Construction outlook for 2014

A little less single-family, more power and manufacturing

Manufacturing and power facilities will be strong in 2014,
construction experts predict.

Last year's construction spending was, at best, uneven, with the power sector – residential – covering up some mediocre and bad performances elsewhere.

Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors, expects construction for manufacturing and power facilities to experience double-digit growth percentages, warehouse construction to do well and lodging to continue its strong performance.

This year, Simonson expects, private nonresidential construction is looking at a 5% to 10% growth rate, public spending will continue to be bad news – though maybe not as bad as the 3% shrinkage in 2013 – and multifamily will pull residential spending to an increase of about 10%.

Interestingly, Simonson thinks single-family residential, which has been slowing somewhat in recent months, will stall later this year.

Looking at costs, some materials will be up and some down, but labor costs are where he sees the big problem coming for contractors.

Source: Construction Dive

Breathe better air on construction sites

The construction industry is fraught with occupational hazards, one of them being exposure to airborne fumes and particles at most stages of the construction work.

Construction workers can protect themselves by adhering to appropriate safety and protective measures, making sure the construction site is properly ventilated and using an on-site portable air cleaner with industrial-strength air filters, like the AirRhino series.

Electrocorp has designed activated carbon + HEPA air cleaners for industry that can remove airborne chemicals, fumes, vapors, odors, particles, dust and biological contaminants. 

Contact Electrocorp for more information and a free consultation.

Poor IAQ affects Jamaican workers

Sick building syndrome is affecting
workers worldwide.

Scores of Jamaicans are getting sick at work because of the poor quality of the air inside the buildings.

Employees who have experienced symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs at work could all be facing poor indoor air quality.

However, the Jamaica Occupational Health Professionals' Association (JOHPA) notes that this is not unique to Jamaica.

"A growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air, even the largest and most industrialized cities," JOHPA said in a release last week.

"Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 per cent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors," added JOHPA.

Paradigm shift

It noted that as the world focuses on occupational health and safety, the paradigm is shifting towards air quality and the severe health effects that result from breathing poor-quality air.

"This begs the question: if the ambient air is polluted, what about the indoor environment?"

There are several factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality. These include inadequate ventilation, problems controlling temperature, too high or too low humidity, recent remodeling, and other activities in or near a building that can affect the adequacy and quality of fresh air into the building.

Contaminants such as dust from construction or renovation, mold, cleaning supplies, pesticides, or other airborne contaminants may also contribute to poor indoor air quality.

The issue is close to the heart of Opposition Senator Kavan Gayle, who heads the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU).

The BITU represents thousands of Jamaican workers.

Gayle has tabled questions in the Senate about the outstanding occupational safety legislation to amend the 73-year-old Factories Act.

He has also tabled a motion that the issue be debated and that the Government bring a bill to Parliament to enact new legislation.

According to Gayle, Jamaica must move quickly away from the 1940s Factories Act, "to a more comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Act".

Justice Minister Mark Golding has said he expects the chief parliamentary counsel to deliver a draft of the Occupational Safety and Health Act to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security this week.

Gayle, meanwhile, said the OSHA should include equitable global health and safety standards, as Jamaica competes in a global environment.

'Allergies and sinusitis'

"You go into a building and the minute you enter you start coughing or sneezing. It means the air quality in that room is compromised, because of simple things, among them dirty air-conditioning ducts," argued Gayle.

He noted that the exposure to poor air quality in buildings could cause employees to develop "allergies and sinusitis".

The president general of the BITU suggested that employers could improve the quality of air inside a building by doing the simple things, such as removing a dirty carpet.

"Take up the carpet and you will see how health is improved," he said.

Gayle further argued that employees' health is compromised when a building is painted while they are at work, or a desk varnished a day before usage.

"Both employee and clients are exposed to the poisonous fumes," stated Gayle.

"What should be in place are the checks and balances to ensure that companies provide the proper working conditions for all workers, and to protect workers, for their own safety, in a way that goes outside of just checking a building," Gayle said.

Poisonous internal air quality and the effects on the health of employees over the long term will be the main focus of a JOHPA seminar this Wednesday.

This seminar will provide in-depth, up-to-date and relevant information and research on the present paradigm in building design operation and maintenance.

It will also focus on the alarming potential number of workers exposed to sick building syndrome (SBS), the economic impact of SBS for Jamaica, the spread of diseases in the working environment, and practical guidance for improving and maintaining the indoor environment.

Source: The Jamaica Gleaner

Concerned about the indoor air quality at your workplace? Remove airborne chemicals, particles, allergens, mold spores, odors, fumes and other contaminants with industrial and commercial air cleaners by Electrocorp. For more information, contact Electrocorp directly.

Mold allergies on the rise

In a column in the News-Sentinel, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen answer readers' health questions. Here is one connected to mold:

Q: I've never had allergies before, but this year I developed a reaction to mold and needed to get an inhaler! Why did this happen now? — Joan H., Joliet, Ill.

A: This summer, because of excess rains and flooding across North America, mold allergies became particularly severe. In the Midwest, where you live, mold-spore counts hit 125,000.

Mold allergies affect the respiratory
tract and can become a health problem.

That's crazy high; 50,000 is the level that triggers a dangerous air-quality warning! With mold levels like that, anyone can become allergic.

Researchers estimate the number of people afflicted has increased 12 percent in the past three years.

