In the meantime, check out our most recent blog posts.
Wildfire Smoke Regulations and the COVID Epidemic
One Cal/OSHA COVID-19 regulation (3205) requires employers to maximize outside air ventilation to prevent the spread of the virus. Another Cal/OSHA mandate (5141.1) requires minimum exposure to outside air. Which rule should a facilities manager follow? How can you protect employees from the potentially harmful effects of smoke from wildfire, continue to combat COVID, and still maintain production? Businesses already impacted by the COVID epidemic get dealt a double blow when the Air Quality Index (AQI) numbers begin climbing. It’s tough enough to keep a building well-ventilated under normal conditions. Combine the COVID virus with wildfire smoke, and the situation …
Complying with The Joint Commission’s New Water Management Standard
Did you know that on January 1, 2022, The Joint Commission’s new water management standard for healthcare facilities went into effect? This new standard (EC.02.05.02, EPs 1 through 4) supersedes the previous version (EC.02.05.01, EP 14) which “addressed the need for healthcare organizations to minimize pathogenic biological agents in cooling towers, domestic hot- and cold-water systems, and other aerosolizing water systems”. This previous standard did not provide clear guidance on how to achieve this, which has allowed building owners to broadly define and interpret the standard themselves. This and the need for further improvement in quality and safety in …
Lead Water Testing for Schools: What’s Coming Down the Pipe?
School lead water testing…we did that already, didn’t we? Yes, but there are signs indicating there is more to come. The voluntary program launched by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2017 formally ended in July of 2019. However, recent legislation requires testing lead in water for all licensed Child Care Centers (CCCs) in California that were constructed before January 1, 2010 (see our previous blog for a closer look at this legislation). These requirements are quite different and more involved than the prior school’s testing program. While these requirements currently only apply to licensed CCCs (many of which …
Review of Lead in Water Testing Requirements for California Childcare Centers
Lead in drinking water presents very real public health risks, especially for children. In children, lead exposure can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems. No safe level of lead exposure in children has been identified. The latest round in the battle to get the lead out has landed with the California Department of Social Services (DSS) Provider Information Notice (PIN) Summary 21-21-CCP. This notice and associated procedures require all licensed Child Care Centers (CCCs) in California that were constructed before January 1, 2010, to …