CSC EHS Newsletter: April 2021

Clark Seif Clark

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Environmental Newsletter

April 2021

Every day, Clark Seif Clark professionals are deployed across the nation helping both large and small customers resolve health & safety, industrial hygiene, environmental and indoor air quality issues.

At a moment's notice, Clark Seif Clark can send their experts anywhere they are needed. No matter if it's in response to a hurricane, wildfire, flood, tornado or other natural disaster, Clark Seif Clark is ready to help and can respond in no time at all.

Clark Seif Clark Celebrates 25 Years of Environmental, Engineering and Industrial Hygiene Consulting Services

Twenty-five years ago this month, several of the nation’s leading environmental, industrial hygiene, engineering and building science professionals decided to go into business for themselves and officially opened the doors at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). The company quickly made a name for themselves in their home state of California before expanding and opening several offices along the West Coast and Southwest that continue to provide services for clients nationwide.

What set CSC apart from others in the industry back in 1996 still holds true today. The knowledge and training of CSC’s staff of engineers, industrial hygienists and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) professionals who are dedicated to science-based protocols and cross-training has been key to the company’s quarter century of success. CSC’s personnel are not only comprehensive site investigators, they are also knowledgeable compliance experts, a unique position for an environmental consulting firm. Their extensive background in engineering is yet another crucial benefit for architects, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Local, state and federal institutions and government agencies, along with companies ranging from start-ups to international Fortune 500 firms, all utilize CSC’s expertise. Services include everything from subsurface site characterization and remediation to workplace health and safety, OSHA compliance, indoor air quality, mold, lead, asbestos and energy efficiency consulting, not to mention comprehensive litigation support services.

“At CSC our goal for a quarter of a century has been to understand our clients' expectations and to exceed them on every project,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark. “We are proud to have completed thousands of projects for clients across every part of the United States and continue to pride ourselves on the depth of project experience and level of expertise our professionals bring to the table as we celebrate this milestone of service. Our entire organization looks forward to another quarter century of providing exceptional results to clients both big and small.”

To learn more about building science, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please:

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Sad, But True: Beware Counterfeits in the Time of COVID-19

It’s nothing short of miraculous that COVID-19 tests, N95 respirators and SARS-CoV2 vaccines were made available so quickly. But, sadly we are compelled to ask…are they real or counterfeit?

Since December of 2019, herculean efforts have resulted in amazing strides in warp speed towards development, supply and distribution of disease-confirming analytical tools, disease-mitigating safety devices and disease-prophylactic vaccines. All this is great news is a testament to the power of people working towards a cause.

Now, the bad news…. Ne'er-do-wells exist. They always have. Sadly, counterfeits are out there: counterfeit COVID-19 tests, counterfeit N95 respirators and counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines. They are affecting people on multiple continents.

March 4, 2021 The Washington Post reported “Fake coronavirus vaccine seizures in several countries are ‘tip of the iceberg,’ Interpol warns” wherein they say “South African authorities recently seized 400 vials, which held around 2,400 doses, of counterfeit vaccines from a warehouse outside Johannesburg, Interpol said in a report Wednesday. The illicit stash also included fake 3M masks.”

March 18, 2021 The Associated Press reported “Mexico seizes fake Sputnik vaccine bound for Honduras” wherein they say “Mexican customs officials have seized purported vials of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine en route to Honduras…”

Pardon the pun, but even the United States is not immune to deception.

February 7, 2021 KMO News reported “WSHA: Hundreds of thousands of counterfeit N95 masks purchased by Washington hospitals.”

“The Washington State Hospital Association says hundreds of thousands of N95 masks bought by local hospitals and the association are counterfeit.” “…so far the issue has impacted dozens of hospitals across the state…”

“News of counterfeit life, health and safety products are particularly disheartening since these prey upon the desperation spurred by a global pandemic,” said Derrick A. Denis, Disaster Ready Emergency Preparedness and Infection Control (DR EPIC) Program Industrial Hygienist for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Counterfeit products such as vaccines and N95 respirators likely do not protect you or those in your charge as you expect. At best, you simply do not get what you paid for. At worst, these fraudulent products result in otherwise avoidable injuries, illnesses or deaths.”

What can people do to protect themselves from fraud?

Maintain a buyer beware attitude.
Use known reputable sources for supply.
Always consult with a licensed medical professional to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment.
Do not purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments over the internet.
Ignore unsolicited offers for vaccinations and miracle treatments or cures.
Don’t respond to texts, emails or robocalls about vaccines and treatments.
Be wary of ads on social media.
We citizens are all responsible to protect one another, so report any suspicious activity involving COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, equipment, etc.
If one sees or suspects fraud, report it.
Report counterfeit masks to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through their reporting system, or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT.
Report any counterfeit products to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination C ent er online (https://www.iprcenter.gov/referral/), or by telephone at 1-866-IPR-2060.
Report counterfeit vaccines, treatments, PPE, Cares Act fraud, or consumer fraud or fraudulent websites to Operation Stolen Promise | ICE (https://www.ice.gov/topics/operation-stolen-promise).
Report suspicious activity involving COVID-19 vaccines and treatments to COVID19FRAUD@dhs.gov

To learn more about this or other infection control, occupational, environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark: CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.