There may be as many as 300,000 types of outdoor mold, and their spores can be everywhere — in soil, plants, shady areas and rotting wood. They float through the air like tree pollen or ragweed, and are so small that they glide right through your nose's filtration system.

Your best defense against sneezing, itchy nose, watery eyes, nasal and bronchial congestion (including asthma) is to combine prompt treatment and good preventive strategies.

• Minimize the mold in your yard and house. Remove fallen leaves often and wear a pollen mask if doing any yardwork (look for a rating of N95 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). Disperse any sitting water or puddles in the yard, driveway, garden or basement. When the weather gets muggy and/or damp, keep windows closed and use an air conditioner or air filter to clear the indoor air.
• On high count days (this applies to high pollen counts too), when you come indoors wash your hair and change your clothes. Use a saline solution to rinse your nasal passages.
• Take antihistamines to prevent or tamp down your reaction. And use your rescue inhaler if you have asthma symptoms. But if you use it several times a day, every day, you need to talk to your doctor about a more effective treatment plan.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Dr. Mike Roizen is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

Source: News-Sentinel

Improve the indoor air quality at work and at home

Most people spend the majority of their time indoors - at work, at home and even for leisure activities (such as going to the stores, the movie theatres or sports arenas). That is why poor indoor air quality can have such an impact on health and well-being.

Electrocorp's RAP series
provides cleaner and
healthier air.

With good ventilation, source control (e.g. switching to less toxic cleaning products) and air cleaning, it is possible to breathe cleaner and healthier air at all times.

A good air cleaner needs to have the right air filters. A HEPA is a great filter for particles, dust and allergens, but you also need a substantial activated carbon filter to remove airborne chemicals, gases, fumes and odors. A UV germicidal light bulb will also help to neutralize biological contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and mold spores.

Electrocorp offers a wide range of industrial and commercial air cleaners with activated carbon, HEPA and optional UV germicidal filtration. Contact Electrocorp for more information and a personal consultation.

A changing climate blamed for bigger wildfires

Changing climate leads to bigger, smokier wildfires

Bigger wildfires may become a bigger
threat to public health, experts warn.
Photo by Danilo Rizzuto/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This year more than 4,000 wildfires burned almost a million acres across the Northwest. That falls below the 10-year average, as only one year in the last decade has had fewer fires than this year.

Scientists are quick to point out that no single fire season can be attributed to changes in the global climate, but as summers in the western half of the United States become drier and warmer, the chances of bigger, longer smokier fire seasons is expected to increase.

A recent Harvard University study has found that by 2050 the wildfire season for the western United States will be about three weeks longer and be up to twice as smoky because of changes connected to global warming. 

In the Pacific Northwest, the area burned during the month of August could increase by 65 percent.

Wildfires come with smoke and health effects

With larger, longer-lasting wildfires, air quality is projected to suffer. Based on the amount of on-the-ground biomass available to be burned, researchers expect to see wildfire smoke increase in the Northwest between 40-100 percent in the coming decades.

Wildfire smoke is made up of tiny organic and black carbon particles that are a fraction of the diameter of a human hair. These microscopic particles can travel deep into the lungs and even cross over into the bloodstream. 

Inhaling those fine particles isn’t good for anyone, not even healthy people. Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, leading to coughing, headaches, scratchy throats and runny noses. 

And for some people, wildfire smoke can be life threatening. It can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and even strokes.

Wildfire smoke is already one of the biggest drivers of degrading air quality throughout the Northwest. Over the past few months, wildfires have created hazardous and smoky conditions, and clouds of smoke as big as thunderheads billowed over communities in Southern Oregon and Central Idaho.

Looking back on U.S. fires

Since the 1980s, the overall number of wildfires and the amount of acres burned in the United States has increased steadily. As the climate has warmed, snow melts earlier and dry periods have lengthened both of which favor fire conditions.

Other factors contribute to increasing the size and severity of wildfires, including a history of fire suppression over the last century. Fire suppression can lead to an abundance of biomass on the ground in forested areas. That biomass serves as kindling that turns what might have been a small manageable fire into an unstoppable megafire.

But even after you account for fire suppression, climate change is still a factor. Places like Yellowstone National Park, which have experienced larger wildfires in recent decades, never had active fire suppression.

Extreme fire behavior has become more common.

Editor's note: This story has been edited for length.

Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting

Breathe better air indoors

During wildfire season and beyond, a movable indoor air purifier with an activated carbon and HEPA air filter system can help remove potentially dangerous airborne contaminants.

Smoke particles and chemicals as well as other volatile organic compounds, allergens and mold spores can effectively be trapped with activated carbon and HEPA. Activated charcoal adsorbs chemicals, gases, odors and fumes, while HEPA traps 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns.

Electrocorp offers large and small-footprint air cleaners for commercial, industrial and residential use. For more information, contact Electrocorp today.

Schools drowning in exhaust and diesel fumes

Exhaust, diesel fumes foul public schoolyards in U.S.

Many schools are located within 300 ft
of polluting highways, studies show.

Cheaper land, easy access for buses and convenient location often cause schools to be built near major roads and highways.

This has become a concern to parents, school staff and administrators, since children spend about a third of their day at school, often during the hours of heaviest traffic.

And the closer they are, the more they can be exposed to harmful pollutants. Within 500 feet of major roads, traffic pollution — a plume of suspended soot and gases — often carries pollutants at levels considered harmful by air-pollution researchers.

