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.
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Lithium Batteries and Environmental, Health and Safety Resources to Mitigate Fire Risks
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Lithium batteries are everywhere. They can be found in mobile phones, e-cigarettes, cordless tools, laptop computers and tablets, UPS systems, e-bikes and scooters, electric cars, buildings to supplement the power grid, and much more. These power-packed energy storage devices allow for mobility like never before.
The benefits of lithium batteries include their small footprint and other characteristics making them long lasting, fast charging, powerful, generally stable and relatively light. But, there is a dark side to batteries, and in particular to lithium batteries. They can burn, go into thermal runaway, and they can be difficult or impossible to extinguish.
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Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
800.807.1118
SERVICES:
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“OSHA reports that lithium batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail, but only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged,” said Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “When lithium batteries fail to operate safely or become damaged, they can present a fire hazard, an internal pressure explosion hazard, a toxic gas emission hazard and/or a flammable gas emission hazard. For example, just a few months ago, a fire caused by a lithium ion battery resulted in a 3–alarm fire in a high-rise that injured at least 38 people according to the New York City Fire Department.”
In addition to the dangers that heat and explosions present, there are also environmental issues to consider. These include, but are not limited to, exposure to hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen gas and metal particulates (like nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, iron, etc.). Without specialized knowledge and equipment to measure and/or laboratory access to sample byproducts of lithium battery fires, it is impossible to effectively protect human health and safety.
Fortunately, mitigation strategies are available to help prevent injuries and thermal events associated with batteries. Partnering with experienced environmental, health and safety (EHS) professionals, and local fire departments, can go a long way towards protecting people and property. CSC’s lithium battery fire response and recovery experience is vast. It includes small appliance fires in homes, electric mobility factory fires, office fires, battery repurposing facility fires, large power grid-supplementing battery banks fires and more. CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about lithium batteries and EHS concerns that can be seen below:
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To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please:
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Workplace Ventilation during Cold Weather and Resources to Optimize Indoor Environmental Conditions
Last year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an OSHA Alert about improving workplace ventilation during the cold winter months. A key focal point of the announcement emphasized indoor air quality (IAQ) during cold weather and how it is especially critical when influenza, cold and COVID-19 viruses are circulating in the workplace.
Key steps to improve ventilation listed by OSHA include:
- Inspecting air intake and exhaust ports to ensure they are clean and free of ice or snow.
- Replacing filters as necessary to ensure the proper function of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
- Having an HVAC professional conduct all regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance.
- Adding portable air cleaners with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in spaces with high occupancy or limited ventilation.
OSHA also states that while building managers may perform some steps to improve indoor air, others should be conducted by qualified HVAC professionals. These include:
- Ensuring all HVAC systems are operating in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and design specifications.
- Maximizing the amount of outdoor air supplied consistent with the heating capacity of the HVAC system. Rebalancing or adjusting HVAC systems to increase total airflow to occupied spaces.
- Installing air filters with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) 13 (or equivalent) or higher where feasible. If MERV-13 filters are not compatible with the HVAC system, use filters with the highest compatible filtering efficiency for the HVAC system.
- Cleaning HVAC system drain pans, heating and cooling coils, and supply/return registers to eliminate areas where contaminants can settle.
Frigid outdoor conditions can bring challenges for building owners and managers when it comes to balancing outdoor air ventilation rates, energy costs, air mixing, air filtration, HVAC system maintenance, building occupant comfort and infection control efforts. The industrial hygiene, indoor air quality and infection control professionals at CSC offer worksite assessments, ventilation inspections, air testing, monitoring and training services to optimize indoor air quality conditions in any season.
CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about improving workplace ventilation during cold weather that can be seen below:
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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 [email protected] or call (800) 807-1118.
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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.
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21732 Devonshire St., Ste. B,
Chatsworth, CA 91311
800.807.1118
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