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Industrial Hygiene Services
Indoor Air Quality Evaluations:
The use of chemicals in everyday fabrics and materials has proliferated over the past 30 years, coinciding with closed HVAC systems allowing minimal outside air, which can often result in higher humidity within a building. In some cases, this combination results in chemical vapors and gasses, and the presence of biological agents such as bacteria and fungi being contained within and distributed throughout a building, causing discomfort and even illness to building occupants. This phenomenon is frequently referred to as the "Sick Building" Syndrome.
While indoor air quality is not specifically regulated, it is receiving more emphasis from EPA as observer in their publication, "Building Air Quality." The very real effects of the "Sick Building" Syndrome are disrupted business operations, low employee morale, diversions of management time and efforts, and real or threatened actions of law. NetCompliance has been diagnosing "Sick Buildings" since 1991 with its specialized staff of technicians, microbiologists, and toxicologists.
Airborne Contaminants and PEL Monitoring:
OSHA has established Permissible Exposure Limits ("PELs") for over 600 air contaminants, including such particulates and chemicals as welding fumes, wood dust, nuisance dusts, chlorine dioxide, solvents, ammonia, formaldehyde, and cleaning solvents. Industries affected by these PELs include dry cleaners, chemical and petrochemical plants, pulp and paper mills, and virtually every other process industry; hospitals, laboratories; fabricators, painting operations, printers, and most other businesses which use chemicals.
·Indoor Air Quality Testing & Employee Training
·Radon Testing and Mitigation
·Confined Space Monitoring
·OSHA Exposure Assessments
·I.H. Program Development
·Mold Investigations & IH Sampling
·Hazardous Operations Site Specific Training
Industrial Occupational Safety Services:
Safety Management has emerged in recent times as a quantifiable cost-reducing factor to industry. Enhanced client/contractor relations, improved production, higher quality products, and positive employee moral and greater operational efficiency is products of safety awareness.
NetCompliance Environmental Services LLC is dedicated to the safe and economical completion of projects. Providing programs and services, which meet and/or exceed client expectations, are at the heart of our commitment. Our approach is to provide project specific consulting, relying upon an entire team of professionals from diverse industrial backgrounds, disciplines and education
Our Safety Consultants have unique professional and educational backgrounds collectively representing nearly 20 years experience in the safety industry. Some of our backgrounds include:
·Risk assessments and turn-key development of safety programs - all or part
·Coordination and quality assurance of contractor and employee safety in high-risk construction projects from project inception to completion
·Project Specific Safety Services
Essential to overall facility safety is the control and handling of hazardous substances and chemicals, regulated by OSHA through the Process Safety Management ("PSM") standards. From initial hazard identification and risk assessments to computerized simulations of system control and operation, the NetCompliance Environmental Services LLC team of certified industrial hygienists, certified safety professionals, risk assessment technicians, and computer software designers can assist facility management in development and implementation of PSM Programs.
Regardless of your occupational safety need-- from PSM to PEL monitoring to noise studies, health and safety programs, respirator training and fit testing, and implementation training. NetCompliance staff stands ready to assist employers in achieving a safe and healthful work environment.
Asbestos/Facilities Management Services:
A naturally occuring mineral, was once known as a "miracle fiber." It is inexpensive, readily available and contains a number of outstanding properties. The fibers create an excellent matrix, possessing the tinsel strength of steel, a resistance to extreme temperatures and imperviousness to most chemicals. Asbestos was used in conjunction with a variety of glues, cements, and mixtures to manufacture over 2,600 different products. These products were used in virtually every aspect of building and facility construction. In addition to widely known applications including fireproofing, thermal insulation, friction devices and cements, asbestos was also used to manufacture paint, floor tile, mastics, roofing material, caulking, siding, drywall, ceiling texture, etc. Virtually all homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities, regardless of construction dates, may contain asbestos containing construction products.
