Workplace safety apps on the rise

New apps help with occupational health and safety tasks.

As the world keeps changing, so does the world of occupational health and safety.

While technology continues to evolve, workplace safety needs to adapt as well.
That’s why cell-phone apps designed for occupational health and safety functions have become important in the marketplace.

New programs for smartphones and tablets can assist with all kinds of tasks, ranging from safety inspections and incident reports to emergency alerts and contacting remote colleagues when alone and in danger.

“Lives are at stake,” says Matthew Ross, media manager with ProntoForms Corporation, a mobile-solution company based in Kanata, Ontario. “People absolutely need to be able to process these types of info as fast as possible.”

ProntoForms has created an app that sends and receives forms and vital work information quickly.

“With the push of a button, the info is sent to wherever you like,” Ross explains. “You can send to a variety of cloud services.”

Such forms could include inspection checklists, safety lists, data on hazardous materials, action reports and even statements from accident witnesses, he adds.

“We’ve got such incredible positive feedback from clients because the processing is so much faster.”

Apart from increased safety, a side benefit of the ProntoForms app is a sharp reduction in paperwork.

“People are looking to help make their lives easier and make their jobs easier,” says Jason Grouette, business manager of the personal safety division for 3M Canada in London, Ontario.

3M Canada provides a practical new app that assists employees assigned to buy safety equipment for their companies, including distributors, health and safety managers and some end users.

Simply called Safety, the app gives the user instant access to more than 2,400 workplace safety products available from 3M.

Honeywell Safety Products in Morristown, New Jersey offers a similar product, the Media App, which gives users access to product information and learning resources on personal protective equipment available from Honeywell.

So why have workplace safety apps become more prevalent?

“We are in a different world that we were a decade ago,” says Grouette. “People have an expectation of finding answers very quickly and addressing problems quickly.”

“It’s driven by a bunch of things,” explains Ross. “The technology on Smartphones and tablets has gotten stronger and more powerful. So it has enabled us to include better features, time-savings, cost savings, high-productivity features. Another thing is the BYOD trend – bring-your-own-device trend – in businesses, so companies are more comfortable with employees using their own devices.”

Ross points out that the construction and oil and gas industries tend to supply ProntoForms’ biggest customers for health and safety products. But restaurant chains also use the ProntoForms app for information about cleanliness and other oh&s issues, he adds.

“The speed of data collection and processing is something that is invaluable in the industry.”

Grouette lists oil and gas, mining and manufacturing as sectors that benefit highly from 3M’s products, including the Safety app.

Many safety apps, including some of the aforementioned ones, are available to employers and workers for free.

Source: OHS Canada

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Firefighters have higher risk of cancer: Study

Study confirms cancer cluster among firefighters in Victoria

Firefighters are exposed to flammable
chemicals, combustion, foams and more.

Firefighters who worked at a Country Fire Authority facility in Victoria’s Ballarat region have a higher incidence of skin, testicular and brain cancers, a comprehensive study has found.

The study, conducted by Monash University, examined cancer and death rates linked to the Fiskville site between 1971 and 1999. It found 69 cancers were among the 606 people who worked and trained there, resulting in 16 deaths.

After releasing the findings, the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, told reporters the research confirmed “beyond any reasonable doubt” that there was a statistically significant increase in cancers associated with firefighters who worked at the site.

“This is a very tragic report,” he said. “The evidence is becoming clearer and clearer each day that people have become sick because of this place. People have died because of this place.”

Researchers found a cancer cluster in the high-risk group, considered to be those who worked full-time on the site training firefighters, and who were exposed to flammable chemicals, combustion, foams and recycled firewater.

Of 95 high-risk workers traced, 25 had cancer and six had passed away from their cancer, the study found.

In December, Andrews announced a landmark parliamentary inquiry to examine pollution, contamination and unsafe activities at Fiskville training centre from 1970 to 1990. It is expected to conclude in June this year.

The commission would provide victims and their families with answers and support, and would consider “how, not whether” those affected and their families would be compensated. “This is sad, tragic, and we’re going to put this right,” Andrews said.

But the risk was a historical one, he said. Many of the chemicals staff came into contact with were no longer used during training.

“For those who work here now, there are very low risks associated with this site today because remediation work has been done,” Andrews said. “There’s ongoing oversight and monitoring of those risks and that vigilance is critically important.”

A spokeswoman for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) said the organisation’s chief executive, Mick Bourke, would not be speaking to the media. “He will be communicating with CFA members at some point today through a blog post,” she said.

An official with the United Firefighters Union Victorian branch, Mick Tisbury, said it was “abhorrent” Bourke had refused to comment. The union was calling for his immediate resignation, he said.

“He and the CFA have been denying there was anything wrong with the place for years, they have put our health and safety at risk.

“We’re not expendable. We have families. We are people.”

Tisbury worked at the Fiskville site for 11 years.

“Every day, we have to live with this at the back of our minds,” he said.

In June last year, there was anger among some firefighters and their families when Cancer Council Victoria released a preliminary report that stated firefighters who worked at Fiskville did not have an increased incidence of cancer.

Cancer Council CEO Todd Harper said the report was commissioned only to look at data readily available by cross-referencing the records of 599 Victorian firefighters with data from the Victorian cancer registry.

“At the time we explained the limitations of this study, including imprecision of the relative risk estimates. So, while the earlier report did not find evidence of a cluster, nor did it rule out the existence of one. The Monash University study takes into account those firefighters who had moved interstate - information which was not available earlier.”

He said the council would like to see coordinated action at a national and state level in order to reduce the burden of harm from occupational cancers.

