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PH: 719.481.6336
CELL: 719.466.1100
Hazard Assessments and Testing
Part of the inspection and safety engineering process requires conducting the assessment and testing as needed in order to determine and verify that there is an "EXPOSURE" to the hazard identified. When I determine there is a hazard, such as the presence of lead, asbestos, radon, etc...there needs to be an exposure linked to that hazard. For example, the pressence of lead or asbestos in a facility or worksite that is not accessible does not constitute exposure and therefore, there is no health hazard present. This does not mean to ignore the condition which is hazardous in nature. It means, we must regularly check the site of concern to determine if conditions have changed. If conditions deteriorate or renovation occurs, a once safe condition can turn into a potential for exposure. This is why 95% of the safety engineering and inspection process is visual but one must back that visual inspection up with verifiable data. Data provides the needed "PROOF" to validate the observation of a hazard. Once we determine there is a hazard and the potential for exposure (ie: a home with high radon levels, LBP, asbestos, mold, etc...) HAZARD plus people living in the home where they can be clearly exposed to these hazards, then we have "EXPOSURE". When exposure to a hazard is verified, through testing, or it is clearly obvious, then the next step are "CONTROL OPTIONS". Control options are the methods and materials employed to mitigate the "HAZARDOUS EXPOSURE". These options could be removal of the exposure, moving people out of the home or facility. Another option could be eliminating the hazard or controling it, such as installing a radon mitigation system or removing the asbestos, mold or LBP from the facility. Other control options could be providing peronal protective equipment to workers. This is a last resort because the hazard and exposure are still present. We just are stopping the exposure from reaching the worker.
RADON is a noble gas, Rn on the periodic chart of elements. It is used as an idicator gas to determine the pressence of lung cancer causing radioactive gases in the building. The US EPA has determined that facilities with radon levels of 4.0 pic-curies per liter (pCi/L) should be mitigated. Since radon has no warning properties (color, odor, taste), the only way to know its pressence is to conduct testing in the building. Only testing will reveal radon levels. The process of mitigation involves installing a fan with piping in a location inside/outside the facility where it can draw air away from the foundation. This vacuum causes a pressure change resulting in radon gas to be driven from the sub-slab before it can make its way into the basement or lowe level of the building. One of the most common methods is the use of sub-slab depressurization (SSD). SSD employs the use of a fan to remove radon gas from below the foundation. Normally, buildings have a sump and a perimter drain already installed. This is usually done during construction to ensure proper drainage and to prevent flooding. SSD simply taps into this system by sealing the sump and allowing the radon fan piping to interact with the sub-slab drainage system. This method is also least invasive to the property since no drilling throught the foundation would be required. Only a 4.5" hole needs to be drilled through the wall or roof to allow for the piping to be vented from the building.
Part of the inspection and safety engineering process requires conducting the assessment and testing as needed in order to determine and verify that there is an "EXPOSURE" to the hazard identified. When I determine there is a hazard, such as the presence of lead, asbestos, radon, etc...there needs to be an exposure linked to that hazard. For example, the pressence of lead or asbestos in a facility or worksite that is not accessible does not constitute exposure and therefore, there is no health hazard present. This does not mean to ignore the condition which is hazardous in nature. It means, we must regularly check the site of concern to determine if conditions have changed. If conditions deteriorate or renovation occurs, a once safe condition can turn into a potential for exposure. This is why 95% of the safety engineering and inspection process is visual but one must back that visual inspection up with verifiable data. Data provides the needed "PROOF" to validate the observation of a hazard. Once we determine there is a hazard and the potential for exposure (ie: a home with high radon levels, LBP, asbestos, mold, etc...) HAZARD plus people living in the home where they can be clearly exposed to these hazards, then we have "EXPOSURE". When exposure to a hazard is verified, through testing, or it is clearly obvious, then the next step are "CONTROL OPTIONS". Control options are the methods and materials employed to mitigate the "HAZARDOUS EXPOSURE". These options could be removal of the exposure, moving people out of the home or facility. Another option could be eliminating the hazard or controling it, such as installing a radon mitigation system or removing the asbestos, mold or LBP from the facility. Other control options could be providing peronal protective equipment to workers. This is a last resort because the hazard and exposure are still present. We just are stopping the exposure from reaching the worker.
RADON is a noble gas, Rn on the periodic chart of elements. It is used as an idicator gas to determine the pressence of lung cancer causing radioactive gases in the building. The US EPA has determined that facilities with radon levels of 4.0 pic-curies per liter (pCi/L) should be mitigated. Since radon has no warning properties (color, odor, taste), the only way to know its pressence is to conduct testing in the building. Only testing will reveal radon levels. The process of mitigation involves installing a fan with piping in a location inside/outside the facility where it can draw air away from the foundation. This vacuum causes a pressure change resulting in radon gas to be driven from the sub-slab before it can make its way into the basement or lowe level of the building. One of the most common methods is the use of sub-slab depressurization (SSD). SSD employs the use of a fan to remove radon gas from below the foundation. Normally, buildings have a sump and a perimter drain already installed. This is usually done during construction to ensure proper drainage and to prevent flooding. SSD simply taps into this system by sealing the sump and allowing the radon fan piping to interact with the sub-slab drainage system. This method is also least invasive to the property since no drilling throught the foundation would be required. Only a 4.5" hole needs to be drilled through the wall or roof to allow for the piping to be vented from the building.
- Property Inspections
- Hazard Assessments and Testing
- Environmental, Health & Safety Consulting
- Hazard Assessments and Testing
- Environmental, Health & Safety Consulting
