Police evidence rooms in need of good IAQ

Collecting and storing evidence is an important
part of police work and legal proceedings.

Collecting and handling evidence is often one of the weirdest parts of a police officer's work, but it is very important to properly store evidence for investigations and legal proceedings.

In most police evidence rooms, there is more than one custodian responsible for the evidence. The job is very technical, as any evidence that is lost or tempered with can't be used in a case in court.

To make sure they can tell where the evidence is, who's had access to it and when, the technicians need to put in place a rigorous process and go through regular internal audits. Digital record keeping helps with making evidence easier to track, and security is paramount.

The evidence room houses evidence such as illicit and prescription drugs, weapons as well as items connected to crimes, many of which will be returned to their owners, auctioned off or destroyed once the case has been closed.

Metal shelves and neatly labelled boxes make for an organized room, but the evidence technicians have to be careful about the indoor air quality in the evidence room.

Without proper ventilation and air exchanges, evidence room personnel may be exposed to airborne fumes, mold (especially Aspergillus mold from improperly stored marijuana), particles, dust, chemicals and other contaminants.

Measures for a healthy evidence room

Breathing contaminated air can affect a police officer's health and well being. Continuous exposure to poor indoor air quality has been associated with less productivity, respiratory disease and many other illnesses.

There are many measures that can be taken to make the evidence room (and other areas of the department) a safer and healthier place:

• Use a diligent process for storing evidence
• Use personal protective systems (such as masks and gloves) when moving and handling stored evidence
• Monitor and adjust indoor heating, ventilation and air conditioning system
• Use a portable air purifier with activated carbon, HEPA and UV germicidal filtration to remove chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, dust and biological contaminants
• Keep the evidence room clean and organized

Source: Press Publications, Electrocorp

Worried about indoor air quality in your evidence room or police department? Electrocorp has worked with law enforcement officers across North America to provide cleaner air in evidence rooms and at the workplace. For more information, contact Electrocorp or call 1-866-667-0297.

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.