The co-investigator of the latest study, Professor Malcolm Sim, said the research was now more comprehensive, which is why the findings differed.

“The Cancer Council report only looked at firefighters in Victoria and was only supposed to be a preliminary examination, but what we did is trace firefighters who had moved interstate and we did pick up some cancer in those people,” said Sims, who is director of the Monash centre for occupational and environmental health.

“We also placed people into different categories of exposure based on existing guidelines for doing so. This is quite a major piece of work that used Australian Institute of Health data and took over one year to complete.”

The cancer results “stood right out”, Sims said. “Their death rates from other causes of disease, like heart and respiratory disease, were quite low, because these are healthy, fit people.

“That’s why their cancer results stood right out. There was a big gap between cancer and other diseases you don’t usually see in people like this, with healthy lifestyles.”

Researchers would look in more detail at the specific compounds associated with the cancers among the group, he said.

“The problem is the firefighters studied came into contact with a cocktail of exposures and chemicals, and we don’t know which ones may be contributing to their cancers,” Sims said.

Source: The Guardian

Concerned about chemical exposures at work? Firefighters may be exposed to harmful chemicals and fumes - not only at the sites of fire, but also back at the station. Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA filters to remove the widest range of chemicals, fumes, gases, particles, and more. Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Plastics company cited for chemical, other hazards

Employers need to provide safe and
healthful workplaces: OSHA.

CLEVELAND – New Wave Plastics has been cited for 13 safety violations after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found a lack of training and personal protective equipment at the Cleveland facility, a recycler and plastic products supplier.

After receiving a complaint in November 2013, OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility. Proposed penalties total $51,800.

"Employers have a responsibility to train workers about hazards found in their facilities and to take precautions to prevent injuries and illnesses," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "Employers must ensure workers are protected from hazards and that they receive the required safety training."

Twelve serious violations involve failing to train workers about wearing personal protective equipment; hazards associated with the use of chemicals in the work environment; forklift safety and fire extinguishers; and failure to provide fire-retardant clothing.

New Wave Plastics was also cited for failing to develop a hearing conservation program, create a hazard workplace assessment and develop a hazard communication program. The presence of combustible dust was also found.

An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

One other-than-serious violation was cited for not providing required information to workers on OSHA's respiratory standards. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

New Wave Plastics has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

Source: OSHA

Companies that manufacture, store or handle chemicals need to take the necessary precautions to protect workers from harm. Electrocorp can help manage airborne hazards by removing chemicals, odors, fumes, particles, dust and other contaminants from the ambient air. Electrocorp's air cleaners feature an effective air filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA air filters. Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Company culture of health brings value and success, study shows

Study suggests companies with a ‘culture of health’ may outperform others in the marketplace

Those with strong health, wellness, and safety programs bested S&P 500 average rate of return in investment simulations

Companies that build a culture of health by focusing on the well-being and safety of their workforce may yield greater value for their investors, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM), official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

Healthy and safe employees are good
for business, researchers say.

The stock market performance of companies that had received ACOEM’s Corporate Health Achievement Award (CHAA), which annually recognizes the healthiest and safest companies in North America, was conducted at HealthNEXT LLC and analyzed by lead authors Raymond Fabius, MD, and R. Dixon Thayer, and colleagues. Companies that receive the award must be engaged in demonstrable and robust efforts to reduce health and safety risks among their employees.

Tracking an initial theoretical investment of $10,000 in publicly traded CHAA-recipients from the mid 1990s to 2012, researchers found that these award-winning CHAA companies outperformed the S&P 500.

Four investment scenarios were created, using a combination of simulations and past market-performance to create investor portfolios for comparison. While the margin of return varied, CHAA recipients outperformed the market in each of the four scenarios.

In the highest-performing scenario, CHAA companies had an annualized return of 5.23% vs. −0.06% for the S&P 500. In the lowest-performing scenario, CHAA companies had an annualized return of 6.03% vs. 2.92% for the S&P 500.

“Our results strongly support the view that focusing on health and safety of a workforce is good business,” said the study authors. “Engaging in a comprehensive effort to promote wellness, reduce the health risks of a workforce, and mitigate the complications of chronic illness within these populations can produce remarkable impacts on health care costs, productivity and performance.”

The authors acknowledge that the study focuses on the performance of a small collection of companies on the stock market for a limited number of years, and that more research is needed before a strong causal relationship can be established between health and safety programs and market results.

But they conclude that the study adds new evidence-based data to a growing body of literature indicating that “healthy workforces provide a competitive financial advantage in the marketplace.”

Source: American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lab Manager

Create healthier indoor environments with air purifiers

Breathing in contaminated air for prolonged periods of time can affect the respiratory tract, cardiovascular and other parts of the human body. Unfortunately, the air in many offices and workplaces contains toxic chemicals, particles, biological contaminants and irritating odors.

Electrocorp has designed highly functional and portable air filtration systems for commercial and industrial applications, which can provide cleaner and healthier air at the workplace.

Examples of Electrocorp's areas of expertise:

• Hospitals and healthcare (clinics, doctor's offices, waiting rooms, etc)
• Offices and office printers
• Law enforcement (police departments, evidence rooms)
• Schools and universities
• Art restoration
• Hair salons and spas
• Museums and libraries
• Chemical and odor control

The air cleaners feature many pounds of activated carbon (activated charcoal) for airborne chemicals and gases, HEPA filters for particulate matter and optional UV germicidal filtration.

For more information or a consultation with an IAQ expert, contact Electrocorp.

Working when sick – why do we do it?

