In many situations, there may be non-chemical methods to control pests. EPA recommends considering and using these methods as part of an overall pest management strategy.
EPA has created an illegal pesticides fact sheet in multiple languages, which it will be distributing to businesses and community organizations in the targeted neighborhoods.
In a separate series of actions earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice charged two New York City-based individuals, who together had distributed and sold thousands of packages of illegal pesticides in recent months, with misdemeanor violations of federal pesticide laws. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office also charged 10 retail sellers with selling dangerous and illegal pesticides and with reckless endangerment. Agents seized many more illegal pesticides from the individuals during their respective arrests.
For more information on pesticide regulation and enforcement, please visit the EPA’s Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/region2/pesticides.
Related articles
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), last week, conducted an investigation of businesses in several New York City neighborhoods revealing dangerous and illegal pesticides are widely available. Federal and state experts conducted 47 inspections and found 16 different types of illegal pesticides. The pesticides were not registered by EPA and consumers have no way of knowing how dangerous they are, because they were not subject to testing requirements or manufacturing controls that are required in the registration process. In all, nearly 350 illegal products were collected from the businesses in just three days. Store owners and vendors found with the illegal pesticides were given a warning and told why selling these products are dangerous and illegal. Separate but related criminal investigations conducted by EPA with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs, the U.S. Postal Service and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office produced similar results and several charges were made against individuals last week, resulting in 12 arrests.
EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck said, "I encourage all New York City retailers to check their shelves and make sure all their pesticides have the required EPA labels. Consumers should be careful to look for the EPA registration number printed on product labels, and to follow the directions for use, storage and disposal. If a pesticide product does not have an EPA registration number, it should not be purchased.”
“The sale of illegal pesticides poses a direct threat to the health and safety of our community. In the cases charged by our Office, that threat was particularly imminent in the Chinatown neighborhood,” said District Attorney Vance. “Some of these illegal products look and smell like cookie crumbs, making them dangerously tempting to children. Some of the other products are so toxic that one small vial can kill an adult male. It is my hope that our collective criminal and civil law enforcement actions will prevent future injury or death.”
The inspections, which took place the week of September 12, targeted stores in neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Among the items confiscated were various rodenticides, mosquito repellants and mothballs. These items will be safely destroyed.
Under federal pesticides law, all products sold in the United States that contain pesticides must be registered with EPA. Before a pesticide product is registered, the producer of the product must provide data from tests done according to EPA guidelines, to ensure that the product does not make people sick. EPA then examines the ingredients and the way in which the product will be used, and assesses a wide variety of potential human health and environmental effects associated with use of the product. Distributors and retailers are responsible for ensuring that all pesticides distributed and sold fully comply with the law.
Pesticides have been linked to various forms of illnesses in humans, ranging from skin and eye irritation to cancer. Some pesticides may also affect the hormone or endocrine systems. In many situations, there may be non-chemical methods to control pests. EPA recommends considering and using these methods as part of an overall pest management strategy.
EPA has created an illegal pesticides fact sheet in multiple languages, which it will be distributing to businesses and community organizations in the targeted neighborhoods.
In a separate series of actions earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Justice charged two New York City-based individuals, who together had distributed and sold thousands of packages of illegal pesticides in recent months, with misdemeanor violations of federal pesticide laws. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office also charged 10 retail sellers with selling dangerous and illegal pesticides and with reckless endangerment. Agents seized many more illegal pesticides from the individuals during their respective arrests.
For more information on pesticide regulation and enforcement, please visit the EPA’s Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/region2/pesticides.
