Commercial Buildings are full of all sorts of hazards. There is miles of plumbing, electrical, and ample spaces that are dark, warm and moist. Just like in a home, the water pipes in a commercial building can burst at any moment. The difference, however, is when they burst in your home only your possessions are effected. When water pipes burst in a building, entire companies are brought to a screeching halt.
Commercial Buildings are full of all sorts of hazards. There is miles of plumbing, electrical, and ample spaces that are dark, warm and moist. Just like in a home, the water pipes in a commercial building can burst at any moment. The difference, however, is when they burst in your home only your possessions are effected. When water pipes burst in a building, entire companies are brought to a screeching halt.
In large cities big commercial buildings are old, they have often been renovated on the inside but few of them have been inspected on a regular basis. Typically the only time a maintenance manager asks for an Industrial Hygienist to come and inspect certain parts of the building is when there is already a problem. When a problem arises is a great time to have an Industrial Hygienist come and inspect the building, but instead of waiting till the next problem arises, he or she should inspect the problem areas annually.
The maintenance manager is in charge of ensuring the health safety of all the inhabitants in the building. He makes certain that no matter where a business is in the building their environment is as safe and healthy as possible. When there is a problem the maintenance manager gets really upset and uneasy, because the issue adds an unknown component to his once safe environment.
Water is one aspect of a commercial building that can potentially cause many problems. The water that is kept in the sprinkler system and that sometimes leaks in the building often times is not the cleanest water, and once the water comes in contact with different surfaces of the building the water can quickly become contaminated with whatever contaminants are already present in the office building. The water can flow in between the walls and collect all sorts of unsanitary pollutants along the way. While the maintenance workers can try and turn off the water, at some point the water has to be turned back on so it is imperative that the leak be found.
If a commercial building experiences an even such as a flood, even if the flood came from the overhead sprinklers, that is the perfect time for the property manager to call their on call Certified Industrial Hygienist, CIH. They will assess the damage, speak with the maintenance manager and then create a plan to manage the flood disaster area.
The Certified Industrial Hygienist will work closely with the maintenance manager and with the construction crews to get the building back to normal operation. If you are concerned that your building might have mold contamination, click hereto find an industrial hygiene firm near you that can run tests.
Occupational Health Overcomes Everyday Hazards
Many workers face different types of hazards on a daily basis. Each company has a responsibility to proactively protect their employees from hazards encountered in the workplace. Accidents or injuries can bring production to a halt, reduce the workforce while the employee is recovering and lead to costly worker compensation claims. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can help your company improve the Occupational Health present at your facility.
The Risk from Asbestos
Asbestos poses a major health risk in many office buildings and homes due to the wide adoption and usage of asbestos as an insulator in the construction process. Asbestos can be found in the glue beneath vinyl flooring or in material applied to concrete to regulate the temperature between floors in an office building. These buildings and homes are being remodeled and modernized as an update to the space, but the demolition process can be hazardous if asbestos is present. Test for asbestos prior to starting your next remodeling project to ensure workers are safe.
Communicating the Dangers with HazCom
Hazard Communication focuses on explaining the dangers present at the workplace. The employees have a right to understand the hazards present and how to remain safe on the jobsite. A Certified Industrial Hygienist can work with your company to fulfill the HazCom requirement set forth by OSHA.