Montreal researchers study the phenomenon of “presenteeism”

Going to work when sick is not always
the most productive option, study shows.

It’s a familiar sight once the temperatures drop and the official “cold” season starts: Workplaces filled with employees sporting runny noses, a hacking cough or horrible congestion.

The question is, why do people go to work when they are sick? Are they insecure about their jobs or are they workplace troopers?

A new study from Concordia University in Montreal, published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, has found that presenteeism, i.e. attending work when ill, isn't always a productive option.

While some workers seem to be able to overcome their symptoms and be fully functional, others tend to be present solely in person, but not in true form.

Caregivers, educators and team workers often present when sick

Caregivers and people working in early education, for example, report higher rates of presenteeism compared to people from other fields.

"Often, a person might feel socially obligated to attend work despite illness," says study author Gary Johns, a management professor at Concordia's John Molson School of Business, "while other employees feel organizational pressure to attend work despite medical discomfort."

The study followed 444 people for 6 months, and the participants reported an average of three presenteeism days as opposed to 1.8 absenteeism days due to illness.

Presenteeism was elevated among workers engaged in interdependent projects or teamwork. Those who were insecure about their jobs also engaged in more presenteeism.

What is the true cost of working
when ill?

The study author says that many organizations and businesses could spend more attention to the cost of presenteeism.

"Estimating the cost of absenteeism is more tangible than counting the impact of presenteeism," says Johns. "Yet a worker's absence — or presence — during illness can have both costs and benefits for constituents."

The importance of indoor air quality at the workplace

Poor IAQ can have a detrimental effect on workers’ well-being, productivity and health.

Electrocorp air cleaners offer an affordable and low maintenance solution to stagnant, inadequately ventilated office air.

The air cleaners can be easily integrated into an existing ventilation system, or used as stand-alone room air purifiers.

The air cleaners remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants such as bacteria, viruses, odors, chemicals, molds, particles and dust by drawing the air through the deepest carbon bed filters, a medical-grade HEPA or Micro-HEPA and other filters.

For enhanced protection from contaminants such as bacteria and viruses, the air cleaners can be equipped with UV germicidal filtration.

For more information and options, contact Electrocorp.
 

Mother’s workplace exposure linked to children’s asthma risk

Most offices and other workplaces expose pregnant women
to a variety of pollutants that may affect their offspring.

Breathing indoor air pollutants during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of the baby developing asthma later, a Danish study has found.

According to a Reuters article, the researchers analyzed the data of more than 45,000 children at age 7 and found that 18.6 percent developed asthma after their mothers has been exposed to low-molecular weight particles at work during pregnancy.

This was a slight increase from the general growing risk of developing asthma, which is 16.1 percent of the general population.

The study adjusted for risk factors such as age, BMI, allergy and hypersensitivities, smoking, medication and pets, but researchers warn that other factors may have influenced the results, which are not easily accounted for.

"Whilst a link has been found, our results at this stage are modest and further research is needed into specific chemicals and substances to determine those that could be most harmful," the study’s leading researcher was quoted as saying.

Cleaner indoor air at work with industrial-strength air filters

In many workplaces, existing ventilation systems are simply incapable of providing workers with enough air exchanges and enough fresh air to keep exposure to indoor air pollutants to a minimum.

Most indoor environments are filled with pollutants of a chemical nature (VOCs from building materials, paints, electronic equipment, cleaning products, etc), biological nature (mold growth due to moisture or humidity issues, bacteria and viruses) and particulate matter (dust and particles, which can also be laced with other toxins).

The PrintSafe, for example, removes VOCs
from printer ink and paper particles right at
the printer exhaust. More info: Office printers

Electrocorp has developed industrial-strength air cleaners for virtually any type of indoor air environment, which can target the widest range of pollutants with a versatile multistage filtration system.

Deep bed carbon filters filled with many pounds of granular activated carbon offer the largest adsorbent surface area in the industry to remove chemicals, odors, VOCs, gases and fumes from the ambient air.

The filtration systems also contain pre-filters and HEPA filters for particulate matter and pathogens, and they may accommodate UV germicidal filtration for enhanced protection against biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold mycotoxins.

Ask about Electrocorp’s exclusive carbon blends and speak to one of our air quality experts to find the right air cleaner for your industry, IAQ need and application.
  
See also:

• Air cleaners for office printers
• Portable air cleaners for offices
• Air cleaners for schools and universities
• Hospitals and healthcare
• Air scrubbers for beauty salons and spas
• and many more...
  

Welding industry looking for young workers

Electrocorp's welding fume extractors capture many toxins
right at the source.

While it may be difficult for people in some industries to find a job these days, it doesn’t look like qualified welders will run into that problem anytime soon.

According to some sources, there is a mass shortage of skilled welders, as more than 50,000 workers retire each year and only 25,000 new prospects enter the workplace annually.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 450,000 open welding positions by 2014.

The average welder is in his or her mid-50s, according to the agency, and the job, with its toxic fumes and ultrabright flames that can damage the eyes, isn't amenable to older workers.

Welding is one of those professions dominated by men, although women's share of the field inched up from 5 percent to 6 percent in the five years ending in 2005, according to the Department of Labor.

Protect yourself from harmful welding fumes

Welding is a respected profession with good pay, but risks include loud noise, intense heat, glaring light and toxic welding fumes.

The Fume Extractor LD450

Welders are protected under occupational health and safety standards, but being aware of the risks and making sure that individual protection is adequate is essential for long-term job viability.