A 2008 study found that more than 10 percent of surveyed U.S. schools were located within about 300 feet of highways, the distance within which road pollution is most potent.

If a school is situated along a heavy truck route, the figures can get downright alarming. The diesel fuel that powers these trucks can produce 100 to 200 times more soot than gasoline engines, and the exhaust is so toxic that the World Health Organization classifies it as a carcinogen.

Some states in the U.S., e.g. California, passed a law requiring that new schools be built at least 500 feet from major roads. At existing schools, there are ways to reduce the danger, too: better air filters can help, for example, as can restricting kids’ time outside when traffic is heavy.

Dangerous vehicle emissions

The dangers of vehicle emissions have been known for years:  researchers in Europe first made the connection between children’s poor lung function and school-day exposure to traffic in 1993.

Ten years later a California Environmental Protection Agency study made a similar leap, finding that kids in San Francisco’s East Bay attending near-road schools were 5 to 8 percent more likely to suffer from bronchitis and asthma.

Proximity doesn’t necessarily equal risk, however. Schools uphill from a road often experience less pollution than those downhill. Wind plays a role, as does topography like sound walls and trees and hedges.

Source: Investigate West

Air purifiers for better IAQ in schools

Schools and educational centers can easily provide cleaner and healthier air in classrooms - by using portable and long-lasting air cleaners.

Electrocorp's RAP series

Electrocorp's air cleaners for schools and universities feature a substantial activated carbon filter (with at least 18 pounds of carbon) to remove chemicals, gases and odors, a HEPA filter to trap particles and dust and optional UV germicidal filtration to control mold, bacteria and viruses.

Among the air cleaners recommended for schools are the 5000 Series, the 6000 Series, the RAP series and the I-6500 series, which all come in various configurations and with many options.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Fungal-infected prisons suffer from poor IAQ

Inmates and employees at prisons may develop health problems from poor indoor air quality

Prisoners and jail employees can be
affected by poor indoor air quality.

A deadly fungal infection known as valley fever is a concern in California, where the disease goes airborne in the rainy fall season.

Those susceptible to the disease will be affected by the spores that root in the soft tissue of the lungs.

In some California prisons, valley fever has prompted a judge to order many prisoners to be moved. The prisons are often located close to highways and other sources of poor indoor air quality.

But as California's prisons are overcrowded, there is no way to ensure all the susceptible prisoners be moved in time to avoid the deadly disease.

Source: East Bay Express

Improve indoor air quality with air purifiers

In prisons and holding cells, a portable air purification system can help remove airborne particles, chemicals, spores and other contaminants that may affect health and well-being.

Electrocorp's range of IAQ solutions include different air filters - HEPA and UV for biological contaminants, particles and dust, activated carbon for chemicals, odors and fumes - and can be modified according to need.

Contact an Electrocorp IAQ expert to find out more about industrial air cleaners for the police force and law enforcement.

U.S. EPA Settles with Lead Acid Battery Manufacturer; Company to Install Air Filters to Capture Lead Particles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that U.S. Battery Manufacturing Company has agreed to pay $167,300 to resolve federal Clean Air Act violations. U.S. Battery, located in Corona, Calif., failed to comply with federal emissions monitoring and reporting requirements, including performance testing requirements for its lead emission control devices. In addition to paying the penalty, the company will install secondary high efficiency air filters to capture additional lead particles.

“By failing to monitor and test its pollution controls, the company increased the health risks for employees and the nearby community,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "EPA will remain vigilant in enforcing the Clean Air Act."

EPA discovered the violations after the company failed to provide a thorough response to an information request sent by the agency in February 2010. After further review, federal investigators found that U.S. Battery failed to perform semi-annual inspection and maintenance to ensure proper performance of its equipment, failed to submit performance reports and failed to conduct performance testing of its air pollution control devices.

In addition to the fine, U.S. Battery has agreed to improve its work practices by voluntarily installing High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to further reduce lead emissions. These HEPA filters will serve as secondary filters that will be used to capture remaining lead emissions that pass through the existing air pollution control equipment. HEPA filters can capture more than 99.9% of particles.

The facility has been operating as a lead acid battery manufacturing plant in Corona since 1991 and is located within a mile of several schools and a residential neighborhood.

Lead is a major environmental health hazard for young children and pregnant women. Exposure to lead can result in lowered intelligence, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, and hyperactivity.

Avoiding chemical and mold exposures in drug evidence rooms - Part II

Tips for officers in evidence rooms
to minimize exposures to toxins.

Storing drugs in evidence rooms and drug vaults at law enforcement agencies poses a significant health risks for the employees in charge of retrieval, maintenance and disposal.

They could be exposed to drug particles, chemical fumes, volatile organic compounds, mold spores, mold mycotoxins (terpenes) and many other contaminants.

While exposure levels may be low, inhaling these types of indoor air pollutants over an extended period of time may become a health risk.

There have been complaints from police officers ranging from respiratory problems to fatigue and anxiety, among many others (see Part I).

