Barry Rice, CSP, considers safety data sheets the user manuals for chemicals. Here, he highlights three of the most valuable parts of an SDS and how OSHA expects U.S. organizations to manage them. He also provides reference information and advice on SDS training.
The approach often taken by contractors is the simple and quick method to set up containment. In reality, the design and construction of containment often takes far longer than the actual remediation. Containment is one of the highest liabilities that impacts the contractor, as well as the client, and should be given priority.
The 15-member group advises the Secretary of Labor and Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on developing standards and policies affecting the construction industry.
In the fire restoration industry today, many practitioners use ozone generators as one of their primary means to neutralize smoke odor. Although ozone may be effective to some degree in neutralizing odors, many experts disagree on its effectiveness and whether the risks outweigh the rewards. So, what is ozone? And what are the associated health risks? Sean and Briana Scott examine the effects of ozone exposure and offer necessary precautions for working with ozone.
“Hoarding cleanup is not an easy task, and it is best done by restoration professionals who have the expertise and equipment to perform the job efficiently and safely. By no means was this particular case the worst I have seen in my tenure, but the timeline from the property management company was tight, so we needed to get to work quickly and efficiently,” Ben Doebler writes.
“Maybe you have difficulty getting your restoration technicians to wear safety boots, even with the vast selection of types and brands. So how do you, as a restoration company owner or project manager, change this mindset? Let me provide seven basic ways to do this,” writes Barry Rice, CSP.
“ABC is deeply disappointed that the 6th Circuit Court lifted the 5th Circuit’s stay of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which applies to employers with 100 or more employees," said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs.
Drone software and hardware capabilities are expanding each year, with significant implications for the restoration and insurance industries. Advancements in AI and photogrammetry make for more accurate and comprehensive reporting on damaged structures. For example, thermal mapping via drones allows assessors to spot leaks and water damage on a roof without needing to climb said roof.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has extended the comment period for the COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard to Jan. 19, 2022. OSHA extended the comment period by 45 days to allow stakeholders additional time to review the ETS and collect information and data necessary for comment.