Related articles
- Officials Arrest 12 In NYC For Selling Toxic Pesticides (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- Illegal pesticide bust in Chinatown (nydailynews.com)
- Pesticides Directly Correlated With Increased ADHD Cases in Children | Health Freedom Alliance (habwwe.wordpress.com)
- Pesticides in food linked to ADHD in kids (msnbc.msn.com)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Owner of Asbestos Abatement Training School Sentenced to Prison
Image via WikipediaIn November 2008, Albania DeLeon, former owner of Environmental Compliance Training (ECT), the country's largest asbestos abatement training school, fled the United States after her trial. DeLeon was convicted of a broad range of charges including selling training certificates to thousands of illegal aliens who had not taken the mandatory training course. Deleon then placed these unqualified individuals in temporary employment positions as certified asbestos abatement workers in public buildings throughout Massachusetts and New England. Deleon was also convicted of encouraging illegal aliens to reside in the United States, making false statements about matters within the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency; procuring false payroll tax returns, and mail fraud.
On October 30, 2010, law enforcement authorities in the Dominican Republic, working in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, arrested her in the capital city of Santo Domingo, where she was living under an alias and had dyed her hair blonde. In November, 2010, she was extradited to the United States. Yesterday, Albania DeLeon was sentenced to prison. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton sentenced DeLeon, 41, formerly of Andover, Mass., to 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $1,200,939.45 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and $369,015 to AIM Mutual Insurance Company.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said, “Today, justice was served, and Albania Deleon has finally faced the consequences of her crimes. I hope that this sentence sends a strong message to anyone who might contemplate fleeing to avoid punishment, that we do not give up on fugitives, and we will take all necessary means and resources to apprehend and prosecute them.”
“She ran and tried to hide, but eventually the law caught up with her,” said Michael E. Hubbard, Special Agent in Charge of the US Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division in Boston. “Ms Deleon cynically defrauded the taxpayer and put her own workers and the public at risk due to her greed. Today’s sentence shows that individuals who put illegal profits ahead of the welfare of society will deservedly be prosecuted and pay a very high price.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message to employers that seek to gain an unfair business advantage over their competitors by employing illegal workers,” said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston. “The potential risk to public health and safety involving asbestos and lead abatement and training licenses made this investigation and the need to bring this individual to justice even more compelling.”
On October 30, 2010, law enforcement authorities in the Dominican Republic, working in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, arrested her in the capital city of Santo Domingo, where she was living under an alias and had dyed her hair blonde. In November, 2010, she was extradited to the United States. Yesterday, Albania DeLeon was sentenced to prison. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton sentenced DeLeon, 41, formerly of Andover, Mass., to 87 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $1,200,939.45 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and $369,015 to AIM Mutual Insurance Company.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said, “Today, justice was served, and Albania Deleon has finally faced the consequences of her crimes. I hope that this sentence sends a strong message to anyone who might contemplate fleeing to avoid punishment, that we do not give up on fugitives, and we will take all necessary means and resources to apprehend and prosecute them.”
“She ran and tried to hide, but eventually the law caught up with her,” said Michael E. Hubbard, Special Agent in Charge of the US Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division in Boston. “Ms Deleon cynically defrauded the taxpayer and put her own workers and the public at risk due to her greed. Today’s sentence shows that individuals who put illegal profits ahead of the welfare of society will deservedly be prosecuted and pay a very high price.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message to employers that seek to gain an unfair business advantage over their competitors by employing illegal workers,” said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston. “The potential risk to public health and safety involving asbestos and lead abatement and training licenses made this investigation and the need to bring this individual to justice even more compelling.”
Related articles
- Asbestos Contractor Who Violated Environmental Laws Should Pay Compensation, New York Asbestos Lawyer says (prweb.com)
- NYSDOL Asbestos Inspector Indicted in Kensington Towers Probe (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- New York Increases Monitoring of Asbestos Inspectors (nytimes.com)
- ADAO to Livestream the film "Breathtaking" (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYS Education Department Issues Clarification on Asbestos Material Testing (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Canada Blocks Asbestos's Placement on UN's List of Hazardous Substances (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Deutsche Bank Fire Defendants All Acquitted Of Charges. (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Problems With 9/11 Health Bill
Their has been alot of discussion regarding the 9/11 health bill (known as the Zadroga Bill) that was supposed to provide medical care for first responders exposed to the various hazards at the World Trade Center site. However, the bill did not cover cancer treatments. The commission running the fund, has had hearings on this issue and have stated they will look at cancer treatments once the science indicates a link between the 9/11 exposure and cancer. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as they usually do, makes us see the ridiculousness of this position. We hope with a recent study by Lancet, "Early assessment of cancer outcomes in New York City firefighters after 9/11 attacks: an observational cohort study", indicating a modest excess of cancer cases among NYC firefighters exposed at 9/11, that the commission will consider covering cancer medical care. This is the least the federal government could do for the first responders, considering the misleading information given to these individuals during their time at the site.