Based on case studies and health hazard evaluations, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has put together some general recommendations for drug evidence rooms:

1. Keep drug quantities under control. Frequent disposal of drugs can reduce the chances of exposure and off-gassing materials.
2. Make sure marijuana and other plant-based drugs are dried properly and set up a drying chamber inside the evidence room, if needed.
3. Use chemical and particle filters (activated carbon and HEPA) in the evidence room and ensure that filters are replaced regularly.
4. Have the HVAC (especially the ventilation) system inspected by a ventilation engineer and make improvements, if necessary.
5. Store dried marijuana in sealed plastic bags. If they need to be stored in ventilated cardboard boxes, they should be in an enclosed area in the evidence room with exhaust ventilation to contain odors.
6. Seal synthetic drugs in plastic.
7. Keep a relative humidity level of 30-50% to minimize mold growth.
8. Keep the evidence room clean and well maintained, using environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaners, gloves and vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters.
9. Improve organization and avoid clutter.
10. Use a cart to transport evidence.
11. Avoid skin contact with marijuana as well as other drugs and evidence materials to reduce the potential for irritation and allergic reactions.
12. Alert employees of possible risks and open channels of communication to address problems quickly and efficiently.
13. Develop written policies and standard operating procedures and train employees accordingly.

Source: Evidence Technology Magazine

Carbon and HEPA air filters for mold, chemicals and odors

Electrocorp offers a variety of stand-alone, industrial-strength air filtration systems that address mold, chemicals, VOCs, odors, particles and other contaminants.

With a high-efficiency air filter system combining activated carbon and HEPA as well as optional UV, Electrocorp’s air cleaners for law enforcement have a proven track record to provide better, cleaner and more breathable air in evidence storage rooms as well as general office areas.

Find out more about the RSU Series, the RAP series, the numerical series and the I-6500 series by speaking to one of Electrocorp’s IAQ experts today. Call 1-866-667-0297.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.

Related blog post:

• Mold wreaks havoc on materials stored in evidence rooms

Chemical and mold exposure an occupational risk in law enforcement – Part I

Improperly dried or stored marijuana can expose police
officers to mold spores and chemicals.

Working in an evidence room at any law enforcement agency can be an occupational health risk, industrial hygienists warn.

For crimes that involve drugs, police officers need to store evidence in a drug vault, and in most cases, indoor air quality suffers.

Synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine can emit dangerous chemical fumes, while plant-based drugs such as marijuana are susceptible to mold growth and often expose officers to Aspergillus mold spores. Marijuana also produces volatile organic compounds called terpenes that contribute to the drug’s taste and smell.

Employees may have to spend several hours each day in the evidence room, receiving, storing and retrieving evidence, transporting drugs and other materials, maintaining inventory, and getting evidence ready for disposal. These activities can expose them to drug particles, mold spores, volatile chemicals from drugs as well as from “air freshening” products.

Occupational Safety and Health intervention may become necessary if the evidence room employees start exhibiting health symptoms related to exposure, which may include:

• Nose bleeds
• Respiratory problems
• Skin rashes
• Memory fog
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Vision problems
• Burning eyes
• Facial twitches

Some employees show higher sensitivities to chemicals and molds than other employees, and while some people may experience symptoms right away, it may take years for others to develop any health effects.

The risks of exposures to certain drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine at high levels is well known, but low level exposures over extended periods of time have not been researched, occupational hygienists say.

However, there is limited evidence linking low levels of indirect drug exposures to acute or chronic health effects, there are reports in the scientific literature of people experiencing skin rash from occupational exposure and handling of marijuana plants and materials, with symptoms increasing over time with ongoing exposure (Majmudar et al., 2006; Williams et al., 2008).

Source: Evidence Technology Magazine

Air cleaners for evidence rooms and drug vaults

Electrocorp's RSU series combines
the most efficient air filters.

Electrocorp has developed portable and powerful air cleaners for law enforcement agencies, which can remove harmful chemicals, odors, volatile organic compounds, fumes, gases, fine particles, dust, mold spores, mold mycotoxins, bacteria and viruses from the ambient air.

The air cleaners boast a multistage air filtration system with a a deep-bed activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, pre-filters and UV germicidal filtration (optional) to provide cleaner and healthier air throughout.

Electrocorp air scrubbers provide cleaner air in thousands of law enforcement agencies across North America.

“The … RSU 48 CC Air Scrubber has been one of the best investments for the evidence technicians in the evidence vault. With the odors of drugs, especially marijuana, this system removes the odors and smell of different types of evidence for all personnel handling the evidence in and around the vault. Being able to replace the filters and carbon is an easy process for the evidence technicians. I would recommend these air scrubbers to evidence room technicians.”
Tim Karp, New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, CSI, Castle Hayne, NC
Read more testimonials

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.

IAQ policy a good idea in libraries and archives

Libraries and archives can expose
people to poor indoor air quality.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When you think about libraries and archives, do the words “bright”, “fresh” and “green” come to mind?

Probably not.

Many libraries and archives are large, dust-filled rooms stacked with books, papers and other materials.

They can be cluttered, dark and dingy – and many of them also have a problem with their indoor air quality.

In fact, IAQ is such a concern that some libraries and archives have implemented an indoor air quality policy.

In the case of the University of Florida library, the policy was introduced after people complained about health concerns, including eye and lung irritation, headaches, skin irritation, exposure to diseases and more.

Since there can be many different reasons for indoor air pollution (the most common are faulty HVAC systems, construction and renovation projects, forbidden smoking, the use of chemicals and mold), the policy addresses various issues and the best ways to handle them.

How to handle IAQ problems in libraries

The IAQ policy stresses the importance of communication, which will allow all sides to take action towards better air.

