TMC Environmental "Challenge Us, Count on Us"

The Danger of Snow and Ice on Rooftops

2011-11-21T13:34:00.000-08:00

Images of a winter wonderland fade quickly when you’re worried about a potential roof collapse because of heavy snow and/or ice accumulation. The northeast was hit hard last winter with numerous snow and ice storms causing many roofs to cave in under the extreme weight. Since the northeast has already experienced record-breaking snow fall in October, now is the best time to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

If you have a steeply pitched roof, chances are the snow will slide off and there is little danger of snow accumulating to the point of a collapse. Lower pitched roofs and flat roofs are a different story. If the pitch is low, the weight of the snow is distributed onto the roof rafters. The snow should be removed if there is 2 feet on your roof. Lesser amounts of snow should also be removed if the forecast calls for rain since the snow will act like a sponge holding the water and adding an incredible amount of weight to the structure.

Removing snow from a roof is a very strenuous activity, and there is a danger of damaging the roof surface itself and creating more problems than what the snow itself presents. The danger of serious injury (or death) is always present when working at heights, and when dealing with snow it’s even more dangerous. One wrong move and you could slip and go over the edge. Time to call in professionals with trained crews that have the appropriate tools and safety gear to get the job done. To minimize your liability, it’s important to make sure that your contractor has OSHA-40 trained personnel equipped with proper fall protection and carries adequate insurance coverage.

These experienced crews clear flat roofs by getting on the roof and pushing the snow off the roof and toward a particular area of the property, or into dump trucks where it is transported off site. To maintain safety protocols, when removing snow from pitched roofs, the crew stands on the ground, on ladders, or on staging and scrapes the snow off the roof using extension poles and other tools and equipment. While the crew is clearing snow, they can also remove any large and dangerous icicles. Icicles can often weigh hundreds of pounds and could seriously injure or even kill someone unlucky enough to be beneath them when they break and fall to the ground.

Professional removal of snow and icicles from the roof and gutters also reduces the risk that ice dams will form. (Deeper snow and cold temperatures increase the likelihood and size of ice dams.) An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into the building causing damage to walls, ceilings, and insulation. Water-stained ceilings, dislodged roof shingles, sagging ice-filled gutters, peeling paint, and damaged plaster are all easily recognized and usually repaired when weather or budgets permit. But other damage is not as obvious and often goes unchecked. Moisture may get trapped within the wall cavity. The result: structural framing can decay, metal fasteners may corrode, and mold and mildew can form on wall surfaces as a result of elevated humidity levels.

To avoid potential damage to your property, make arrangements with a qualified contractor today. That way, the contractor will be able to help you immediately, should the need arise this winter.

Best Practices in Hazardous Waste Management

2011-10-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably heard the jingle on the radio…“Don’t put mercury in the trash…”
Storing and shipping hazardous materials is not only dangerous, it can be tricky - with countless laws and regulations to navigate. Many healthcare, academic, and/or industrial facilities face this issue on an on-going basis. Sure, you can do it all yourself, but partnering with a qualified contractor who offers solutions that meet your specific needs may be a better way to go. But how do you evaluate such services?
The goal of a waste management program is to manage waste streams in an environmentally and economically responsible manner, while ensuring regulatory compliance. This can be a complicated task to handle using only internal resources since many institutions and corporations often generate waste in more than one category.
A hazardous waste is defined as a waste that is considered by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in irreversible or incapacitating illness; or one that poses a threat to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise mismanaged.
A qualified contractor can take the guesswork out of identifying and classifying hazardous waste. And once identified, a process can be established to ensure the proper handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of these materials.

Because the ultimate liability for proper disposal lies with the waste generator, it is imperative to ask the contractor to provide documentation such as permits, records, insurance and liability coverage, and regulatory compliance history.

Disaster cleanup requires well-trained crews

2011-09-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Comedian Ron White said …it’s not THAT the wind is blowin’; it’s WHAT the wind is blowin’. But dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane or tornado is no laughing matter. Hurricane Irene slammed the east coast and devastated parts of Vermont, leaving many areas with the worst floods the state has experienced in 80 years.