Related articles
- 9/11 documentary update focuses on health crisis (cbsnews.com)
- For 9/11 first responders, inadequate medical assistance an insult to heroism (nj.com)
- Lawmakers: Zadroga Act should cover cancer (nydailynews.com)
- 9/11 Health Bill Goes Into Effect Today (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- Jon Stewart on 9/11 Health Care Bill: 'How Did We Not Include Cancer?' [Video] (gawker.com)
- For 9/11 Responders, Cancer Cause Remains Unclear (livescience.com)
- 9/11 firefighter hopes study gets him $ aid (cbsnews.com)
- White House and EPA Misled Public on Air Quality After 9/11 Attack. (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Rudy Giuliani and Air Quality After 9/11: Part 1 & Part 2 (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Some 9/11 first responders get help - and some don't (money.cnn.com)
- Early Study Examines Cancer Risk in Ground Zero Firefighters (cancer.org)
- Study: 9/11 Firefighters at Higher Risk for Cancer (webmd.com)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Future Environment Designs Sponsors Health Effects of Mold Exposure Video
Future Environment Designs is proud to sponsor a new informational video on the Health Effects of Mold Exposure. This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the health effects of mold exposure.
Related articles
- Mold Exposure Has Greater Impact on Infants (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- EPA Issues Press Release On Reducing Asthma Attacks During Summer (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- What kinds of health problems can mold cause? (zocdoc.com)
Friday, September 09, 2011
Chemical Accidents Sickens 54 in Bohemia, NY
Image via Wikipedia
Just before the Hurricane, the above headline was in Newsday, on August 19, 2011, regarding a chemical accident where two cleaning chemicals were accidently mixed causing 54 workers to become ill and requiring some of them to be hospitalized. Workers were treated for symptoms including convulsions, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and vomiting. Unfortunately, the report does not discuss the specific chemicals that were mixed. It does mention that the company was using a new chemical for cleaning and did not fully purge the old cleaning chemical out of the system.This incident highlights the importance of providing training to staff when a new chemical is added to the facility. This will ensure the hazards of the new chemical will be understood and any problems that may occur with mixing chemicals are fully understood. The most important part of this training is the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The MSDS is created by the manufacturer to warn the users of its chemicals about the dangers of the chemical, the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed, first aid necessary if exposed, the path of exposure, and other important information. The training on the new chemical should be on the specifics of handling the chemical including any PPE needing to be used when using the chemical, the first aid procedures should an exposure occur, proper storing of the chemical, and any other chemicals that should be avoided or prevented from coming into contact with the new chemical. Maybe if this training was done the individuals responsible for purging the system would have been more cautious.
Related articles
- NY cellphone workers sickened in cleaner mishap (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Chlorine Leak Sickens 20 at Sacramento Water Park (shoppingblog.com)
- Fumes at McDonald's leave 2 unconscious, sicken 9 (ajc.com)
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Future Environment Designs Sponsors Vapor Intrusion Video
Future Environment Designs is proud to sponsor this informational video on vapor intrusion. This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the dangers and concerns regarding vapor intrusion. We hope this video is helpful and informative.