First, the people who are affected by poor indoor air quality or who notice it should be reporting it promptly.

Most universities have an environmental health and safety department, and there should also be a contact in the library itself.

Second, all staff members have to be informed in a timely manner of planned renovation or construction projects and the possible risks associated with them. Everyone should work together to minimize those risks and find safer alternatives.

Third, the library and archive facilities should be inspected regularly, and any types of problems need to be addressed.

What do you think of the indoor air quality at your library? Let us know what your area is doing right and how it can improve.

Source: George A. Smathers Libraries

Remove indoor air pollutants in libraries

Electrocorp's I-6500 series combines
particle and chemical filtration.

The right types of air cleaners can help remove indoor air pollutants such as chemicals, particles, odors, dust, mold spores, bacteria, viruses and fumes.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners for libraries and archives feature the most comprehensive filtration system to deal with the pollutants listed above.

The units feature a deep-bed activated carbon system for gases, chemicals, odors, fumes, even tobacco smoke and mold mycotoxins, a HEPA filter for fine particles, dust, allergens and pollen and optional UV germicidal filtration to neutralize biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold.

As an industry leading supplier of industrial and commercial air cleaners, Electrocorp works with university administrations, government buyers, environmental consultants and many other contacts to make sure that IAQ problems are addressed correctly.

For more information, please contact Electrocorp at 1-866-667-0297.

Support a greener and healthier environment. Become a member of this blog!

Airborne workplace hazards may be deadly: Experts

Trades workers, technicians and machine operators
can be exposed to toxic chemicals, dusts and more.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many workplace hazards are hard to miss – there are those that may cause injury or death and others that can affect a person’s mindset – but those that are not easily recognizable, including invisible fumes, dust and inhalable toxins, may be the most dangerous workplace hazards, experts warn.

These types of toxins have been linked to a wide range of health effects, including

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Asbestosis
• Cancers, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer

The problem with these inhalable hazards is that health effects may take a long time to appear, up to a few decades in some cases, while other exposures may cause immediate health problems.

In Australia, experts say that approximately 39% of workers are regularly exposed to airborne hazards in the workplace. Exposure to fumes, gases and particulates was especially likely for technicians, trades workers and machine operators.

Many of the workers surveyed said they did not receive any safety measures or equipment, while another large portion said they received inadequate controls.

Employers responsible for supplying a safe working environment

Experts recommend the following:

1. Regular monitoring of the workplace air quality and identifying hazards
2. Putting controls into place
3. Capturing dust at the source rather than letting it escape
4. Make sure there are fresh air exchanges and filtering air, if needed

Fume arms, dust collectors and air scrubbers can all help remove contaminants and reduce workers’ exposure to toxins.

Companies that fail to protect workers may have to face substantial fines.

What is your working environment like? Do your employers ensure good air quality? Let us know!


Source: Safe to Work

Air cleaners for chemicals, dust and other toxins

The AirRhino air cleaner can go
from particle to chemical filtration
on site.

Providing cleaner and healthier air can be as easy as using one of Electrocorp’s air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications.

Electrocorp air scrubbers combat workplace hazards such as fumes, gases, chemicals, odors, dust, particulates and more with proven activated carbon and HEPA filters.

The air cleaners come in different sizes and airflow configurations, with custom carbon blends, long-lasting deep-bed filters as well as many additional features to provide the best solution to virtually any IAQ concern.

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

Follow this blog to show your support for a greener and healthier working environment.

Cleaner air in chemical laboratories

Laboratory workers and those in nearby buildings may
be affected by poor indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality in chemical laboratory facilities can be a major concern. Older laboratories in schools or universities may expose workers to a range of contaminants.

In extreme cases, the air exhausted from labs can also affect the air quality inside nearby buildings.

Many different variables interact to change the air quality in labs, including:

• Research protocols
• Work practices and individual behaviors
• Laboratory housekeeping
• Design and operation of the HVAC system

Experts agree that concern is warranted, since even low level chemical exposures can cause discomfort in laboratory workers.

In chemical labs, workers may be exposed to a wide range of chemicals, including chlorinated solvents, ketones, benzene and derivatives (toluene and xylene) as well as other contaminants.

Complex facilities with complex indoor air concerns

Laboratories are complex facilities that require substantial planning and development to provide good indoor air quality at all times.

Most labs have negative pressure relative to non-lab spaces such as corridors and offices, meaning that there is less air supplied into the room than is leaving through the hood exhaust.

Some laboratories, like clean rooms, require positive pressure, however.

Indoor air quality can become a concern if chemical exhausts are cluttered or used inappropriately, if chemicals are inadequately stored or disposed of and if workers are unaware of risks or are mishandling chemicals.

Experts recommend facility staff and user training, routine air sampling, a variable air volume system and other safety precautions.

Source: Steve M. Hays, “Indoor Air Quality in Chemistry Laboratories”, 1999 (PDF)

Cleaner air in chemical laboratories

The RSU air cleaners belong to
Electrocorp's most efficient units.

The right equipment in laboratories is important. Labs that handle many different chemicals often need some extra help in the air cleaning department.

Electrocorp has developed powerful air cleaners for laboratories that come in different sizes and filter combinations to provide the cleanest air possible.

The air cleaners can be configured for negative and positive pressure, if needed, and they can also be attached to fume hoods to draw the air through a deep-bed activated carbon filter and other filters to remove airborne fumes and gases, including chemicals such as benzene, xylene, toluene and more.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Follow this blog to show your support for a greener and healthier working environment!

