California’s new indoor heat illness prevention regulation is the first comprehensive law of its kind in the United States, requiring significant protective measures for workers in indoor environments where temperatures meet or exceed 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Effective immediately, this regulation mandates that employers develop an Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan (IHIPP) that ensures worker access… Read more »
Infectious Disease and Species: Level Sampling For Mold in Healthcare Settings
Sampling for Mold in Healthcare Settings Mold in healthcare settings can pose significant health risks and liability issues. Along with an effective mold and moisture management program, consulting with an environmental health consultant to assist in evaluations will help achieve a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors. This article outlines key standards and guidelines,… Read more »
CAL/OSHA Lead Standards Updates: How We Got Here and Where We’re Going
2,000 years ago lead was used for piping water, minting coins, as an ingredient in cosmetics, to sweeten wines, and for many other things. Lead is malleable, durable, and abundant — all valuable properties for many products still produced today. Unfortunately, lead is also toxic to humans. The Roman architect, Vitruvius, warned about the negative… Read more »
New MSHA Silica Rule Overview
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently updated its standard on respirable crystalline silica (RCS) that took effect on June 17, 2024. These changes follow extensive review of testimonies and written comments from a broad range of stakeholders. Companies operating any mine (metal, non-metal or coal), quarries, sand, gravel, and other aggregate activities should… Read more »
Heat-Related Illness in Industrial Environments: Risks and Prevention Strategies
Heat-related illnesses pose a significant threat to worker health and safety. That’s why it is essential for owners and managers to understand the causes of heat stress, recognize the types of heat-related illnesses, and be ready to implement effective prevention strategies. This article will explore the key factors contributing to heat stress, the various heat-related… Read more »
Heavy Metal Poisoning and You
Dust is everywhere. You’ll find dust in your home, your workplace, and even in your favorite restaurant. Sources of dust are abundant: clothing fibers, paper fibers, skin cells, dust mites, and more. When we walk from one place to another, we create and transport dust. Microscopic particles that present themselves as dust buildup create the… Read more »
Heavy Metal Poisoning: FAQs
Lead is an excellent additive for extending the durability of paint, but lead is toxic to humans. That’s why the residential use of lead-based paint was banned in the United States decades ago. But lead is just one of a group of elements known as “heavy metals.” Your body needs some of those metals (iron,… Read more »
How To Decide Which Supplied Air Respirator Is Best
Choosing a supplied air respirator (SAR) can be a stressful task. Even if you pay top dollar and shop with a trusted supplier, there’s no guarantee the SAR you choose is best for your situation. How, then, can you confirm the supplied air respirator you buy is the best fit for your needs? That’s simple:… Read more »
Healthcare Construction Guidelines Under ICRA 2.0
Infection control risk assessment (ICRA) guidelines clarify the need for careful assessments of construction project activity at healthcare facilities. The ICRA guidelines are not a set of burdensome rules. They provide a framework that can help you navigate the healthcare construction process. Healthcare construction and renovation projects tend to be more strategically demanding than other… Read more »
HVAC Systems Maintenance in Healthcare Settings
Hospitals, clinics, and other specialized healthcare providers present a unique environment where air quality is paramount. Hazards such as surgical smoke, aerosolized medications used in treatments, and airborne infectious agents are commonplace in healthcare and go well beyond the challenges faced in a typical office building or school classroom. The healthcare environment is further complicated… Read more »
Respirable Crystalline Silica Regulations – Cal/OSHA Adopts Emergency Temporary Standard for General Industry
On December 14, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) approved Cal/OSHA language for the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on respirable crystalline silica for General Industry (under California Code of Regulation, Title 8, section 5204). The ETS went into affect on December 29, 2023, which includes and emphasizes revisions to protect workers engaged… Read more »
Changes in COVID Guidance in Regard to Building Ventilation
Building ventilation requirements came to the forefront of indoor environmental quality concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers worldwide asked, “How do we promote healthier indoor environments through effective and efficient ventilation and filtration?” The pandemic was undoubtedly an eye-opener on the importance of mechanical ventilation. The threat helped building managers better understand the performance, maintenance,… Read more »
The Formaldehyde Threat: Enhancing Safety in University Laboratories
Often times preservation solutions used to keep the integrity of specimens utilized for educational purposes in upper education anatomy laboratory courses are overlooked as a source of exposure to harmful agents, one of which is formaldehyde. Faculty and staff who work with specimens in an educational setting may be exposed to harmful levels of agents,… Read more »
Lead in School Drinking Water
Is School Water Safe to Drink? The reality is that lead in school drinking water continues to be a serious concern, with children in many schools potentially drinking water with dangerous levels of lead. Even when water entering a facility meets all federal and state public health standards for lead concentrations, older plumbing materials found… Read more »
Illinois Asbestos Disclosure Requirements for Property Sales and Renovations
Illinois has had a complex history with asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral once widely used in various industries due to its resistance to heat and corrosion. However, its fibers pose serious health risks when inhaled, leading to diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. Due to these risks, the state has established stringent asbestos disclosure laws… Read more »
Chicago Asbestos Regulations: Navigating Compliance for Property Owners
Asbestos has long been a concern in urban environments due to its prevalence, especially in older buildings, and the significant health risks it poses when fibers become airborne. In response to these risks, Chicago has implemented strict regulations on the handling, removal, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. These regulations are designed to protect public health… Read more »
Air Sensor Technology and Indoor Air Quality
A direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a heightened awareness of indoor environmental quality by both building occupants and property owners in the built environment. Direct-reading air quality instruments have long existed to monitor indoor air quality pollutants in real-time. Still, in recent years, advances in sensor technology have resulted in an expansion… Read more »
Influenza and RSV Prevention: Don’t Let Your Guard Down
Don’t let your guard down quite yet. Not only is COVID still a threat to your health, cases of influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are hospitalizing people at abnormally high rates. Those three — COVID, influenza, and RSV — are often collectively termed a “tripledemic.” We’ve written extensively about COVID in previous articles. Here,… Read more »
Fit Testing Respirators
Not only is fit testing required by OSHA, but — when done well — it provides assurance to workers that the employer is properly protecting their health in a potentially hazardous environment. For example, the COVID pandemic created an unprecedented need for healthcare staff to wear respirators during patient care. Entering a room where you… Read more »
The Rising Danger of Fentanyl on Campus
What are the biggest threats colleges and universities face today? You might mention rising tuition rates or the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on classroom teaching – but there’s something else creeping onto campuses at an alarming rate. Much too often, we’re hearing stories like these: The Los Angeles Police Department stepped in during the… Read more »
Understanding the Distinctions Between Respirators, Surgical Masks, and Cloth Face Coverings: FACS Update #6
Public Health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Department of Defense (DoD), and many local or state public health departments, have recently made recommendations or released guidance on the use of cloth face coverings by individuals when in public settings to slow the spread of COVID-19 illness where… Read more »