The dangerous fumes and gases originate from the metals that are welded and the coatings, residues and solvents. A wide range of toxins can be captured at the source with ventilation hoods and/or an industrial-strength air cleaner with fume extraction.

Electrocorp’s portable fume extractor series is designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations. The air cleaners feature a spark arrestor, a flexible source capture arm, a 40 to 80 lb. activated carbon filter to adsorb and trap welding fumes, gases and chemicals, custom carbon blends to enhance the adsorption power for certain gaseous pollutants, and HEPA filters for particle control.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options and ask about our free webinars: 1-866-667-0297.  

Asbestos concerns in Northampton County buildings

Poor indoor air quality in
buildings can be a problem.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an investigation to determine if complaints about asbestos in several Northampton County buildings are justified, according to a recent article in the Express-Times.

After receiving numerous tips and perceiving a growing concern about the indoor air quality in public buildings, EPA is preparing a report and may issue a number of fines.

Asbestos is a “public safety concern,” one of the agency’s experts says.

The buildings in question include a nursing home and the courthouse, among others.

Dangers of asbestos exposure

Asbestos fibers are too small to be seen with the naked eye, but they can be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they can damage lung tissue and cause scar tissue to form. The result is a disease called asbestosis.

People can be exposed to asbestos when they are n an area containing airborne asbestos fibers, after material containing the asbestos is drilled, cut, abraded, sanded, chipped, or sawed during a renovation, for example.

Indoor air pollutants and worker health and safety

"Sick" buildings with poor indoor air quality can expose workers and employees to airborne chemicals, VOCs, particles, dust, allergens, bacteria, viruses, mold spores, mold mycotoxins, fumes and vapors.

Ventilation systems are often unable to supply an adequate amount of fresh air to occupants.

Electrocorp offers industrial air cleaners for facility management, offices, mold and asbestos abatement and many other industrial and commercial applications.

The air cleaners contain a complete, multistage filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA to remove a wide range of indoor air pollutants.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and product recommendations.
  

Toxic dust particles a risk to workers, union leaders say

Dust exposure can lead to a wide range
of health effects, UK union leaders say.

Union leaders in the UK are calling for urgent action to reduce dangerous dust levels at the workplace, according to a recent report by UKPA.

The union TUC says that current standards for the assessment of dust exposure in factories and offices are inadequate and that exposure to inhalable dust in general and respirable dust in particular can lead to serious health effects.

Inhalable dust describes the larger particles that can be inhaled but are often filtered out by the nose and mouth, while respirable dust is made up of smaller particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs.

In a new guidance document they published, the union warns that dust exposure can lead to cancer of the lungs, throat and nose as well as other lung conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) that involves chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

According to union leaders, official estimates of workplace diseases related to dust are too low.

The TUC said it had studied a range of dusts that are often found in the workplace, including silica, coal dust, talc and kaolin, adding that even at current legal levels, a significant number of workers could be developing reductions in their lung function, with profound results for future health.

Often, it is difficult to trace the origin of a disease, especially in industries with high turnover (like construction), they say.

The document stresses the importance of a good risk assessment at the workplace and outlines steps employers and health and safety representatives can take to protect workers from dangerous dust levels.

Source: UKPA; Download TUC's guidance document.  


Industrial air cleaners for dust and odor control

The Dirty Dog air cleaner includes
a cleanable bag filter and can be
mounted on the ceiling.

Electrocorp offers a wide range of industrial air cleaners designed to provide cleaner indoor air at the workplace.

The company’s extensive product line includes dust and particle filtration systems such as the Dirty Dog Series and the I-6500 with Cyclone collectors.

Since many workplaces are also contaminated with persistent odors and airborne chemicals, Electrocorp offers units with a powerful activated carbon and HEPA filtration system.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and personalized recommendations.
  

Health and Safety lawsuit: La Porte company sued for deadly chemical exposure

Company is sued for negligence after
worker allegedly died of chemical exposure.

In a short report published by Ultimate Pasadena, the family members of a man who allegedly died after being exposed to toxic chemicals has filed a claim against the company in La Porte.

The claim cites negligence in the event, when the man was asked to clean a tanker truck and moments later was found unconscious inside the truck. He was rushed to the hospital where he died the next day.

While the company may have thought it was a benign chemical in the tanker truck, the lawsuit alleges that it actually contained the hazardous chemical Styrofoam RS 2030 Polyol, which causes anesthetic effects and reduces oxygen available for breathing.

The family members are asking for wrongful death damages and court costs.

For more details, read the report here.

Industrial air cleaners help remove chemicals, toxins and fumes

Sound health and safety measures include providing good indoor air quality to workers and employees.

Electrocorp specializes in the design, manufacturing and delivery of high-quality indoor air cleaners for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including chemical processing plants, facility management, environmental consulting, laboratories and odor control.

As the odor and chemical control experts in the industry, Electrocorp provides the most relevant filtration media, the largest adsorbent surface areas, exclusive carbon blends and the most customizable features and options on the market.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s powerful Carbon + HEPA multistage filtration system.

Contact us today for more information and recommendations.
  

Employee health and safety - OSHA obligations

Failure to follow health and safety guidelines
can lead to costly litigation and bad PR.

Keeping employees healthy and safe is a primary mandate for most employers - failure to do so can result in costly litigation, damaged reputations and loss of confidence in the public eye.

Thankfully, certain regulations are in place that make it easier for employers to know what their obligations are.

With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

Workers are entitled to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm. To help assure a safe and healthful workplace, OSHA also provides workers with the right to:

• Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace. The training must be in a language you can understand;
• Observe testing that is done to find hazards in the workplace and get test results;
• Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses;
• Get copies of their medical records;
• Request OSHA to inspect their workplace; and
• Use their rights under the law free from retaliation and discrimination.