Love manicures and pedicures? Workers face serious health effects

Working with nail polish every day could lead to
serious health effects, experts warn.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Summertime is sandal time and one of the busiest times of year for the thousands of nail salons across North America.

The clipping, filing and polishing industry has become a popular venture.

In Canada’s Toronto alone, residents can pick from 1,152 spots to get their nails done. The state of New York has approximately 4,100 nail salons.

But while most clients see their occasional manicure and pedicure as a treat and an occasion to relax, the technicians servicing their nails are exposed to dangerous organic solvents and harsh chemicals emitted by nail polishes and nail products.

The biggest health threats come from chemicals such as formaldehyde, acetone, toluene and dibutyl phthalate.

Some of the reported health effects include

• Asthma
• Rashes
• Damage to the reproductive system
• Effects to sexual organ development in male fetuses

Experts suggest different tactics to minimize the risks to employees. For example, using spring-loaded bottles for polish remover to reduce the amount of escaping vapors, installing tilted and ventilated tables, using healthier polish brands and high-quality particle masks, updating the ventilation system to remove odors and chemicals and raising awareness among nail technicians.

One of the problems is that many workers in nail salons are recent immigrants from China or Vietnam, who may be too afraid to complain about health problems, researchers say.


Have you ever been affected by the fumes or smells in nail salons and spas? Tell us about it!

Source: The Globe and Mail

Clean the air in spas and nail salons

Air cleaners for nail salons:
5000 and 6000 Salon

When a full HVAC update or renovation project is beyond a nail salon’s budget, individual air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA can help remove dangerous particles, chemicals and odors.

Electrocorp has developed a range of air cleaners for beauty salons and spas that feature some of the largest adsorbent surface areas for gases and fumes and the longest-lasting and most efficient filters available on the market.

The 5000 and 6000 Salon air purifiers, for example, are also equipped with a source capture attachment that can be positioned right above the working area, so that harmful chemicals and fumes as well as fine particles are removed right at the source, before they become airborne.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.

VIDEO: Office air quality and possible health effects

Hundreds of thousands of people spend the majority of their days in an office environment.

Not everyone is lucky enough to work in a green, bright, healthy building - most offices are situated in older, less environmentally friendly structures.

Working in an office with poor indoor air quality can have an impact on the health, well-being and productivity of workers.

The IAQ Video Network and Cochrane and Associates have produced a new video about the dangers of indoor air pollution at the office to raise awareness:


The 3-minute video talks about common indoor air pollution sources as well as health effects.

Air cleaners for offices

Since it is often impossible for office workers to change an entire building's air quality, a room air purifier with the right filters can help provide cleaner and healthier air in their immediate surroundings.

Electrocorp has developed powerful air cleaners for the office that can tackle indoor air pollutants such as chemicals, volatile organic compounds, mold, bacteria, viruses, fine particles and allergens.

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

For large office printers and equipment, Electrocorp also offers air cleaners for office printers, which will capture irritating chemicals and particles at the exhaust with a custom-made intake hood to protect nearby workers from exposure.

For more information and a personalized consultation, please contact Electrocorp today.

Show your support for greener and healthier working environments by following this blog.

Dangerous chemicals abound when working with cars

Auto body shops and garages often expose workers to toxic chemicals

Working with cars -
an occupational risk?

For those who love cars, repairing them sounds like a great job -- but the occupational health risks can be substantial.

For one former mechanic turned musical activist, more than three decades of working in the auto repair business have opened his eyes to the dangers of chemicals.

Randy Bigness blames his cancer on his long-time exposure to chemicals such as benzene, a common ingredient in fuel, oils and other petroleum-based products.

He also developed chemical sensitivities and allergic reactions to substances such as dust.

The former mechanic has dedicated his life to music and to raising awareness about chemical dangers in his industry, talking to auto shop workers everywhere he goes.

Slow to recognize health effects

Working in his auto repair shop, Bigness thought he was simply tired and says he didn’t realize his immune system was compromised. Only after multiple health issues that wouldn’t respond to antibiotics and an extreme sinus infection did he allow the possibility of a more serious problem.

Tests revealed he suffered from chronic myelogeneous leukemia (CML), a cancer caused by a genetic mutation acquired later in life.

The former mechanic says he worked with benzene all the time when he had to clean parts, breathing in the fumes and getting splashed with the solvent. Benzene is one of the most widely used solvents in the United States.

According to OSHA, benzene is a carcinogen. "With exposures from less than five years to more than 30 years, individuals have developed, and died from, leukemia," the OSHA website states.

"Long-term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production. Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death."

Are you, or someone you know, a car enthusiast? Tell us what you think about these health hazards.

Source: Popono Record

Activated carbon air cleaners for benzene fumes

The AirRhino can accommodate
a 100 lb. activated carbon filter
to remove VOCs such as benzene.

Benzene vapors as well as diesel and fuel emissions and other volatile organic compounds found in auto repair shops and garages can be mitigated effectively with the right air filters.

Along with adequate ventilation and other protective measures, Electrocorp’s air cleaners for auto repair shops and garages offers deep-bed activated carbon filters to provide cleaner and healthier air.

The activated carbon removes those gaseous pollutants, odors and fumes in the ambient air that can affect the workers over time.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Follow this blog to show your support for green and healthy working environments.