Related articles
- Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Schools Required to Manage Asbestos
Image via WikipediaUnder the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulation all public and private schools (with a few exceptions) were required in 1989 to develop management plans for managing the asbestos installed in their buildings. The AHERA regulation required the schools to update these asbestos management plans every three years. This management plan requirement included notifying workers and building occupants, or their legal guardians, at least once each school year about inspections, response actions, and post-response action activities, including periodic reinspection and surveillance activities that are planned or in progress. Such notification must be done in writing and a copy placed in the management plan. Suggested notification methods may be through the publication of an article in a school district newsletter or through a separate written notice distributed to staff and sent home to a student's parent or legal guardian. Since a new school year is upon us, it is important to remember what is required in this notification. The New York State Education Department - Facilities Planning website has a Annual AHERA Notification section discussing what is required.
In addition, schools are required to make the management plans available for inspection to representatives of EPA and the State, the public, including parents, teachers, and other school personnel within 5 working days after receiving a request for the inspection. The local education agency (LEA) is also required to notify in writing parent, teacher, and employee organizations of the availability of management plans and shall include in the management plan a description of steps to notify such organizations, and a dated copy of the notification. In the absence of any such organizations for parents, teachers, or employees, the local education agency shall provide written notice to that relevant group of the availability of management plans and shall include in the management plan a description of the steps taken to notify such groups and a dated copy of the notification. The LEA asbestos designee for the school district is to oversee that these AHERA required notifications occur each school year. The school may determine when to do AHERA notification, as long as it occurs at least once each school year.
Enforcement of this requirement is done by the EPA's Region II office. They have been very active inspecting New York State schools for compliance with AHERA (in addition, New York State Deaprtment of Health, had received a grant from EPA to perform these inspections on their behalf). Schools which lack required elements in the AHERA management plan, including the notification documentation outlined above, will be issued an EPA Notice of Noncompliance. Subsequently, the school has thirty days from the Notice date to correct the violations. Schools which do not comply with the Notice within thirty days are subject to additional EPA enforcement action, which may result in civil or criminal penalties.
Related articles
- NYS Education Department Issues Clarification on Asbestos Material Testing (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYS Senate Considering Asbestos Notification Fee Changes (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Asbestos Found At Plattsburgh, NY Site (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- ADAO to Livestream the film "Breathtaking" (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
ADAO to Livestream the film “Breathtaking”
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The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) recognizing the global and negative impact of the Canadian asbestos industry, has partnered with Ontario filmaker Kathleen Mullen, the directer of Breathtaking, to hold a first-ever, international livestreaming of Breathtaking on September 26th, 2011 at 6:30 pm EST from the ADAO website. The 45 minute screening will begin with a short introduction from Mullen and conclude with a fifteen minute question and answer session via Twitter with the filmmaker and ADAO President and Co-Founder, Linda Reinstein.Breathtaking addresses the asbestos industry through a moving and personal investigation into the death of Mullen’s father, and the baffling present-day use, pubic mining, and incessant export of asbestos in spite of decades of scientific evidence that asbestos kills people. Commercially mined since the Industrial Revolution, asbestos was nicknamed the ‘magic mineral’ for its fabric-like, and fire retardant properties and has been used in everything from brake pads to oven mitts. Although it has been discovered to be carcinogenic, and asbestos use has been banned in many countries and limited in others. However, Canada, Russia and several other countries, still mine asbestos and export it for use in developing nations.