Health and safety obligations under OSHA

Be familiar with OSHA guidelines. As an employer, you need to be sure that you are following OSHA guidelines, which are federal law. In particular, you need to be able to know what guidelines and regulations are applicable to your workplace, and have copies available for employees who request them.

Keep records of injuries and illnesses. Businesses with 11 employees or more at any time during a calendar year are required to keep records of occupational injuries and illnesses. Some businesses are not required to keep records, such as those in retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate and service industries.

Display OSHA's Safe and Healthful workplaces poster. Employers are required to post this poster, or its state equivalent, somewhere where employees can look over the information.

Inform employees about hazardous chemicals. If your business uses hazardous chemicals, you need to inform your employees about these hazards and train them on proper safeguards.

Remember that your business is subject to inspection. Employees have the right to contact a local or state OSHA office to request an inspection if there is a hazard or danger in the workplace.

The above list is not exhaustive of all employer obligations under OSHA - certain industries may have different or more elaborate health and safety obligations.

Source: FindLaw.com

Indoor air quality is a major health and safety issue 

With more and more complaints and lawsuits being filed against employers for serious health conditions due to chemical exposure and polluted indoor air (see list below), companies need to make sure that the work environment is safe and free of IAQ concerns.

Most existing ventilation systems are unable to remove harmful pollutants from the ambient air, but rather than spending a lot of money on a new ventilation system, Electrocorp air cleaners offer a cost-effective, portable and versatile air purifying solution that can remove the widest range of airborne chemicals, odors, vapors, fumes, particles and pathogens.

The multistage filtration system uses a large granular activated carbon (GAC) filter, HEPA or micro-HEPA, UV germicidal filtration (optional) and particle-trapping pre-filters.

The Electrocorp product line includes portable and HVAC-compatible air cleaners for industrial and commercial applications of all kinds (and sizes).

Contact Electrocorp today for more information: 1-866-667-0297.

Related posts

• Ruling stands that benzene caused laborer's leukemia
• Worker blames chemical exposure to rare lung disease, wins lawsuit
• Man with asbestosis awarded $322 million in asbestos lawsuit
• Health and safety lawsuits: US drug firm pleads guilty in lab worker's death

     

Health and safety issues: Mold in the workplace

Water is a beautiful thing - unless it leaks
into buildings and causes IAQ problems.

Water damage in the workplace can be a result of a variety of reasons, among them a leaking roof, broken pipes, heavy rains or similar problems.

But excessive moisture can turn into a serious problem in a matter of 48 hours, when mold starts to grow, which can affect the health and well-being of building occupants.

When heavy rains caused water damage at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently, management did the right thing and evacuated many employees.

According to an article in the Alexandria Echo Press, the water damage along with hot and humid weather prompted concerns about mold growth. Water was running down walls and saturated the building, and it was not clear where the leak occurred.

According to renovation experts, it’s often difficult to pinpoint the source of the leak, since water can travel behind walls and along supporting structures before it can be seen.

The precautionary measure to evacuate the officers is a smart move – exposure to mold spores and mold mycotoxins can cause or aggravate existing health conditions in many individuals and cause symptoms such as

• Headache
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Coughing
• Irritation of eyes, skin, nose and throat

Mold often grows on marijuana stored
in evidence rooms.

Mold can also become a major problem in property and evidence protection rooms where marijuana and other hazardous materials are stored. Aspergillus mold is a common occurrence on improperly dried or improperly stored marijuana.

Electrocorp offers efficient, versatile and cost-effective stand-alone air filtration systems for Law Enforcement and other industrial or commercial applications.

The air cleaners remove a wide range of contaminants such as chemicals, particles, odors, bacteria, viruses and mold by leveraging a multi-stage filtration system:

RAP Series: Ultimate protection
for Law Enforcement agencies.

1. Carbonized pre-filters
2. 15 lb. to 120 lb. activated carbon filter (most efficient medium for the removal of airborne chemicals and odors)
3. Medical-grade or micro-HEPA (most efficient filter for the removal of small particles)
4. UV germicidal filtration (the UV lamp neutralizes live contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold mycotoxins

Electrocorp services law enforcement agencies, environmental consultants and a myriad of industries across North America. Contact Electrocorp for more information, testimonials and customizable solutions.
 

Researchers focus on IAQ for better quality of life

Poor indoor air quality in buildings
can be harmful to human health.

UT researchers are studying the many aspects of indoor air quality (IAQ) to find solutions for a healthier life.

We spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors and are exposed to a variety of indoor air pollutants that can cause respiratory issues and other health effects.

According to a recent article in the Daily Texan, engineering professor Richard Corsi and his team of five professors and more than twenty graduate students in the Indoor Environmental Science and Engineering Program at UT are studying IAQ in general, and indoor ozone levels in particular.

“When ozone levels go up in cities, death rates and hospital visits go up, and most exposure to ozone comes from buildings,” Corsi was quoted. “Ozone is a really chemically reactive compound that forms new chemicals when it comes into contact with different substances. Some are harmless but some are very toxic.”

Indoor exposure to ozone can affect health: Researchers

The researchers say that ozone indoors ozone reacts negatively with carpet and most paper products, creating byproducts that can be detrimental to the respiratory system.

He his team are working to identify materials that remove ozone and other indoor air contaminants and to promote the use of those materials when new buildings are being made. One of the promising materials is clay, which removes ozone and does not create bad byproducts and which can be used on large surfaces such as walls and ceilings.