Survey to examine healthcare workers’ risk of asthma

Healthcare workers are exposed to
many occupational risks, incl. asthma.

Healthcare is North America’s largest industry, but it can expose workers to a multitude of work-related risks, including

• Work-related asthma
• Harsh cleaning products
• Latex
• Indoor air pollution
• Pathogens

More information is needed to protect workers accurately from asthma risks, so the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) wants to assess the situation with a comprehensive survey of hospital- and nursing home-based healthcare workers.

The goal is to identify modifiable occupational risk factors for asthma that can help authorities formulate and implement prevention strategies.

The proposed survey would include several thousand healthcare workers from New York City, who can participate online or by phone.

The participating workers will include certified nursing assistants, central supply, environmental services, licensed practical nurses, lab techs, operating room techs, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and dental assistants.

The survey can also help make healthcare workers more aware of the asthma risks at their workplace, so that they can help identify risk factors and solutions.

Do you think this survey will help the healthcare industry? Share your thoughts with us.

Source: Risk and Insurance

Air cleaners for healthcare settings

In order to reduce asthmagens (pollutants that can cause or aggravate asthma symptoms), indoor air needs to be controlled, ventilated and cleaned.

Electrocorp has developed portable and powerful air cleaners for hospitals and healthcare, which feature a complete filtration system to remove fine particles, dust, chemicals, VOCs, odors, fumes, mold, bacteria and viruses from the ambient air.

Electrocorp's RAP series combines
carbon and HEPA filters for best results.

The filtration system contains

• Deep-bed activated carbon filter for gaseous pollutants and odors
• HEPA filter for particles
• Easy-clean pre-filters
• UV germicidal filtration for pathogens and mold (optional)

Highly recommended air cleaners for healthcare settings include the RAP series, which come in different sizes and filter configurations to provide the most efficient IAQ solution, the AirMedic+ series, a small and portable air purifier for individual rooms that offers supreme particle filtration and the I-6500 series, a top-rated air cleaner for larger spaces or in rooms that require strict air quality control.

Electrocorp also offers air cleaners for dental labs as well as other types of laboratories.

For more information, contact Electrocorp today.

Follow this blog to show your support for green and healthy working environments.

Workplace IAQ: How important is air duct cleaning in offices?

Offices can expose workers to dust, mold and chemicals.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many people don’t mind being indoors in their air conditioned offices during the hot summer months, but office buildings have to be well maintained in order to avoid indoor air quality problems.

Spending day after day in offices with poor indoor air quality can lead to reduced productivity and health effects such as chronic coughs and sneezing, scratchy throats, itchy eyes, headaches and aggravated respiratory conditions like asthma.

When it comes to indoor air pollution, a lot of people tend to blame mold for health issues, occupational hygienists say.

However, mold may not be the cause of the IAQ concerns – in many cases the culprits are airborne chemicals and dust.

Health effects of dust exposure

Dust, which contains fine particles of fibers, skin scales, insect parts, pollen, cobwebs, dirt, dander and more, settles on surfaces everywhere in the office.

Regular cleaning can help control this aspect of indoor air quality, although companies should insist on non-toxic cleaning agents to avoid the spread of irritating chemicals throughout the office.

Unfortunately, experts note that even with regular cleaning, dust may settle in areas that are inaccessible, including the building’s air ducts.

Once dust gets in the air ducts, it can stay there for years, or it might be circulated throughout the office where it can affect employees’ health and well-being.

Since people spend so much time in offices and there could be a lot of dust, yearly air duct cleanings are recommended, as long as they are done by professionals with the right equipment.

Source: Digital Journal press release

Removing pollutants from the office air

The PrintSafe features a custom
source capture hood that removes
pollutants from the printer exhaust.

Dust, allergens, fine particles, chemicals, VOCs, odors, gases and biological contaminants can be removed easily and efficiently with Electrocorp’s air cleaners for offices and air cleaners for office printers.

As an industry leader in air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications, Electrocorp offers some of the largest adsorbent surface areas, the most customizable options and features and the most relevant filtration media at the best price. The air cleaners contain a multistage filtration system with activated carbon, HEPA and optional UV germicidal filtration.

The company’s portable and HVAC-compatible air cleaners can help keep the office air clean and healthy.

Contact Electrocorp to talk to an IAQ expert about your concerns and space.

Is the air in your office making you sick? We’d like to hear from you.

Show your support for green and healthy working environments by becoming a follower of this blog.

Vapor intrusion forcing people out of their homes

Toxic chemicals from contaminated soil can find their
way inside homes and affect the residents.

Whenever homes, schools or other buildings are constructed on top of previously contaminated land, toxic chemicals and gases may find their way inside, where they can affect people’s health and well-being.

This is supposedly what happened in a Scottish neighborhood near Glasgow.

Built on a site that was used by industrial plants from the 1940s until the 1970s, homes that were tested showed high levels of toxic chemicals in the ambient air.

The toxins were

• Trichloroethylene (an industrial solvent)
• Tetrachloroethylene (dry-cleaning fluid)
• Polychlorinated biphenols
• Polyaromatic carbons

The air inside 25 homes was tested in June and July 2011 and found levels of the chemicals at much higher levels than deemed acceptable by WHO standards. Apart from the high levels of chemicals, experts also worried about the mixture of toxins people are exposed to.

One family moved away after the wife developed nose bleeds, headaches and nausea a few years after moving there.