Now the clean-up begins. Hurricane cleanup doesn't just involve removing fallen trees. It also involves rebuilding infrastructure and repairing the environment damaged by both wind and flooding. This includes repairing or reconstructing damaged roofs, foundations and basements, bridges, and roads. In addition, utilities need to deal with fixing broken water mains, leaking gas pipes, and downed electric and phone lines.

Hurricanes can cause toxic substances such as oil and gasoline, sewer water, garbage, and industrial wastes to leak into waterways, roadways, and structures. Floodwaters and mud can worsen the situation by spreading these spills, further harming structures and surfaces that have already suffered wind damage and creating environments where dangerous mold and bacteria can develop.

Mold or water damage remediation specialists are most commonly needed, though some situations require specialists in bio-hazard or toxic materials who can clean off or re-contain these dangerous substances. In addition, all remediation operations should be conducted and supervised by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-certified Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER) technicians.

Trained disaster response crews with the proper equipment can, for example, provide liquid and solid vacuum services for cleaning up fuel oil-impacted basements and broken storage tanks. Using high-power vacuum machines with heavy-duty hoses facilitates the removal of heavy mud and silt from affected properties.

Large-scale cleanup operations require effective coordination among subcontractors. Fleets equipped with GPS tracking make it possible to monitor the precise location of these resources during the clean-up process.

For more information on clean up resources available for the areas in Vermont affected by Hurricane Irene: http://www.anr.state.vt.us/site/html/flood.htmi

“DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME”…

2011-08-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

You often see this disclaimer on TV shows or commercials where stunt actors perform daring and potentially dangerous activities. These actors are trained and wear appropriate safety gear to keep them safe. The same is true when environmental and hazmat crews must deal with cleaning a confined space.
Is your contractor properly trained in confined spaces?
According to OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration), many workplaces contain spaces that are considered “confined” because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter, work in, and exit them.

So what is a confined space? According to OSHA’s definition, it is a space that:

· Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere

· Contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant

· Contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress

· Has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant

· Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit

· Is large enough and configured so that an employee’s body can enter and perform assigned work

· Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy

Confined spaces include, but are not limited to: ventilation and exhaust ducts, vats, underground vaults, tunnels, tanks, storage bins, silos, process vessels, pits, pipelines, manholes, degreasers, and compartments of ships.
A series of steps must be taken to ensure the safety of persons required to work in this type of environment. The atmosphere should be tested, at all levels – top, middle, and bottom. The area should be well ventilated with blowers or fans, and re-tested to ensure that it is ventilated correctly before anyone enters. Workers must have the appropriate personal protective equipment, such as hardhats, gloves, proper footwear, and the proper type of respirators. Some may need air-purifying cartridges, that filter toxic substances from the air, or air-supplying respirators that provide safe breathing air from a tank or uncontaminated area nearby. Only air-supplying respirators can be used in confined spaces where there is not enough oxygen or the contamination is above the “Maximum Use Concentration” of the respirator.
Other hazards of confined spaces include extreme temperatures, engulfment hazards, noise, slick and wet surfaces, or even falling objects from above the entrance. All of this requires a significant amount of training to work in safety. Workers must be trained on respirator use and selection, monitoring equipment, confined space entry, rescue and any additional hazards specific to the work location.
Your contractor should make sure that at least one person remains outside the space to monitor operations and to assist in an evacuation, if necessary. Some situations may require additional personnel to remain outside. Ask your contractor if they are monitoring the air and if they have a rescue plan in place.
Needless injuries and fatalities can be avoided with the proper training and management. So, before confined space work is performed on your site, ask your contractor about their training programs and their safety record.

GET THE LEAD OUT

2011-07-08T09:12:00.001-07:00

Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead? You don’t want riddles when you are dealing with lead contamination on your property. Rather, you need an experienced contractor to treat or remove the contamination.

While lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the earth’s crust, most people think of paint, stained glass windows, or maybe bullets when thinking about things that contain lead. Lead has certainly been used in those applications – as well as others, such as typesetting equipment and ceramic or pottery products. In addition, lead was often added to fuel to eliminate engine knocking and was also used in many pesticides.
Widespread use of lead in paints and gasoline has been discontinued due to the dangers of lead poisoning. However lead continues to be used in the production of batteries, metal products such as solder and pipes, ammunition, and devices to shield the body from X-rays.
Because of the widespread use of lead over many years, exposure to lead in the environment today is likely to come from man-made rather than natural sources. Elevated levels of lead in soil are often found in metropolitan areas due to auto emissions. Lead particles from vehicle exhaust travel through air until they hit a building or structure, where they remain until rain washes them down into soil. Lead does not break down and go away.

Lead in structures

Older buildings, bridges, tanks, and ships may have been painted with lead paint. The most common removal method is to scrape the paint off the surface within a containment area to prevent the lead dust from escaping, which would cause further contamination. This can be done by utilizing manual or mechanical means, which include in-tacking loose and flaking paint, or by employing abrasive water blasting or sand blasting equipment. Then the particles are vacuumed up and disposed. Newer vacuum-assisted paint removal equipment can significantly speed the process by eliminating the need to build and re-position the containment area. The lead waste would then be disposed of as hazardous waste at an approved facility.

Lead in the natural environment

There are various technologies available for reducing the harmful effects of lead and other heavy metals in soil including, excavation (physical removal of contaminated material), stabilization (chemical treatment), and photo-remediation (use of plants to stop the spread of contamination).

Methods to remove lead from contaminated water include chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, ion exchange, and absorption. And there are in-situ treatment options as well, including a permeable reactive barrier installation and experimental procedures.

So what do you need to look for in a qualified lead remediation company?

Because lead is considered a toxic substance, remediation procedures must conform to stringent hazardous waste disposal regulations enforced by several government agencies such as OSHA, HUD, and the EPA. It is necessary to perform due diligence to ensure the contractor has the experience and qualifications to competently complete your lead abatement project:

ú Ensure samples (both pre and post) are analyzed at a qualified laboratory.

ú Check that workers and supervisors have appropriate lead remediation training and medical examinations as required by OSHA.

ú Determine the landfill that will be used for lead disposal and that it complies with all regulations/laws pertaining to disposal of hazardous waste.

ú Ask for evidence of liability insurance coverage, workman's compensation insurance, and vehicle insurance.

ú Require that the comprehensive scope of work include removal/remediation plans (facility/structure and its location, work area isolation and containment plans, clean up and waste disposal procedures, and safety procedures).

ú Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment and approved respirators will be used and that gear has been inspected.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when selecting a contractor for your lead remediation project. For more information on how to get the lead out, please visit these websites:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/
http://epa.gov/lead/pubs/regulation.htm
http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_3.html
http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/lbp/hudguidelines/Ch12.pdf
http://www.lehaonline.org/
http://www.eia-usa.org/fact-sheets/lead-fact-sheet/

My property has PCB contamination….now what??

2011-06-01T06:45:00.001-07:00

PCBs, (polychlorinated biphenyls) are man-made organic chemicals that were manufactured from 1929 - 1979 when they were banned because of concerns that they cause serious health consequences.

Monsanto was the sole manufacturer of PCBs in the US. Because of all the negative press surrounding PCB contamination, in 1997 Monsanto spun off their chemical operations in a new company named Solutia, Inc. Today Monsanto is focused on agriculture and supporting farmers around the world in their mission to produce more while conserving more.

Once known as a miracle chemical, PCBs are nonflammable and conduct heat without conducting electricity – and they were acclaimed for preventing fires and explosions in electrical equipment. In fact, some safety codes once endorsed the use of PCBs as insulation in transformers and other electrical and lighting equipment.

PCBs were also used in a variety of building materials: caulk, grout, paint, adhesives, fiberglass and foam rubber insulation, and ceiling tiles. PCBs could also be found in roofing materials as well as HVAC gaskets and waterproofing materials.