Cooling and heating systems, which are the only standard ways to filter indoor air, only operate 20 to 25 percent of the time, Brent Stephens, a civil engineering graduate student, said.

He said the only way to ensure better air quality is to use more energy and keep those systems operating more frequently and to use high grade air filters.

“At the end of the day, even in a summer in Austin, it doesn’t matter what kind of filter you have if the system doesn’t run.”

Stand-alone, portable air cleaners remove dangerous indoor pollutants

I-6500 air cleaners: Powerful
chemical and particle filtration.

Electrocorp’s air filtration systems leverage high quality materials, solid construction and the most efficient filter media combination on the market to remove dangerous toxins from the air in all types of commercial and industrial applications, homes and offices (AllerAir line).

The air cleaners remove harmful chemicals, odors, vapors and gases with a deep bed of activated carbon and irritating particles with a medical-grade HEPA or micro-HEPA wrap. Activated carbon is most efficient when the unit is run on the lowest setting on a 24/7-basis.

Many Electrocorp air filtration systems can also be equipped with UV germicidal filtration for the neutralization of live contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold.

Contact Electrocorp for more information: info@electrocorp.net; 1-866-667-0297.
  

New suggested limits for fine particle levels in the workplace

Fine particles can penetrate deep into
the lungs and cause health problems.

The finest particles are the most dangerous – they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and cause inflammation as well as a wide range of health problems for certain individuals.

The dangers are compounded when workers are exposed to fine particulate matter at the workplace, but certain guidelines and threshold values are in place in most countries to protect the health and safety of those workers.

A subdivision of the German Research Foundation, the Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, has made important changes to the 2011 MAK and BAT Values List and recommends reducing the general threshold limit value for dust.

The recommendations contain new data on a total of 82 substances and come in response to recent studies, which have determined that dust can be carcinogenic at certain exposure limits.

The Commission determined a new MAK value of 0.3 mg/m3 for the general threshold limit value for dust (in German: Allgemeiner Staubgrenzwert), and bumped the granular biologically long-lasting dusts (GBS), which penetrate deep into the lungs upon inhalation, into Carcinogenicity Category 4.

This category identifies cancer-causing materials that do not increase cancer risk in humans if the corresponding MAK value is not exceeded.

MAK values indicate the amount of a substance – be it in the form of gas, steam or aerosol in the air at the workplace – that will not cause long-term damage.

The Commission applied a procedure for the calculation of the MAK values from animal experiments with oral intake of substances that is similar to that being used on the European level (REACH). The review of 24 values affected by this procedure resulted in a reduction for 11 of the substances. The rest remained unchanged.

Read the entire press release here.

Particle and chemical pollution in the workplace

Electrocorp has designed industrial-strength air filtration systems for heavy-dust environments and workplaces where indoor air quality poses a health and safety concern for workers.

DirtyDog Series: Cleaner air

Some recommended units:

DirtyDog Series
The DirtyDog dust collector is engineered to reduce dust levels by 70-90% to provide healthier, cleaner air in workplaces such as body shops, workshops and woodshops.
Comes with a washable pre-filter, a cleanable bag filter and optional HEPA filter. Pressure switch indicates a filter change. Can be hung from the ceiling or placed on the floor.

AirMarshal air filter

AirMarshal Series
This air cleaner is a powerful, portable unit for controlling dust particles or chemicals, gases and odors. Variable speed, replacement indicator light for the HEPA filter. Comes with a 24 to 36 lb. activated carbon filter, medical-grade HEPA, ProDense pre-filter and can be equipped with a special hose, exclusive carbon blends and electrostatic particle filter. Negative air ready.

AirRhino air cleaner

AirRhino Series
The AirRhino is one of Electrocorp’s most versatile and cost-effective units and can be switched from particle filtration to chemical, gas and odor adsorption right on site. Comes with a medical-grade HEPA filter, a ProDense pre-filter, a special dust filter an activated carbon filter and can accommodate a UV germicidal lamp, a bag filter for large particles and custom carbon blends.

Electrocorp specializes in providing customized air filtration solutions to many different industries, including woodshops and auto body shops and garages. For more units and more information, contact Electrocorp at 1-866-667-0297.
  

Ruling stands that benzene caused laborer's leukemia

Chemical exposure in the workplace can
lead to costly litigation.

Occupational health and safety lawsuits have become a serious threat to many companies and workplaces that work with harmful chemicals and substances.

A recent lawsuit showed that in Louisiana, a worker can establish that chemical exposure caused an occupational disease by showing medical studies and internal memoranda from the employer noting a chemical exposure problem.

In the case Benoit v. Turner Industries Group, LLC, No. 10-1460 (La. Ct. App. 05/04/11), the Louisiana Court of Appeal held that a laborer was entitled to benefits for the leukemia he developed after being exposed to benzene at work.

A worker at an oil refinery was routinely exposed to chemicals, including benzene, while cleaning the sewers, ditches, and sump collection points in the processing units.

The laborer's family members said he returned home from work in a greasy, grimy, and smelly state.

Health problems from chemical exposure

He frequently experienced headaches, dizziness, and vomiting after working.

The laborer subsequently developed acute myeloid leukemia and died.

His family sought workers' compensation benefits, alleging he developed leukemia from the benzene exposure during his employment. The Louisiana Court of Appeal awarded the family indemnity benefits, penalties, and attorney's fees.

An industrial hygienist opined that the laborer's work duties exposed him to hazardous levels of benzene and that he likely inhaled the chemical and absorbed it through his skin.