The family is suing the landlord over the toxic fume exposure in a test case that may be of interest to more than 40 families living in the area.

The plaintiffs allege that a required remediation of the place did not take place.

The chemicals in question have been linked to irritations, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and developmental disorders.

Source: The Scotsman

Air cleaners for vapor intrusion and environmental concerns

Soil vapor intrusion is a common concern in buildings atop contaminated sites, and the right air cleaners with deep-bed activated carbon filters can help reduce gaseous pollutants inside those homes.

Electrocorp, an industry leader in air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications, works with environmental consultants to help improve the indoor air quality in single- and double-family dwellings.

The air cleaners from Electrocorp feature some of the largest adsorbent surface areas, and the company also offers more than 40 different carbon types and blends to address specific chemical concerns.

The air cleaners are portable, affordable and long-lasting, and the carbon filters can be refilled according to need.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Heart defects at birth linked to solvents at work

Women can be exposed through synthetic textiles
and dyes, among many other sources.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Women who are exposed to organic solvents at the workplace have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with a heart defect, new research shows.

Many pregnant women may be exposed to solvents, which are often used in chemical manufacturing and in industries where substances such as fats, oils and waxes need to be dissolved or cleaned.

Organic solvents are common ingredients in

• Paints
• Varnishes
• Adhesives
• Degreasing and cleaning agents
• Dyes
• Polymers
• Plastic
• Synthetic textiles
• Printing inks
• Agricultural products

By handling these products, workers may breathe in organic chemicals, or they may enter the body through mouth or skin.

The researchers assessed the levels of workplace exposure to solvents in 5000 women in the United States from one month before conception up to the end of the first trimester.

Pregnant women exposed to solvents at work
may put their babies at risk, a study shows.

The women took part in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and their babies were delivered between 1997 and 2002.

Since exposure to organic solvents (chlorinated solvents, aromatic solvents, hydrocarbons) is relatively common in the workplace, industrial hygienists focused on these chemicals and possible associations to birth defects.

Their approach showed a 4-5% higher risk of heart defects, but they cautioned that the results did not allow the drawing of definitive conclusions on specific types of exposure and specific congenital heart defects.

The study appeared online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Source: Science Daily Press Release

Cleaner air at the workplace

Since many industries and workplaces rely on the use of solvents, the indoor air quality may be affected by the volatile organic compounds and chemicals known to be a health risk.

Electrocorp has specialized in air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that come in customizable sizes and with the most efficient filters to provide cleaner and healthier air.

The air cleaners are equipped with an activated carbon and HEPA multistage filtration system to remove airborne chemicals, gases, odors, fumes, VOCs as well as particles and other IAQ concerns.

More than 40 different carbon blends can also target specific chemicals and gases, such as those from organic solvents.

For more information on Electrocorp and its products, contact us.

Show your support for green and healthy working environments by becoming a follower of this blog.

EPA stresses a healthy environment in schools

Poor indoor air quality impacts students as well as
teachers and school staff, experts warn.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has long been a promoter of good indoor air quality in schools as well as greener administration practices, and helps schools make changes for the better with their Tools for Schools guidance.

In a recent webinar on Green Ribbon Schools (GRS), a US Department of Education project, experts demonstrated why indoor air quality is so important for a healthy school environment as well as for academic success.

Environmental health is one of the main pillars of GRS, and focuses on integrated pest management (employing healthier alternatives to pesticides), ventilation and contamination controls of indoor air pollutants such as chemicals, tobacco smoke, mold, radon and more.

IAQ often overlooked

According to the webinar experts, indoor air quality can affect the students, teachers’ and administrators’ health, comfort and ability to perform.

IAQ is a major component of the school’s physical environment that is the most easily overlooked, they said.
In schools, IAQ should always be a priority because children are more vulnerable to environmental pollution.

Indoor air pollution can cause or aggravate asthma.

They breathe more air than adults in relation to their body size and their immune systems and organs are still developing.

Health effects of poor IAQ can be immediate or long-term. For example, many indoor air pollutants can cause or trigger asthma, or aggravate the symptoms.

With one out of every 10 school children suffering from asthma, the missed school days also affect their overall performances.

Academic performance linked to IAQ

The experts cited scientific evidence that showed how improved indoor air quality increases productivity, the ability to concentrate and recall information and can reduce respiratory illnesses.

It can also save schools money, as better academic performances may mean increased funding for the district. A healthy school environment in a well-maintained school also means fewer costly, major repairs have to be done. Schools also have to spend less on substitute teachers, if there are fewer health-related absences.

The experts gave the following tips for schools:

• Change the HVAC filters regularly
• Fix water infiltration problems immediately to avoid mold and mildew
• Implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices
• Keep rooms clean and free of clutter
• Store hazardous products safely
• Ban idling vehicles outside
• Use healthy cleaning agents and materials
• Conduct regular inspections

Source: EPA

Air cleaners for schools, daycares and universities

Children and staff need to be protected from indoor air pollutants. Aside from making the changes outlined above, learning institutions can use affordable and portable air cleaners to help provide cleaner and healthier air.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners for schools and universities feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter for chemicals, gases, odors and fumes, a HEPA filter for particles, dust and pollen, and optional UV germicidal filtration for biological contaminants such as mold, bacteria and viruses.

The air cleaners can be placed in individual classrooms, or they can be attached to existing HVAC systems.

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