Mold Control in Commercial Buildings, Multi-family Units, and Hospitals

When mold goes unnoticed or unaddressed, it can compromise structural integrity, negatively impact indoor air quality, and even pose serious health risks to building occupants. Mold thrives in damp or humid conditions, which are surprisingly easy to find in commercial buildings, multi-unit residential properties, and even hospitals. Facility managers know that regular inspections, timely repairs,… Read more »

What Is The OSHA Updated Hazard Communication Standard? Key Changes Explained

Are you familiar with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) updated Hazard Communication Standard? This essential regulation is designed to protect workers from chemical hazards through improved communication and training. The most significant change is the adoption of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for classifying and labeling chemicals, which ensures consistent information for better… 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 »

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 »

Hazardous Waste Disposal FAQs for Owners and Contractors

There may not be any barrels full of hazardous waste on your construction site, but that doesn’t mean hazardous materials aren’t present. Hazardous waste disposal is of vital concern to building contractors — especially where demolition or remodeling is involved and fines for improper disposal may be severe.  Below is a list of frequently asked… Read more »

When Is an Asbestos Survey Required?

You could save yourself hundreds of thousands of dollars by getting this right. True or False: The U.S. completely banned the use of asbestos in building materials in 1989. That means any commercial building constructed in 1990 or later poses no asbestos risk. Consequently, you don’t need to worry about getting an asbestos survey prior… Read more »

Emergency Response Essentials

A water pipe bursts inside one of your properties, and your maintenance staff responds quickly to stop the flow. After that, you’ll have to make sure areas incurring water damage are addressed and the salvageable building materials are dry before you can begin the work of returning your property to its former condition. You’re in… Read more »

The Smart Way to Manage Hazardous Building Materials in Schools

Imagine the following situation, then ask yourself one question: “Could this happen in my school?” The school’s new Athletic Department administration has received a donation to improve the weight room used by the school’s student-athletes, starting with removal of the tile flooring. The Athletic Department hires a flooring contractor to remove the existing tile flooring… 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 »

Asbestos in Construction Materials Testing: Critical Information

Here’s something many people who should know … don’t know: Agencies that approve building and demolition permits require property owners to either presume asbestos is present in the construction materials or to conduct construction materials testing for asbestos to prove it is not. Despite the seriousness of the matter — potential fines, loss of time,… Read more »

How Recent Changes to RRP Rules Affect Property Management

Renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) rules were created by the EPA to protect building occupants and workers from the hazard of “lead poisoning.” Other federal and local bodies are also concerned about the dangers of lead in construction, making it all more important to be aware of the pertinent regulations before beginning a project in… Read more »

Lead Water Testing for Schools: What’s Coming Down the Pipe?

School lead water testing…we did that already, didn’t we? Yes, but there are signs indicating there is more to come. The voluntary program launched by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2017 formally ended in July of 2019. However, recent legislation requires testing lead in water for all licensed Child Care Centers (CCCs) in… Read more »

Construction Site Safety Blind Spots

Projects need to be completed within the budget and on time. That pressure can contribute to overlooking risks and a failure to recognize or correct unsafe conditions. The consequences of succumbing to that pressure are real and can sometimes be catastrophic to the lives of workers and their families. Fatalities in construction occupations rose six… Read more »

Managing Waterborne Pathogen Risks During Hospital Construction

All demolition, construction, and renovation activities in healthcare facilities — whether planned or unplanned — require a pre-construction risk assessment (PCRA). Some guidance documents refer to this procedure as an “Infection Control Risk Assessment” (ICRA). The Joint Commission’s Environment of Care Standard establishes the framework.  Certain concerns tend to get the most attention during renovation… Read more »

Have Schools Forgotten About AHERA?

Here’s an amazing fact: Many people — even those who occupy decision-making positions in school districts — have no idea what AHERA is, what is required of the school district to comply, the current status of their schools’ reports, or how to comply with AHERA in a cost-effective manner.  Chances are high that you’re either… Read more »

Silica in Construction, 3 Years Later: What We’ve Learned

OSHA announced the final rule concerning worker protection from occupational exposures to respirable crystalline silica in March of 2016. Enforcement of the standard began in September of 2017.  That rule provides two options for compliance: Employers can either assess exposure and implement controls on a task-by-task basis to ensure exposure falls below the permissible exposure… Read more »

Lead in School Drinking Water: Are Students at Risk?

You’re attending an event at a public school, and you’re thirsty. Your choices are to buy a soft drink from the machine or refill your empty water container at the drinking fountain in the hallway. You’d prefer a cold bottle of spring water, but that selection is sold out. Question: Would you have any fear… Read more »

Maintaining Asbestos & Lead Certifications during COVID-19 “Shelter-in-Place” Restrictions

Although the shelter-in-place order is still in effect in the state of California, Cal-OSHA & CDPH will not be extending lead and asbestos certification deadlines. Refresher trainings and renewal applications will still need to be completed before your certifications expire in order to maintain your status. The challenge: how do you complete training with shelter-in-place restrictions? The… Read more »

PCB Screening Surprises: Don’t Get Caught Unaware

Are you concerned about the new PCB screening requirement affecting building demolitions in the San Francisco Bay area? If you’re a commercial building owner or building construction contractor, you should be — even if you don’t operate in California. In an effort to reduce the amount of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) pollutants entering San Francisco Bay,… Read more »

California Lead in Construction Rules Are Changing Soon

These Changes Will Affect Every General Contractor, Trade Contractor, Maintenance Team, and Custodial Crew in California Cal/OSHA has been working for over eight years to revise its Lead in Construction (8 CCR 1532.1) and Lead in General Industry standards (8 CCR 5198).  The current laws were essentially copied from federal regulations and have been in… Read more »

New EPA Lead Hazard Standards Will Soon Apply

Owners and managers of child-occupied buildings constructed prior to 1978 will soon face more stringent lead hazard reduction requirements from the EPA. The move is meant to help lower the risk of childhood lead exposure and curb the various physical disorders lead can cause. In this article, we’ll provide an FAQ overview of the final… Read more »

PCB Assessments Required for Building Demolitions: Important Changes to Note

Beginning July 1, 2019, property owners, demolition contractors, real estate developers, and anyone planning to demolish a structure built or remodeled between January 1, 1950 and December 31, 1980 in the San Francisco Bay Area will face stringent new permit requirements aimed at reducing the amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) entering San Francisco Bay. These… Read more »