3.0) Safety & Health: (page 2 of 2)

3.13) Accidents: Accidents should be reported to management, and an accident report should be completed in an expedient fashion.

Accident report should be completed on Workers Compensation carrier approved forms and forwarded to their respective insurance carrier.

3.14) First Aid Kit: A properly stocked first aid kit should be available at the loss site.

3.15) Immunization: Workers should be immunized against water related hazards before performing mitigation services on #2 Gray Water, #3 Black Water, sewage back-flow or protein fire losses.

Local health professionals should be consulted for evaluation and recommendation on the types of immunization required.

3.16) Fire Extinguisher: A fully charged fire extinguisher of the appropriate type should be at the loss site at all times.  Fire extinguishers should be inspected per governing standards and display the appropriate inspection stickers. 

3.17) MSDS: Per OSHA hazardous communication standards, MSDS sheets for chemicals, cleaning agents and building materials should be available at all times.

Contractors should have a hazard communication policy in-place, as set forth by OSHA.

3.18) Equipment Decontamination: Contractors equipment and tooling should be cleaned and decontaminated after each project.

Equipment used for # 2 Gray Water, # 3 Black Water, sewage back-flow, mold remediation and protein fires should be decontaminated before being placed in storage.   

3.19) Emergency Tips - Do's and Don'ts Brochure! Contractors should familiarize themselves with the ASCR Emergency Tips - Do's and Don'ts When Disaster Strikes! brochure.  The Emergency Tips - Do's and Don'ts When Disaster Strikes! brochure provides helpful hints for consumers on what they should and should not do after a fire, smoke or water loss.

 

3.20) Threshold Limit Value: The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has listed the threshold limit value (TLV) of chemical and airborne substances.  This listing represents the condition and levels workers can be exposed to a listed  airborne substances without adverse affects.

Threshold limit value refer to the airborne concentration using the tome weight concentration of a substance over a defined period:

     - Short-Term Exposure Limit: STEL is generally for
       15 minutes or less
     - Time-Weighted Average: TWA as concentration
       measured over a defined time period, e.g.
       15 minutes to 7 to 10 hours
     - Ceiling Limit:  CL concentration level that shall not
       be exceeded over a time period, e.g. instantaneous
       to ca. 5 minutes

Some substance exposure limits are rated using ceiling limits Vs threshold limit values due to the fast acting nature of the substance.  The ceiling limit refers to the substances definite boundary and shall not be exceeded.

Contractors should cross reference their chemicals and cleaning agents with the threshold limit values and ceiling limits found in the TLV’s, Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substance in Workroom Air by the ACGIH. 

When a TLV listed chemical is being used, all persons exposed should follow the guidelines and standards set forth by ACGIH, OSHA, NIOSH, etc.

Chemically sensitive persons could have reactions at or below the threshold limit values.

Table 3-B represents a brief group listing of chemical contaminates rated by their Threshold Limit Values by the ACGIH.
 

 
Threshold Limit Values (TLV’s) for
Chemical Substances in Workroom Air
Source: ACGIH - 1973
Table 3-B

3.21) Hazardous Substances: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) compiles an annual Finalized Toxicological Profile by Congressional Mandate.

When confronted with a toxic substance listed within the ATSDR Finalized Toxicological Profile listing, work should stop, and  the ATSDR Emergency Response Department should be contacted.

3.22) Cleaning for Health: Fire, smoke and water losses should be cleaned for health first and appearance second.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC's) produced from a peril should be removed and the surfaces should be mitigated to their pre-existing condition. 

The sanitary level of a structure and its surfaces as affected from a loss will generally result in the surface being cleaned to a level greater than its pre-existing condition.  While in special situations such as a hospital operating room or a computer room with a electrostatic discharge (EDS) environment would result in the area and its surfaces to be cleaned to its pre-existing condition.

When cleaning a surface after a loss, normal soiling and dust removal should be included as a part of the process. 

