Retail and restaurant owners face environmental risks

Restaurants can be affected by
environmental risk factors.

Owning retail space or a facility that serves food takes a lot of work.

A major part of the responsibilities involve environmental due diligence and risk management, according to an article on GlobeSt.com.

There are a lot of environmental concerns that retail and restaurant owners need to take into consideration.

First, retail owners need to identify certain businesses and industries that work with hazardous toxins:

Drycleaners: Drycleaning operations often use solvents and toxic chemicals that can contaminate the soil, groundwater or indoor air.

Auto Shops: Spaces that service cars use many petroleum-based and hazardous substances that can contaminate soil and indoor air and expose workers and clients to the toxins.

Gas Stations: Underground storage tanks for fuel pose risks for leaks. Even if there is a gas station adjacent to the property, experts warn of vapor intrusion in case of leaks that can affect the health and well-being of occupants.

Indoor Air Quality

Retail and restaurant spaces suffer from the same indoor air quality problems as other indoor spaces – except their concerns may be compounded because of the merchandise or patronage.

For example, fashion stores often stock tons of merchandise that has been treated with chemicals. New electronic equipment releases toxins into the ambient air. New furniture and carpets off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flame retardants.

Many air cleaners can be hidden behind
walls or above drop-down ceilings.

The air in restaurants may be compromised by food odors, smoke and other pollutants.

After the initial assessment of the property history and current environmental risks, a proper management strategy needs to be put in place that includes various scenarios and responses as well as preventive measures.

A comprehensive IAQ management strategy will take source control, ventilation and air cleaning into account. Regular ventilation systems are often not enough to remove harmful pollutants.

An easy and cost-efficient alternative to renovations is using an industrial-strength air cleaner with activated carbon and HEPA.

Electrocorp specializes in air treatment systems for the hospitality industry and for retail spaces that can remove chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold.

Contact us for more information and a personalized recommendation.