CSC EHS Newsletter: February 2023 - National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Released by BLS and Resources to Improve Safety + More

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Environmental Newsletter

February 2023

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.

National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Released by BLS and Resources to Improve Safety

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its annual National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries report this past December. It covers data from 2021 and sadly shows a one-year 8.9 percent increase in fatal work injuries.

For 2021, there were 5,190 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States, an increase from the 4,764 in 2020. The fatal work injury rate was 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, up from 3.4 per 100,000 FTE in 2020 and also an increase from the 2019 pre-pandemic rate of 3.5.

Some of the key findings from the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries include:

The 3.6 fatal occupational injury rate in 2021 represents the highest annual rate since 2016
A worker died every 101 minutes from a work-related injury in 2021
Exposure to harmful substances or environments led to 798 worker fatalities

“The report from BLS does not include figures for the millions of workers that were injured or developed illnesses on the job that year,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “At CSC, our industrial hygiene professionals are dedicated to helping businesses and institutions protect their workforce and comply with OSHA and Cal-OSHA regulations. Our professionals specialize in providing testing, monitoring, and health and safety training to identify and mitigate risks. These services help prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses, and are instrumental in building the most effective occupational health and safety programs possible.”

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please:

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Winter Storms Cause Water Damage, Mold and Other Exposure Concerns in Homes and Businesses across California

Current estimates of the total damage and economic costs from the recent series of winter storms that battered California in December and January are in the billions of dollars. The property and infrastructure damage was severe enough for the White House to approve a California request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support the emergency response and rebuilding efforts.

Along with the historic rainfall came flooding, storm surge, toppled trees, mudslides and power disruptions. In some areas, homes and businesses were heavily damaged and residents are now left with the long process of cleaning up and making repairs.

“It’s important for anyone with a damaged home or business to recognize that any standing water and wet materials that were not quickly addressed likely became a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as mold and bacteria,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “If floodwaters contained sewage, then infectious pathogens and chemical contaminants are a significant concern. Elevated humidity levels indoors can also cause mold growth throughout a property, even in areas that were not under water. Older properties may also contain asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paints that can be easily aerosolized during cleanup and repair activities if the proper safety precautions are not in place.”

Helping property owners, building managers and tenants in California respond to storm damage are the industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) experts at CSC. They provide building assessments and testing services to identify and mitigate exposure hazards to protect workers and building occupants. These services can also be instrumental in keeping companies in regulatory compliance with health and safety standards.

To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, building science, industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety 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.