The selecting of disinfectants or sanitizing agents should be determined by the contaminates being treated and the specific end result required.  To apply a disinfectant to state a disinfectant was applied should not be acceptable.

When disinfecting or sanitizing a loss site, present contaminates should be identified and treated, while potential contaminates such as moist organic surfaces offering possible mold formation should be evaluated and possibly treated.
 

3.23) Contaminate Reduction Levels: When decontaminating a space or surface, the use of the space and its surfaces would determine the de-contamination level desired.  The contaminate being treated, surface characteristics, and toxic levels would determine the type of chemical (disinfectant, sanitizer) and the chemical exposure time required to reach the desired decontamination level.

Decontamination levels should be classified as:

    - Sterile: 100% contaminate free
    - Disinfected: 95% contaminate free
    - Sanitary: Level to which contaminates poses no health risk

© Copyright 1998-2007 William Yobe

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3.23.a) Sanitary Levels: Sanitary levels should be determined by the space use and surface use.

Sanitary does not mean 100% contaminate free, but an acceptable level that the specific contaminate residual values should be reduced to.  Colony forming units (CFU's) or relative life units (RLU's) should be used to rate sanitary levels.

3.23.b) Colony Forming Units: Colony forming units (CFU's) are measured using the logarithmic factor, which is the power that a base number must be raised to equal a given number.  The determination of CFU's concentration would be based using the dilution theory.

Different surfaces would require different CFU formation after cleaning.  As an example: a hospital operating room would require lower CFU formation than the general offices within a hospital.

Listed below are some CFU classification levels specified for specific industry room or surface use requirements:

    - Pharmaceutical Clean Room …10 CFU per Square Inch
    - Hospital OR Room ................…75 CFU per Square Inch
    - HEPA Cleaned Surface .....100-200 CFU per Square Inch
    - Indoor Surface ................…10000 < CFU per Square Inch

The University of Minnesota has developed a "rough set" of CFU concentration levels that could be followed when cleaning and sanitizing HVAC ductwork:

      Concentration        - Levels -       Contamination
          < 10,000  .....................................  low
          10,000 to 100,000  ......................  medium
          100,000 to 1,000,000  .................  medium to heavy
          > 1,000,000  ................................  heavy

When disinfecting or sanitizing within public or private buildings that effect commerce.  The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Amendment Act (FHAA) should be considered due to the possibility of CFU's infecting persons that are HIV positive, have AIDS or lung complications. 

When cleaning or sanitizing to a CFU value, an industrial hygienist or competent person should be consulted.

3.23.c) HVAC Cleanliness Levels: The cleaning procedures set forth by the National Air Duct Cleaners Associations (NADCA) ACR 2005 Standard should be the minimum set of requirements when cleaning HVAC systems. 

While there are no standardized indoor microbial contaminate levels stated for private or public building general use, HVAC systems should be visually inspected for dirt, dust, mold, etc. before cleaning, as well as after cleaning per NADCA.

Public and commercial facilities that affect commerce should meet minimum ADA requirements.  While the HVAC cleaning levels within specific industry facilities such as hospitals; HMO's, clean rooms, etc. should meet an industries’ minimum standards and regulations with respect to their contaminate reduction levels.

When evaluating an HVAC systems contaminate levels, the CFU concentration levels provide by the University of Minnesota, as described in Section 3.23.b could apply.

Contaminated fiberglass duct systems cannot be properly inspected through normal visualization since contaminates can hide beneath the duct lining.  When hidden conditions are suspected, samples should be taken by an industrial hygienist or competent person.  Moreover, duct liners shall conform with NFPA 90A and NFPA 90B flame spread standards.

An application of a disinfectant (biocidal agent) should only be applied to HVAC systems "when active fungal growth is reasonably suspected, or where unacceptable levels of fungal contamination have been verified through testing" per NADCA.  While, only disinfectant or biocidal agents approved for HVAC systems by the EPA should be used.

