Schools need to manage mold and moisture: EPA

Potential health effects and safe clean-up practices

Mold exposure can trigger asthma,
allergic reactions and more problems.

As you prepare for spring’s warmer weather, consider taking some time to review your district’s policies and procedures related to mold and moisture control.

Schools should be proactive in their moisture control practices, which are the key to controlling indoor mold growth.

Molds are a major source of indoor allergens and can trigger asthma in sensitive individuals.

Even when spores are dead or unable to grow, mold can cause health effects, such as allergic reactions.

The types and severity of health effects associated with exposure to mold depend, in part, on the type of mold present and the extent of the occupants’ exposure and existing sensitivities or allergies.

Prompt and effective remediation of moisture problems is essential to minimize potential mold exposures and their potential health effects. These negative health effects can lead to increased absenteeism and reduced performance in both staff and students.

To learn more about how IAQ issues, including mold and moisture, can affect student and staff performance, visit http://epa.gov/iaq/schools/benefits.html.

How should mold be safely cleaned?

It is essential to clean up mold as well as excess water or moisture, because moisture is the key to mold control.

If the excess water or moisture problem is not fixed, mold will most likely grow again, even if the area is completely cleaned.

Clean hard surfaces with water and detergent and dry them quickly and completely.

Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles may have to be discarded if the mold cannot be completely removed.

To clean up mold safely and effectively, staff should wear waterproof gloves during clean up and should not touch mold or moldy items with bare hands.

Respiratory protection should also be used in most remediation situations to prevent inhalation exposure to mold.

10 tips to control mold and moisture in schools this spring

1. Establish a mold prevention and remediation plan within your greater IAQ management program.
2. View the IAQ Reference Guide on Mold and Moisture for tips on identifying and correcting common mold and moisture issues.
3. Inspect all school buildings for signs of mold, moisture, leaks or spills, or evidence of past water damage.
4. Prevent moisture condensation by increasing surface temperature, installing proper insulation and improving air circulation.
5. Eliminate sources of moisture by reducing indoor humidity; maintain indoor humidity levels between 30 and 60 percent.
6. Respond promptly when you see signs of moisture and/or mold or when leaks or spills occur. Dry all wet areas within 24 to 48 hours.
7. Perform regular heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) inspections and maintenance as scheduled. Ensure HVAC drip pans are clean, unobstructed and flowing properly.
8. Review EPA’s “Mold Remediation in Schools and Large Buildings” to learn about mold growth in schools and how it can be managed.
9. Educate school community members, including teachers, school officials, and facilities and maintenance staff , on the importance of mold and moisture control.
10. Review the Mold and Moisture: Double Trouble for Schools webinar presentation given by Peggy Caruso, IAQ Coordinator for Katy Independent School District in Texas and Todd Spore with PBK Architects. Learn cost-effective solutions to prevent and control mold and moisture, and find technical information about remediating mold or moisture intrusion.

Source: EPA


Take control of the air quality in your school

Electrocorp's RAP series are
sturdy and effective air cleaners.

The air in schools is often polluted with chemicals and particles from cleaning products, building materials, personal care products, educational materials and much more. Source control, adequate ventilation and air cleaning help to control indoor air quality.

Electrocorp's air cleaners for schools and universities remove a wide range of air pollutants with a deep-bed activated carbon filter and HEPA (plus optional UV to neutralize bacteria, viruses and mold spores).

Electrocorp is a trusted manufacturer for air cleaners in many universities and schools across North America.

Contact Electrocorp for more information: 1-866-667-0297 or write to sales@electrocorp.net.

Fragrances banned in some government offices and hospitals

Providing relief to allergy sufferers and chemically sensitive persons

Public buildings can accommodate allergy sufferers
and MCS sufferers with no-scent policies.

As chemical sensitivity and allergy rates soar, many public buildings have become a “no-scent” zone to accommodate those who may react to strong fragrances and perfumes.

In Tuttle, Oklahoma, city hall visitors wearing perfumes are asked to remain at the front of the building. City workers in Portland, Oregon, have been banned from using fragrance.

A medical center in Bremerton, Washington, also asks employees and visitors to skip scents and to choose less fragrant flowers, and a hospital in Windom, Minnesota has been fragrance-free since 1999.

What is in fragrances and perfumes?

Perfumes and fragrances, or aroma compounds, are chemical compounds that have a smell or odor.

Perfumes can also contain essential oils, solvents and fixatives. The precise formula of commercial perfumes and fragrances is often kept secret.

Evidence in peer-reviewed journals shows that some fragrances can cause asthmatic reactions in some individuals, especially those with severe or atopic asthma.

Many fragrance ingredients can also cause headaches, allergic skin reactions or nausea.

In a two-phase population study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, perfume was one of three main culprits of triggering attacks in people with chemical sensitivities, along with cleaning agents and pesticides.

Source: USA Today, other

Cleaning the air indoors with carbon + HEPA filters

While source control is one of the most effective ways to control irritants and indoor air pollutants, it’s not always possible to ensure that such a ban or policy is followed at all times.

Activated carbon: Best filter for
chemicals, odors and gases.

Fortunately, the right type of air cleaner can provide cleaner and healthier air around the clock and without adding any harmful byproducts to the ambient air.

Electrocorp has developed air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that feature a powerful activated carbon and HEPA plus optional UV germicidal filtration combo to offer the best overall protection from common indoor air contaminants.

Among other uses, Electrocorp air cleaners can be found in

• Offices and office buildings
• Hospitals and healthcare settings
• Universities and schools

For more information, contact Electrocorp today: 1-866-667-0297.
  

Chemical allergies cost shipyard worker his job

Exposure to chemicals can cause adverse
health symptoms in many people.