The hygienist based his opinion on memoranda from the refinery regarding a benzene exposure problem at the facility. Based on medical records, internal memoranda, and scientific studies, a doctor opined that the benzene exposure was more likely than not the cause of the leukemia.

The court noted the employer used a "battle of the experts" argument. The employer's expert said to establish causation, a physician had to know the rate and length of exposure to the chemical.

However, he could not definitively state the leukemia could not be caused by overexposure to benzene. The court found a causal link between the chemical exposure and the occupational disease.

The court said the employer had evidence to support the laborer's claim and that it could have begun benefits or made an effort to reasonably controvert the claim. Instead, it did nothing. The refinery still took no action after having the hygienist's and doctor's reports, as well as internal documents.

Source: LRP Publications

Remove airborne chemicals with industrial-strength air cleaners

Electrocorp offers powerful, versatile and cost-efficient air filtration systems for a wide range of industries, companies and indoor air quality concerns. Packed with up to 576 pounds of activated carbon, special carbon blends and the best in particle filtration (HEPA), Electrocorp's air purification systems remove the widest range of pollutants from the air.

No one understands chemical and odor abatement like Electrocorp. That’s why Electrocorp consistently provides the most filtration media, the largest adsorbent area and the most options at the best price. Simply put, more filtration media means a more efficient solution.

Contact one of Electrocorp's IAQ experts for more information.

Related posts

• Class action suit targets benzene spill
• Asbestos lawsuit awards $322 M to man with asbestosis
• Nonsmoker sues employer; wins secondhand lawsuit in France
• Workers blames chemical exposure for rare lung disease, wins lawsuit
• Chemical exposure caused heart and lung problems, suit claims

    

China bans 10 toxic pesticides after multiple food scares

Toxic pesticides can affect human health.

Exposure to chemicals and pesticides in particular has been linked to a variety of health problems.


Some, such as the organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may be carcinogens. Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body. EPA's human health risk assessments for many pesticides are available on the web. 

In essence, the level of risk is dependent on the level of toxicity and exposure.

Many countries have banned some of the most toxic pesticides, as their risks outweigh any positive associations they may have. Now China adds 10 more pesticides to its list.

Food safety concerns linked to pesticides

A recent China Daily article says that China is banning 10 types of highly toxic pesticide in response to growing concern about the safety of agricultural products because of the misuse of such chemicals, quoting the country's top crop production officials.

The withdrawal of registration certificates and production licenses connected to the 10 pesticides - including fenamiphos and fonofos - will take effect on Oct 31 and the sale and use of the chemicals will be outlawed from Oct 31, 2013, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The announcement was based on a plan for the elimination of highly toxic pesticides jointly drafted by the ministry and four other departments.

It is a significant step for China, since China is the world's largest pesticide producer and consumer. Production hit 2.26 million tons in 2009, according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The move to the bans came after incidents involving pesticide misuse have created concern among the public about the safety of food.

In February 2010, many provinces banned the sale of cowpeas that had been grown in South China's Hainan province because high levels of the toxic pesticide isocarbophos were detected.

In April 2010, nine residents in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, were poisoned after eating toxic garlic that had been polluted with organic phosphorus.

More training, information needed, officials say

The country launched a campaign to manage the use of highly toxic pesticides in the 1980s. So far, 23 types of highly toxic pesticide have been banned and 19 others must not be used on fruit and vegetables, statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture show.

China currently has 22 types of highly toxic pesticide registered, of which 50,000 tons are produced each year, accounting for 2.5 percent of the country's annual total pesticide production, official figures showed.

Lu Bu, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, urged local governments to provide more training to farmers about pesticide use.

"Many farmers believe highly toxic pesticides are useful and do not realize that there are also possible dangers associated with their misuse," he said.

Source: China Daily 

Worried about chemical exposure indoors?

Electrocorp's RAP series:
Serious air cleaners

Electrocorp offers a variety of indoor air filtration systems for the home and office as well as for a wide range of industries, including chemical processing plants, food and produce operations, laboratories, and plants or companies having to deal with heavy odor control.

Electrocorp's air cleaners use the most efficient and most trusted air filtration technologies, such as activated carbon (for chemicals, odors, gases and fumes), HEPA (for particles and dust) and UV germicidal filtration (for bacteria, viruses and mold).

Contact Electrocorp for more information and customizable solutions.
   

Don’t gamble with your health at casinos

Not everyone smokes in casinos, but most
establishments fail indoor air quality tests.

Casinos are notorious for taking gamblers’ money, but frequent gamblers and casino workers may have another thing to worry about – indoor air pollution.

A recent article in the Kansas City Star quoted health advocates from two area health organizations warning against unhealthy levels of indoor air pollution in five area casinos, especially on the floors where smoking is allowed.

In their study, the health organizations found that there’s enough smoke in the air to expose full-time casino employees to more particulate pollution than the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for eight-hour work shifts.

Even though many cities have instituted a smoking ban in public places, bars and restaurants, casinos often receive exemptions to clean indoor air laws. That special treatment has put gaming establishments on the front lines in recent battles over whether to curb or extend legal restrictions on smoking.

Public battle, litigation over smoking laws

According to the article, casinos insist that their business relies disproportionately on smokers, while health advocates point to profitable casinos in states where smoking isn’t allowed.

Meanwhile, casino workers have sued employers over health problems, from asthma to cancer, allegedly caused by constant exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.

As the study showed, it doesn’t take a lot of cigarettes to cause a lot of pollution. Indoor air quality was deemed as unhealthy, even though just under 17 percent of the people in the casinos’ smoking areas were actively smoking.