HVAC systems after cleaning “should not contain contaminates that exceed concentrations known to impair health or cause discomfort to occupants. Such contaminates include various gases, vapors, microorganisms, smoke, and other particulate matter” per ASHRAE.

© 1999 ASHRAE. Reprinted with permission of the American Society of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., Atlanta, GA.

3.23.d) HVAC System Inspection and Cleaning: Testing methods and procedures performed on HVAC systems should meet the minimum standards and guidelines set forth by AIHA, ASHRAE, NADCA and NIOSH.

HVAC particle collection equipment, when exhausting inside a building, should be equipped with a HEPA filtration that has a 99.97% collection efficiency.

Before the cleaning of an Air Conveyance System (ACS) begins, the HVAC system should be inspected for penetrations and openings that could re-distribute contaminates throughout a structure. 

Some states require that HVAC cleaning contractors have a mechanical contractors license (e.g., Florida and Texas).   

The inspection and testing of HVAC systems for contaminates should be performed by an industrial hygienist or competent person.

When inspecting and evaluating HVAC systems, the HVAC Checklists (short & long forms) provided in the EPA publication; Building Air Quality - A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers, should be integrated into the evaluation and inspection processes.

3.24) ADA - Cleaning, Mitigation and Restoration: When performing cleaning, mitigation or restoration services in public or commercial facilities that affect commerce, services should meet the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when completed.  As an example: surfaces and airborne contaminates should be reduced to levels that do not discriminate against persons with physical or mental impairments such as; "symptomatic or asymptomatic and tuberculosis" diseases.  Or substantially limit a persons’ major life activity, such as breathing when affected with respiratory problems.  This should include persons that are HIV positive or have AIDS, while the ADA states chemical sensitivity, although not listed as a disease, should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The listing of all specific conditions, contagious and non-contagious diseases, or infections that would constitute physical or mental impairments is not possible because of the difficulty of ensuring the comprehensiveness of such a list, per the ADA.  While other conditions and disorders may be identified in the future.   

It is recommended that persons performing services in facilities that fall within the Americans with Disability Act, seek and familiarize themselves with a complete and updated listing of all specific conditions, contagious diseases and non-contagious diseases.  

3.25) Mold (fungi): Mold remediation procedures should conform to the following guidelines:

- EPA Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
- IICRC S520 Mold Remediation Standard
- NYC-DOH Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation
                   of Fungi in Indoor Environments
  
Due to the multiple publications (guidelines) on mold remediation, the following paraphrase should apply when reviewing mold guidelines ... when there is a discrepancy between standards or guidelines, the more restrictive standard or guideline should supersede the lesser provision.

Stachybotrys chartarum mold is a mycotoxin that has been known to cause health complications.  Stachybotrys growth favors high cellulose materials, e.g. straw, grass, saw dust, lumber, etc. (e.g.,  drywall and ceiling tiles support stachybotrys growth).

When stachybotrys mold is buried inside (root) materials, and inaccessible to disinfectants, or when mechanical means of removal would jeopardize the materials mechanical or structural integrity, the damaged materials should be replaced. 

When molds have tested positive as mycotoxins, occupants should be warned of health risks.  In addition, occupants should be informed that non-remediation and improper remediation when mold formation is visible, could result in mycotoxins. 

When selecting a mold remediation contractor, the p1m.com white paper "Discovered Mold --- Now What?" should be reviewed.

3.26) Sewage Backflow: When mitigating sewage backflows, the Suggested Guidelines for Remediation of Damage from Sewage Backflow into Buildings, Journal of Environmental Health, October, 1994, Berry, M., et.  AL should apply.

Sewage backflow and floodwaters that contain sewage and protein pose serious health threats as listed within the following tables:

    -  Diseases Related to Bioaerosols
    -  Disease-Causing Organisms in Sewage

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