CSC EHS Newsletter: September 2021

Clark Seif Clark

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Environmental Newsletter

September 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.

Tips to Protect Homes and Buildings from Flood Damage

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that just 1 inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage to a home. Unfortunately, flood damage to homes and businesses is an all too common occurrence for millions of Americans.

For those living or working in areas that are prone to floods, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created the infographic Be Ready! Floods. In addition to the document’s helpful tips, the agency also provides the following suggestions to prepare a home to mitigate potential flood damage:

Make sure to secure or protect any hazards in the home before the flood strikes.
Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines, or before evacuating. Also turn off gas and water supplies before evacuating and secure structurally unstable building materials.
Buy a fire extinguisher if there isn’t already one in the home. Make sure the family knows where it is and how to use it.
Buy and install sump pumps with back-up power.
Have a licensed electrician raise electric components (switches, sockets, circuit breakers and wiring) at least 12″ above the home’s projected flood elevation.
For drains, toilets and other sewer connections, install backflow valves or plugs to prevent floodwaters from entering.
Anchor fuel tanks which can contaminate the basement if torn free. An unanchored tank outside can be swept downstream and damage other houses.
Bring outdoor possessions, such as lawn furniture, grills and trash cans inside or tie them down securely.

“It’s important for people to understand that flood damage is excluded under most standard homeowners and renters insurance policies,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Floods also happens to be the most common and costly type of property damage each year, causing billions of dollars in destruction. In addition to the immediate damage caused by a flooding event, even minor moisture that makes its way indoors can carry with it health and safety concerns. A wet or humid indoor environment can quickly lead to the growth of mold. Floodwaters can also introduce sewage or chemicals into the built environment. Another concern in flooded homes and buildings is the possible presence of lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials which can present a direct hazard during cleanup and repair efforts if the proper safety precautions are not in place.”

Helping property owners, facility managers and tenants respond to floods of all types are the building science and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) experts at CSC. They provide building assessments, surveys and testing services to identify and mitigate exposure hazards following storm damage. CSC has even sponsored an educational video about preparing a home for a flood that can be seen below:

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

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Identifying and Mitigating Exposure Risks to Barium and Barium Compounds

Barium is described by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) as a silvery-white metal which exists in nature only in ores containing mixtures of elements. It combines with other chemical elements, such as sulfur or carbon and oxygen, to form barium compounds. Barium compounds are used by the oil and gas industries to make drilling muds. These compounds are also used to make paint, bricks, ceramics, glass and rubber.

Potential routes of barium exposure include:

Inhalation – Generally limited to occupational exposure
Oral – Primary route of exposure for the general population (some foods, such as Brazil nuts, seaweed, fish and certain plants, may contain high amounts of barium).
Dermal – Minor route of exposure

Ways people could be exposed to barium listed by ATSDR include:

Ingesting small amounts present in food and water or breathing air containing very low levels of barium
Living in areas with unusually high natural levels of barium in the drinking water
Working in a job that involves barium production or use
Living or working near waste sites where barium has been disposed of

“There are a myriad of potential health effects due to exposure to elevated levels of barium or barium compounds,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “For example, inhaling barium can irritate the nose, throat and lungs, and direct contact can irritate and burn the skin or eyes. Barium may damage the kidneys and exposure to high levels may result in barium poisoning, which can have serious consequences. To safeguard workers and the public, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a limit for barium in drinking water. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for barium compounds and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs).”

To help companies comply with these exposure limits, the industrial hygiene professionals at CSC offer testing, monitoring, consulting and training services to eliminate or mitigate exposure risks to barium, barium compounds and other potential hazards. CSC has even sponsored an educational video about barium that can be seen below:

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, 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.