EPA regulations classify PCB products containing greater than 50 parts per million as “unauthorized”, making their continued use illegal. PCB-containing building products must be removed and disposed of as hazardous waste which adds to the cost of remediation. Additionally, because PCBs may leach into surrounding materials, all building components that were in contact with the contaminated material may require removal, containment and/or restoration efforts. These remediation requirements, especially the removal of surrounding “contaminated” materials, can be costly and disruptive – especially for schools and other occupied buildings.

Regulatory requirements call for removal of all PCB–containing materials and the removal or encapsulation of PCB-contaminated materials. Masonry, wood or other building materials that come in contact with caulking will often become contaminated to various degrees based on the porous nature of the material. Analyzing the extent of the contamination can often make a significant difference in removal or encapsulation effort and cost. Wholesale removal of sections of a façade may be avoided by accurately determining the extent of PCB penetration, which can significantly reduce the cost of remediation. Alternative project designs that still comply with regulatory guidance may then be developed keeping timeframe and project costs in mind.

Another area of concern for PCB contamination is lighting fixtures – specifically ballasts of fluorescent lights. The ballast is the device that contains the fluorescent material. Until the late 1970s, PCBs were commonly used as insulators because they have a high tolerance for heat, do not easily burn, and are non-explosive.

Given their widespread use before they were banned, if a school or office building was built before 1979 or has not had a complete lighting retrofit since then, the fluorescent light ballasts most probably contain PCBs. Although intact, functioning ballasts do not pose any health threat, these lighting ballasts will all fail in time. For that reason, EPA is recommending older PCB-containing lighting ballasts should be removed, whether as part of a previously scheduled lighting retrofit program or a stand-alone project.

With monetary penalties levied for improper storage and/or disposal, it is important to have a qualified contractor handle the remediation and disposal of PCB contaminated waste.

The EPA has guidelines on their website for dealing with PCBs whether in caulking or ballasts. (see links below)

http://www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk/

http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/ballasts.htm

Water, water everywhere…now you’ve got mold

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

While Alexander Fleming discovered that mold could be beneficial - think penicillin for treating bacterial infections, most people have a negative perception of mold. Mold can grow on almost any substance, interior or exterior, when moisture is present.

Flooding, leaking roofs, building maintenance problems such as insufficient ventilation, or indoor plumbing problems can lead to mold growth inside homes, schools, or office and retail buildings. Mold growth may also be caused by incomplete drying of flooring materials such as concrete. Where there is moisture or humidity present, mold can grow on common building materials, such as plywood, drywall, carpets, and carpet padding.

After water damage occurs in a building, mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours. Mold can remain dormant inside walls until another incident of high humidity occurs; this illustrates how mold can appear to be a sudden problem, long after a previous flood or water incident that did not produce such a problem. The right conditions reactivate mold – and that identifiable smell.

While the nasty stuff that can grow in your shower can be removed with bleach or other household cleaners or detergents, black mold with its toxic spores can cause irritations, allergic reactions and serious respiratory risks.

So now what?

A thorough investigation should be conducted to find the locations of mold growth, and determine the sources of the moisture. This would include moving furniture, lifting and/or removing carpets, checking behind wallpaper or paneling, checking in ventilation duct work, opening and exposing wall cavities, etc.

Once the scope of the mold contamination is outlined, remediation by a qualified contractor can begin. During the remediation process, the level of contamination dictates the level of protection necessary for the trained remediation crews. For smaller jobs, wearing disposable respirators may be all that is necessary. For larger projects, industrial hygienists or other environmental health and safety professionals with experience performing microbial investigations and/or mold remediation should provide oversight for the project. Extensive contamination calls for personnel trained in handling hazardous materials, outfitted with full face respirators and protective clothing, to isolate the area and remove the affected materials.

After the moisture source has been eliminated and the mold removed, the premises should be revisited and then re-evaluated to ensure the remediation process was successful. The premises should be free of any moldy smells or visible growth.

TMC welcomes home the "Dirty Dozen"

2011-03-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

On December 24th the last of TMC's crew finally returned home from their mission in the Gulf Coast, we couldn't be more proud of our men who devoted almost an entire year of their lives to ensure that America's Gulf Coast was fully restored.