Congress identified asbestos as a regulated material posing a "significant risk" to human health and the environment. Various regulatory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), were mandated to promulgate regulations which would minimize the risk. The regulations, written in 1970, have been amended many times over.OSHA issued new regulations on August 10, 1994 which would further reduce the risk to all employees occupationally exposed to asbestos containing materials. The new rules require building/facility owners to identify, quantify and demarcate asbestos containing thermal and surfacing materials in buildings/facilities constructed prior to 1980. These materials must be "presumed to contain asbestos until rebutted via objective data," e.g. AHERA inspection or multiple bulk sample analysis. (The new rules require additional employee training, personal protective equipment, a reduction of the permissible exposure limit by 100%, initial exposure assessments, mandatory hazard communication to employees and employers, and "downstream" notification to future building owners regarding the presence, location and quantity of asbestos containing materials.) The rule establishes classes of work activities that transcend conventional applications and interpretations of construction and general industry standards.
EPA regulations ratified in response to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, "NESHAPS"), require notification prior to demolition, renovation or repair. If asbestos is present, quantities which are to be removed and/or left in place must be identified on a notification form. Asbestos must be inspected, removed, packaged, manifested, transported and disposed of by licensed workers, permitted haulers and approved landfills.State and local regulations further complicate compliance with significant differences in regulatory requirements from one state to another. These local regulations are often more stringent than the Federal Regulations.
Our services in this area are designed to assist commercial building owners, industrial sites and government faculty in managing environmental matters in their facilities and occupational safety related to employees in a cost-effective manner. Areas of expertise include safety services, asbestos, lead, industrial hygiene and environmental issues. Specialized compliance programs for the continual updating of regulations requiring identification of Presumed Asbestos-Containing Materials (PACM) are a primary service offered.
·Survey Designation, Identification & Assessment, Ops & Maintenance Programs
·Project Design, Specifications, Scope of Work
·Pre-Demolition/Renovation Inspections
·Remediation Project Administration
·Personnel and Management Awareness Training
·EPA AHREA inspection utilization of HMIM data base program
Lead-Based Paint Management Services:
Administrative Decisions - Regulatory Compliance - 29 CFR Part 1926.62
These decisions may include things such as limiting the number of personnel involved in covered activities, rotation of employees to lower exposures, etc. These decisions may reduce the need for training, medical examinations, etc.
Training - Prepare training materials and provide training as required for
·HAZCOM 1926.59;
·Respiratory Protection 1910.134;
·Access to records 1910.20; and
·Lead Training 1926.62.
Initial Biological Monitoring - Perform biological monitoring as required for persons exposed at or above the action level on any one work day or as decided upon to generate baseline data.
Equipment/Supply Purchases - The need for showers, hand wash facilities, HEPA filtered equipment, etc. may be required to accomplish the work, however, this is dependent upon administrative decisions.
Initial Exposure Assessment - Perform initial exposure assessments to determine the exposure to employees performing those tasks. Air samples must be representative of full shift exposures and include a sample for each job classification.
Written Compliance Program (where required) - After the Initial Exposure Assessment, those tasks which emit exposures in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit must have a Written Compliance Program. This program must contain certain information identified in the regulation and must be updated every 6 months.
Medical Surveillance Program (where required) - Institute a Medical Program for those individuals who are exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days in any consecutive 12 months.Respiratory Protection Program
Implement a Respiratory Program in accordance with 1910.134 (b), (d), and (f) for those employees working in situations where exposures require, and during the interim prior to performance of an Initial Exposure Assessment.
Storage/Disposal
Properly store, treat, transport and dispose of contaminated waste and debris in accordance with Local, State, and Federal regulations and company policies.
EPA HUD Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced in spring of 1996 efforts to ensure that the public receives the information necessary to prevent lead poisoning in homes that may contain lead-based paint hazards. Beginning in fall 1996, most homebuyers and renters will receive known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards during sales and rentals of housing built before 1978. Buyers and renters will receive specific information on lead-based paint in the housing as well as a Federal pamphlet with practical, low-cost tips on identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards. Sellers, landlords, and their agents will be responsible for providing the information to the buyer or renter before sale or lease.
·EPA HUD Lead Based Paint Inspections and use of HMIM data base program
·Facility OSHA-type Compliance Audits, Survey Identification & Hazard Assessment
·Pre-Demolition/Renovation Inspections
·Compliance Programs (OSHA §1926.62), Worker & Employee Awareness Training
·Facility Reinspections and Program Audits
·Remediation/ Project Manaagement, RCRA Characterization & Disposal Mgmt.
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