A BC shipyard worker who developed allergies after being exposed to harsh chemicals did not cooperate enough to keep his job and won’t get it back, a court of appeals has ruled.

The man had worked in the machine shop for 35 years but lost his job in 2007 after failing to do a medical exam to determine what work he could do at the shipyard.

The man was considered a competent and motivated worker when he developed an allergic condition in the 1990s, diagnosed as rhinitis and asbestosis.

The workplace made several changes, including upgrades to the ventilation system and doing certain work only when he wasn’t on shift, but in January 2007, he was exposed to a blast of chemicals from cutting oils and solvents in his office and suffered a bad allergic reaction.

He told his bosses he wasn’t willing to work in the shipyard anymore, but also refused to get tested to see how he could be accommodated.

Source: North Shore News

Remove dangerous fumes and odors with air cleaners

Chemical allergies can affect many people who are exposed to low doses of chemicals over a long time or to a large dose once (chemical injury).

The best way to protect workers is to implement strict health and safety procedures, use less toxic compounds whenever possible, provide adequate ventilation and use an efficient air cleaner.

Electrocorp offers portable as well as other highly efficient air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that can remove airborne chemicals, gases, fumes and odors as well as other pollutants like particles, dust, mold, bacteria and viruses.

The air cleaners feature a deep-bed activated carbon and HEPA filter system, plus optional UV germicidal filtration.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.
 

Allergies at work – how to control symptoms

Allergies can lead to poor productivity
and missed work days, experts say.

Allergies are on the rise, and economists are warning about the impact they have on a company’s bottom line.

A study published in Current Research and Opinion reported that about 55 percent of employees experienced hay fever symptoms for an average of 52.5 days and they missed an average of 3.6 days per year because of their allergies.

During the allergy seasons, they could be unproductive for about 2.3 hours per workday because of their symptoms.

A different study, published in the American Journal of Managed Care, estimated that allergies cost companies more than $601 million in total lost productivity each year.

Lost productivity and missed work days were common when it came to allergies because the symptoms could be pretty rough on workers.

Beside sniffling and sneezing (which workers might have been able to ignore), many employees suffer from sore throats, headaches, sinus infections, itchy eyes, fatigue and general malaise.

According to allergists, many workers could treat their allergies more aggressively to prevent these symptoms from interfering with their work.

Treatment possibilities include

• Begin taking medications earlier: Instead of waiting for allergy symptoms to become almost unbearable, taking allergy medications earlier can help prevent complications. Earlier means a few weeks before allergy season starts.
    
• Stick with your meds: Some medications (like nasal sprays) take up to five days to be effective, so stopping after a few days won’t do. Ask your health care provider if nothing seems to be working.
    
• Don’t forget nights: A good night’s sleep is important for productivity and well-being. Experts suggest taking an antihistamine at night. Opt for one that can make you drowsy.
    
• Keep eye drops handy: Prescription antihistamine eye drops can help control symptoms when you first feel an itch coming on.
    
• Use an air purifier to control airborne allergens and pollen: Keeping an air purifier with a HEPA filter in the bedroom and at work can help control exposure to allergens and other pollutants.

Source: Fox News

Air cleaners for the office and home

Electrocorp offers highly efficient and portable air purifiers for those suffering from allergies and asthma.

They can be used in the office or at home and they provide maximum particle and allergen control with the best HEPA filters as well as deep-bed activated carbon filters and other filters to remove pollutants that might cause or aggravate allergic symptoms.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.

Allergic reaction at work: When the workplace is making you sick

Some workplaces expose employees to
a wide range of contaminants.

Sick Building Syndrome is not a catch word from two decades ago that has since been forgotten.

A growing number of employees and workers file complaints about their workplace, saying it makes them sick.

It is common for buildings to expose workers to irritants that can lead to headaches, eyes, nose and throat irritation, respiratory problems and more.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), indoor air quality (IAQ) is “a major concern” because it can impact the health, comfort, well-being and productivity of building occupants and employees.

If a building has humidity or ventilation problems, occupants may be exposed to mold, chemicals, gases, odors, particles and other contaminants.

Here are some common workplace concerns and possible solutions.

The PrintSafe for large
office printers.

Office workers’ nemesis: Dust and mold as well as chemical emissions from office equipment, printers and other products can affect people’s health and well-being. Solutions: Better ventilation, building maintenance and mold remediation, portable air cleaners for offices, source capture air cleaner for office printers.

Salon and spa safety and health: Salon and spa products can contain or release irritating fumes and chemicals that can cause reactions in workers and clients. Solution: More natural products, source capture air cleaners for salons and spas.

Veterinarians’ client conundrum: Animals can trap dander, dust, molds and pollen that can lead to allergic reactions. Solution: Room air cleaners like the ones used for dental labs.

The RAP Series: Air cleaners
for law enforcement agencies
and commercial/industrial use.

Construction chaos: Construction sites often feature high levels of dust, fibers and chemical fumes. Solutions: Personal protective equipment (including masks), good ventilation, portable air cleaners like those used for mold and asbestos abatement.

Evidence protection problems: Law Enforcement agencies often have to deal with packed evidence rooms, marijuana storage and associated aspergillus mold problems, other drugs and chemical fumes. And don’t forget the administrative side of things. Solutions: Good ventilation, proper storage techniques and room maintenance, 24-7 use of an industrial-strength air cleaner for law enforcement agencies.

Many professions and industries can expose workers to irritants and poor indoor air quality.

An effective air cleaner with activated carbon + HEPA + UV filtration can help remove the widest range of contaminants, including chemicals, gases, odors, dust, particles, pollen, bacteria, viruses and mold.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations based on your workplace and IAQ concerns.