Related articles
- Canada Blocks Asbestos's Placement on UN's List of Hazardous Substances (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Doctors ask doctor-MP to stop Canadian asbestos exports (canada.com)
- When did people find out that asbestos caused mesothelioma (wiki.answers.com)
- NYS Education Department Issues Clarification on Asbestos Material Testing (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
CDC Hurricane Website Has Helpful Hints
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As the east coast prepares for Hurricane Irene, it is important to remember that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a Hurricane Helpful Hints website. The current topic is "What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly." This topic covers food safety, safe drinking water, extreme heat or cold, first aid for electrical shock, powerline hazards and cars, avoid carbon monoxide, safety at work during power recovery, be prepared for an emergency, and the impact of power outage on vaccine storage. If your looking for a list of emergency supplies you should have on hand, the CDC and Red Cross put together a list at the CDC website for Emergency Preparedness and Response - Get a Kit. From that website is the following list of items you should assemble:
- Water—one gallon per person, per day (3day supply for evacuation, 2week supply for home)
- Food—nonperishable, easytoprepare items (3day supply for evacuation, 2week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Batterypowered or handcrank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7day supply) and medical items
- Multipurpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Map(s) of the area
Related articles
- CDC Providing Resourses for Hurricane Preparedness (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Hurricane Irene Batters Smaller Islands Of Bahamas (huffingtonpost.com)
- How to prepare for a hurricane (news.blogs.cnn.com)
- Bloomberg to NYers: Plan ahead for Hurricane Irene (sfgate.com)
- Staying Ahead Of The Storm: What You Need To Know If Severe Weather Hits (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- OSHA's Tornado Preparedness & Response (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- If a Natural Disaster Occurred, Are You Ready to Help?" (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Future Environment Designs Sponsors Sewage Contamination Danger Video
Image via Wikipedia
Future Environment Designs is proud to sponsor a new informational video on Sewage Contamination Dangers. This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the dangers of sewage contamination.Related articles
- EPA Explains NYC's Serious Problem With Its Combined Sewage System (treehugger.com)
- Hudson Sewage Rattles Purveyors (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Fix sewage overflow, fishermen tell council (cbc.ca)
- OSHA Updates Indoor Air Quality Guide (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Landlord in court for raw sewage in apartment (ajc.com)
- Sewage closes shellfishery again (cbc.ca)
- Future Environment Designs Sponsors Public Outreach Lead Video (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
OSHA Focuses on Tortilla Companies
Image via WikipediaThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Tortilleria Chinantla factory in Brooklyn (a tortilla company) for violations carrying fines totaling over $62,000 after an investigation into the death of a worker, Juan Baten, a 22-year-old Guatemalan immigrant who was married and had a 7-month-old daughter, who fell into an industrial mixing machine at its factory. The death occurred Jan. 24. The most serious violation involved the failure of Tortilleria Chinantla to install a guard barrier on the mixer to prevent employees from coming into contact with its fast-moving machinery. The infraction was classified as “willful,” the most severe category of violation issued by OSHA, and carries a penalty of $42,000. The company was also cited for seven other violations, six of which are labeled “serious.” Among those was the lack of a program to prevent the unintended start-up of machinery.
OSHA also said that after the death of Mr. Baten, investigators inspected the factories of two other Brooklyn tortilla makers and issued a total of 26 violations to those companies. One, Buena Vista Tortillas Corporation, was cited with having 14 violations, 13 of them deemed “serious,” carrying $39,000 in fines. The other, La Tortilleria Mexicana Los Tres Hermanos Corporation, was cited with having 12 serious violations carrying a total of $33,600 in fines.
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- Michele Dufault Death: OSHA Finds Safety Gaps In Yale Lab (huffingtonpost.com)
- Sayreville company cited for 2 safety violations after worker's finger is amputated (nj.com)
- OSHA cites Mantua business, seeks $41,580 in fines (nj.com)
- Did Unsafe Machine Contribute to Yale Student's Death? (news.sciencemag.org)
- Bookmark Explaining Young Workers' Rights Available for Ordering (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Asbestos Found At Plattsburgh, NY Site
An article titled "Asbestos Found At Nikki's Site; Tear Down Can Start" in the Press Republican Newspaper on August 9, 2011 discusses the condemned bar and rooming house at the corner of Main and Academy streets that partially collapsed on July 25 and damaged the adjacent property, known as the Faubert Building in Plattsburgh, New York. Testing confirmed that the debris from the collapse of Nikki's Place contains asbestos.
According to the article, Dilshad Perera, on-site coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said that as soon as the estimated funding needed for the cleanup is in place, a certified asbestos-abatement contractor can be hired to safely haul the material away.
