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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Dermal and Respiratory Exposure to Chemical Hazards in the Workplace
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According to estimates from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 13 million workers in the United States are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. Exposure to hazardous agents through the skin can result in a variety of occupational diseases and disorders, including occupational skin diseases (OSD) and systemic toxicity.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also states that skin exposure to chemicals in the workplace is a significant problem. The number of cases and the rate of skin disease in the U.S. exceeds recordable respiratory illnesses. As recently as 2018, 25,000 recordable skin diseases were reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) at a rate of 2.2 injuries per 10,000 employees, compared to 19,600 respiratory illnesses with a rate of 1.7 illnesses per 10,000 employees.
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Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
800.807.1118
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OSHA reports:
Most chemicals are readily absorbed through the skin and can cause other health effects and/or contribute to the dose absorbed by inhalation of the chemical from the air. Many studies indicate that absorption of chemicals through the skin can occur without being noticed by the worker. In many cases, skin is a more significant route of exposure than the lung. This is particularly true for non-volatile chemicals which are relatively toxic and which remain on work surfaces for long periods of time.
“Occupational skin diseases are the second most common type of occupational disease according to NIOSH,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Some of the more common skin conditions workers can suffer include irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, skin cancers, skin infections, skin injuries and other miscellaneous skin diseases. Contact dermatitis alone is estimated to have annual costs exceeding $1 billion.”
To help companies safeguard workers from dermal and respiratory exposure risks, and to assist with regulatory compliance issues, the industrial hygiene and environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark offer testing, monitoring, consulting and training services. These services identify and mitigate exposure risks associated with a wide range of chemical and microbial hazards. CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about dermal exposure to chemical hazards in the workplace that can be seen below:
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To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health and safety services, please:
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Asthma Awareness Month and Indoor Exposure Risks to Pollen and Other Airborne Pollutants
May is Asthma Awareness Month and May 3rd is recognized as World Asthma Day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that asthma is one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases. Approximately 25 million Americans have asthma, a disease affecting the lungs and causing repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing.
This month also happens to be a time of year when many people are exposed to elevated levels of pollen in the air they breathe. Flowering plants, trees and grasses release pollen into the environment and the fine powdery substance is carried by the wind and even into people’s homes, businesses and schools. For anyone exposed to pollen, it can cause various symptoms, or none at all.
People with respiratory illnesses, like asthma, may be more sensitive to pollen. Exposure has been linked to asthma attacks and increased hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses. For those allergic to pollen, the CDC reports that exposure can trigger various allergic reactions, including symptoms of hay fever. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, occurs when allergens like pollen enter the body and the immune system mistakenly identifies them as a threat. The body responds to the allergen by releasing chemicals that can cause symptoms in the nose. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis, which may include sneezing, runny nose and congestion, affects as many as 60 million people per year in the United States.
“There are some simple steps people can take to minimize the amount of pollen they are exposed to in the indoor environment,” said Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “These include keeping windows and doors shut during pollen season, using quality air filters in the HVAC system, dusting regularly, using a HEPA vacuum, changing clothes and showering after being outdoors, and using an appropriate air purifier in specific rooms. It’s also important to recognize that there could be other indoor allergens causing allergies or triggering asthma attacks. A few of the common ones include mold, animal danger and dust mites.”
Helping clients create optimal indoor environments in residential, commercial and institutional properties are the building science, indoor air quality (IAQ) and industrial hygiene professionals at CSC. Their experts provide building assessments, testing and monitoring services to identify and mitigate exposure risks to pollen, mold and many other airborne contaminants. CSC has even sponsored an educational video about pollen allergies and indoor air quality that can be seen below:
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To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, 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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