Health effects of smoke and particulate

Fine particulate pollution can come from cigarettes, auto tailpipes and even burgers on a grill.

The tiny particles work their way into the lungs, where they cause inflammation and aggravate asthma, emphysema and other respiratory diseases.

Particulates also are suspected of contributing to heart attacks.

Cigarette smoke also contains various carcinogenic chemicals, which can affect smokers and those breathing in secondhand smoke.

Source:  Kansas City Star

Indoor air filtration systems for casinos, bars and restaurants

Electrocorp offers a wide range of indoor air cleaners for bars and restaurants, casinos and the hospitality industry.

The industrial-strength air purification systems filter out dangerous chemicals, gases, odors and particles with the deepest beds of activated carbon and most efficient HEPA filters.

Electrocorp can custom-build units for rooms, floors or spaces of any size. Contact Electrocorp directly for more information and ask about air cleaners designed to combat smoke pollution.
 
Related posts:

• Secondhand smoke in casinos a health risk, study reveals
• Why a bad smell can hurt bars and night clubs

   

Styrene warning: Who is at risk?

A government report classified styrene
as a possible human carcinogen.

A recent US government report has warned that exposure to styrene heightens the risk of cancer, but questions remain about who might be at risk.

Styrene, a chemical compound derived from crude oil, was subject of a health warning from the Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program (NTP), which said that styrene is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen".

NTP scientists said last month that they believe styrene metabolizes when it comes in contact with the human body, bonding with oxygen to form styrene oxide, a chemical that has the ability to alter DNA and cause cancer.

What is styrene?

The chemical is also known as vinyl benzene and is a derivative of benzene. It is a colorless oily liquid that evaporates easily.

With approximately 15 billion pounds of the chemical produced annually, styrene can be found in many commonly used products, including

• Plastic, e.g. plastic utensils, food containers
• Toys
• Packaging
• Rubber
• Insulation
• Fiberglass
• Pipes
• Automobile and boat parts
• Carpet backing
• Cigarette filters

Workers in certain professions might be more at risk because of their occupational exposure to styrene. These include auto mechanics and workers in boat repair shops who cut a lot of fiberglass, slather epoxy resin and handle rubber hoses, but it all depends on the length and amount of exposure.

Styrene producers are blasting the report as premature and lacking proof, pointing to a decision last month by European Union health regulators, who said they did not believe styrene poses a cancer risk in humans.

Source: Reuters

Worried about airborne chemicals?

Electrocorp has designed a range of air filtration systems for homes and offices as well as auto body shops and garages (and boat repair shops), chemical processing plants and many others industrial applications.

Electrocorp's high-performance industrial air purifiers provide versatile and effective solutions for even the most complex Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems. Contact one of our IAQ experts for more information and customizable solutions.
  

Shop towels another health risk for auto body shop and garage workers

Working in an auto body shop or garage
is associated with many inhalation risks.

Mechanics and other auto body shop and garage workers are exposed to a variety of harmful substances such as the ones contained in brake fluids, detergents, lubricants, degreasers, paints, metal cleaners, diesel fumes, fuel, solvents and many other fluids.

Exposure to the heavy metals and airborne chemicals in auto body shops and garages can lead to long-term and short-term health effects.

Now a study described in a recent Huffington Post article names yet another occupational health and safety risk for mechanics and auto body workers:  Cleaned and laundered shop towels.

 
Study found lead, other toxins on shop towels 

A new study sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Professional, one of the largest makers of disposable towels in the US, suggests that workers using laundered towels are in fact exposing themselves to high levels of lead, cadmium and other heavy metals.

However, providers of laundered towels -- and even some independent toxicology experts -- viewed those claims with skepticism, the article adds.

According to the authors of the report, exposure to the metals, oil and grease that don't get removed in the wash can occur both directly and indirectly: a worker may graze their lips with a towel while wiping off sweat, or touch their fingers to their mouth after using a towel to remove grime from a hand or tool. (The average person subconsciously touches his or her face an estimated 16 times an hour.)


Metal exposure exceeds recommended guidelines

The study found that the average worker who uses 12 towels a day may be exposed to seven metals -- antimony, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, and molybdenum -- at levels that exceed health-based exposure guidelines.

Lead exposure, which has been linked to nervous system damage, may be of particular concern. Gradient's analysis found that the typical 12-towel-a-day worker may ingest up to 3,600 times more lead than is recommended by the EPA.

Industrial workers that don't use toxic materials themselves may be particularly unaware of the potential risk of contamination.

Shop towels from a food or beverage manufacturer, for example, could have been laundered in the same facility as those soiled by automotive and heavy equipment companies.

According to the article, most auto shops now use reusable towels and that trend is unlikely to change until there is a more evidence and independent research.

 
Experts suggest the following to minimize the risks:

• Choose a launderer that doesn't recycle rags across multiple industries
• Change the practice in order to minimize contacts with towels, such as adopting hand washing and decontamination protocols before going on break or before going home
• Make sure the laundering method is the right one for the industry
• Choose towels towels made of materials that would be less likely to trap particles, such as ones with flat surfaces rather than loops like a bath towel

Source: Huffington Post 


Portable air cleaning solutions for garages and auto body shops

Find out more about the hazards of working in a garage.

Electrocorp offers air cleaners for auto body shops and garages to provide enhanced protection against harmful chemicals, particles and odors in the auto body shop environment. Find out more about Electrocorp's AirRhino air filtration system.

Contact one of Electrocorp's air quality experts to for more information: 1-866-667-0297.