We assume this project is using the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Industrial Code Rule 56 section on controlled demolition with asbestos in place. Though it does surprise me that the EPA is on-site versus NYSDOL.
According to the article, Dilshad Perera, on-site coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said that as soon as the estimated funding needed for the cleanup is in place, a certified asbestos-abatement contractor can be hired to safely haul the material away.
We assume this project is using the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Industrial Code Rule 56 section on controlled demolition with asbestos in place. Though it does surprise me that the EPA is on-site versus NYSDOL.
Related articles
- NYS Senate Considering Asbestos Notification Fee Changes (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYSDOL Asbestos Inspector Indicted in Kensington Towers Probe (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Disposal Company Charged With Illegal Dumping Of Asbestos (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Canada Blocks Asbestos's Placement on UN's List of Hazardous Substances (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Flooding Devastating Upstate New York, Vermont, & Quebec, Too (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Did You Know? (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Monday, August 15, 2011
Future Environment Designs Sponsors Mycobacterium tuberculosis: TB Video.
Image by Microbe World via FlickrFuture Environment Designs is proud to sponsor a new informational video on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the topic of Tuberculosis (TB) which is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Related articles
- New WHO guidelines call for more evidence on drug-resistant TB (eurekalert.org)
- Scientists explain unique activity of TB drug pyrazinamide (eurekalert.org)
- Many TB Tests Lead To Misdiagnoses, Warns World Health Organization (meridiannurse.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Dose Post: Tuberculosis (nursingadream.wordpress.com)
- Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- March 24th was world TB day (jepoirrier.org)
Friday, August 12, 2011
White House and EPA Misled Public on Air Quality After 9/11 Attack.
Image by Getty Images via @daylifeBased on a New York Times article "Public Misled on Air Quality After 9/11 Attack, Judge Says" - Federal judge Deborah A. Batts of Federal District Court in Manhattan, found that Christine Whitman, when she led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), made "misleading statements of safety" about the air quality near the World Trade Center in the days after the Sept. 11 attack. These statements may have put the public in danger. This pointed criticism of Mrs. Whitman came in a ruling by the judge in a 2004 class action lawsuit on behalf of residents and schoolchildren from downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn who say they were exposed to air contamination inside buildings near the trade center. The suit, against Mrs. Whitman, other former and current EPA officials and the agency itself, charges that they failed to warn people of dangerous materials in the air and then failed to carry out an adequate cleanup. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and want the judge to order a thorough cleaning. In her ruling, Judge Batts decided not to dismiss the case against Mrs. Whitman, who is being sued both as former administrator of the EPA and as an individual.
In a separate but similar article by CBS News titled "W. House Molded EPA's 9/11 Reports", the EPA's internal watchdog found that the White House influenced the statements released by the EPA and that the data did not support the statements that were released. Making the 9/11 tragedy even deeper considering the amount of harm we did to ourselves by these actions.
In a separate but similar article by CBS News titled "W. House Molded EPA's 9/11 Reports", the EPA's internal watchdog found that the White House influenced the statements released by the EPA and that the data did not support the statements that were released. Making the 9/11 tragedy even deeper considering the amount of harm we did to ourselves by these actions.
Related articles
- Federal Court Asked to Order Deadline for Action on Smog Standards (yubanet.com)
- Former Pres. George W. Bush to be in NYC to mark 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks (nj.com)
- US Concerned Over 9/11 Anniversary Attacks (israelnationalnews.com)
- Firefighters will fetch World Trade Center beam for 9/11 memorial in Federal Way (pnwlocalnews.com)
- New World Trade Center Now Officially Tallest Building In Lower Manhattan (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- US EPA releases scientific integrity policy (blogs.nature.com)
- Don't Blame EPA for What the Clean Air Act Requires (volokh.com)
- E.P.A. Chief Stands Firm as Tough Rules Loom (nytimes.com)
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