Tuesday, December 30, 2008

New York City Department of Health Info on Fiberglass

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has a webpage dedicted to fiberglass information and health effects. The site is located at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/fiberglass-fact.shtml and provides information on

What is fiberglass?
Who is most likely to be exposed to fiberglass?
What are the health effects of fiberglass?
How can workers reduce their exposure to fiberglass?
How can building occupants or others reduce their exposure to fiberglass?
Are there medical tests to evaluate exposure to fiberglass?
How can I get more information?

For answers to the above questions as well as additional information go to the NYCDOHMH website

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Great Article on Avoiding Potential Toxins in Your Building

A great article on potential toxins in building can be found at The Cooperator website. The article discusses potential toxins in buildings that property managers, supervisors, owners, etc. should be aware of including asbestos, lead, CO, Radon and Mold.

Source: http://cooperator.com/articles/1847/1/Avoiding-Toxins-in-Your-Building/Page1.html

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Mold In The Workplace - CDC Information

As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) website, http://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm - listed are some facts about mold. One of the items listed is about mold in the workplace as follows:

I’m sure that mold in my workplace is making me sick.

If you believe you are ill because of exposure to mold in the building where you work, you should first consult your health care provider to determine the appropriate action to take to protect your health. Notify your employer and, if applicable, your union representative about your concern so that your employer can take action to clean up and prevent mold growth. To find out more about mold, remediation of mold, or workplace safety and health guidelines and regulations, you may also want to contact your local (city, county, or state) health department.
You should also read the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, at

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/mold_remediation.html.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace by OSHA

As per the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine, Office of Science and Technology Assessment http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib101003.html

Concern about indoor exposure to mold has increased along with public awareness that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions. This safety and health information bulletin provides recommendations for the prevention of mold growth and describes measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and workers involved in mold cleanup and prevention. This bulletin is directed primarily at building managers, custodians, and others responsible for building maintenance, but may also be used as a basic reference for those involved in mold remediation. By reading this safety and health information bulletin, individuals with little or no experience with mold remediation may be able to reasonably judge whether mold contamination can be managed in-house or whether outside assistance is required. The advice of a medical professional should always be sought if there are any emerging health issues. This document will help those responsible for building maintenance in the evaluation of remediation plans. Contractors and other professionals (e.g. industrial hygienists or other environmental health and safety professionals) who respond to mold and moisture situations in buildings, as well as members of the general public, also may find these guidelines helpful. The information in these guidelines is intended only as a summary of basic procedures and is not intended, nor should it be used, as a detailed guide to mold remediation. These guidelines are subject to change as more information regarding mold contamination and remediation becomes available.

The remainder of the guide can be found at http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib101003.html

Monday, December 1, 2008

USEPA Publications and Resources on Mold

As per the USEPA's website (http://www.epa.gov/mold/), several publications and resources are listed for mold related issues.

Publications and Resources

Read "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" (también disponible en español como un archivo en formata PDF (PDF, 20 pp, 1.17MB)).

If you are a building manager, custodian, or other person responsible for commercial buildings and school maintenance, read "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings". (This guidance also applies to residences.)