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Disaster Advice Glossary
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Disaster recovery and restoration can be veiled in mystery to the many who have not undertaken specific training. This glossary explains technical terms to assist both report writing and the understanding of those technical terms so often misunderstood.
Definition
| ACM (Asbestos Containing Materials): |
See Asbestos, Asbestos Containing Materials |
| Acoustic Blown Ceiling: |
A compressor blown-on ceiling made primarily of paint and mineral fibres. Sometimes, prior to 1980 the mineral fibres were asbestos. Acoustic blown ceiling are usually found in residential buildings. |
| Action Plan: |
After a disaster, and a review of the assessment and inspection phase (also called the loss and evaluation phase), an action plan includes all elements of the preliminary findings incorporated into a plan called the action plan. The action plan is the operation and performance which all work is to be completed and in the order they are addressed. An action plan is usually an oral plan that is implemented at a tail-gate meeting. An action plan is based on the best available control technology by a supervisor using his best professional judgement. |
| Aeolian Contamination: |
Matter in the form of a contaminate which is transported and broadcast through dynamic air movement. Mitigation Note: In water damage mitigation, one of the concerns comes from clean up contractors who use portable equipment to extract and clean up indoor floods. The exhaust of the equipment indoors aerosolize micropollutants which are inhaled. Another concern is the use of air drying equipment in a dusty or biologically contaminated building, or a building which has friable lead-based paint or asbestos. Caution Note: No sewage or other pathogenic waste should be extracted into portable machines when the machines are left and allowed to wxhaust indoors! See Aeolian, Airborne Contaminates, Airborne Microorganisms, Bioaerosols, Dusts |
| Air Scrubber: |
Depending on the application a machine that has an air intake and one or more - prefilters, HEPA filters, carbon filters, plenum motor and exhaust that is contained in a metal housing. Mitigation Note: Airscrubbers scrub and remove contaminated air, allowing cleaner air to remain in a building. For example, asbestos and lead abatement contractors must use HEPA filtered air scrubbers machines during abatement. When fungi and bacteria contaminated building materials are disturbed or removed, air scrubbers must be installed for the protection of employees and for the reduction of cross-contamination in non-contaminated areas. See HEPA Air Scrubber. |
| Appropriate Technology: |
The application of knowledge and equipment, in ways that best fit problem mitigation and problem solving. |
| Artifactual Influences: |
An adjective that best describes some compounds, materials and agents, or a process that is made by humans or influenced by human activity. |
| Asbestos: |
A family of silicate minerals that are non-conductive to heat and electricity. The minerals have been used extensively in insulating materials, including insulation, acoustic tiles and ceilings. Asbestos is a good insulator, but friable asbestos has been known to cause illness and death. health and Safety Note: damaging asbestos containing materials (ACM) from fire and water, may result in some of the mineral fibres becoming airborne and friable. Mitigation Note: a) Remediation contractors may be required to test fior the presence of ACM. If asbestos is suspected, air movement must be restricted and HEPA filtered negative air equipment must be properly installed. b) Asbestos requires sampling and testing to confirm the material(s) actually contain asnestos. depending on the amout of ACM to be removed, a licensed asbestos abatement company will need to be hired. |
| BEST: |
A software manufacturer that produces computer state-of-the-art building estimating repair programs, which is updated annually. See Bluebook. |
| Best Available Control Technology (BACT): |
The best available control technology (BACT) in water damage remediation includes; training, equipment and industry standards, implemented for the purpose of mitigating flood waters in wet buildings. Education Note: If the appropriate remediation and drying equipment are not available or are not capable of functioning properly, based on limitations such as electrical supply, the BACT requires the lowest achievable control rate and method which can manage and mitigate the damage. Often the lowest achievable control rate in water removal and building drying can result in secondary damage and an increase of mold growth in wet building materials. This lowest achievable rate must be carefully monitored, in its success or failure, and the results reported to the building owner and insurance adjuster. |
| Best Conventional Control Technology (BCCT): |
In water damage remediation, the BCCT incorporates the best use of a control technology, following industry standards, offering the maximum benefit in water damage mitigation and restorative drying. |
| Best Management Practices (BMP): |
In water damaged buildings, BMP are formulated from practical training and knowledge, using prior experience and judgement (BPJ). Education Note: On-site management in an emergency requires BMP to use all available engineering controls, berms and equipment, to contain water and sewage, controlling the release or spill from entering other areas of the building. BMP assesses the damage and removes other items from possible harm, including building occupants and workers. |
| Best Professional Judgement (BPJ): |
An educational and experiential judgement tool used by environmental engineers, industrial hygienists and water damage remediation contractors. BPJ chooses the best technology and drying equipment necessary to properly dry a wet building properly, based on their training and experience. With the use of historical information and hypothesis modeling, best professional judgement results in fact-finding, problem identification and problem solving. See Extrapolation, Hypothesis Theory. |
| Black Light Florescence: |
Special wide-spectrum high intensity black lights that are used to pick up patterns of urea and bacteria which fluoresce in the presence of high intensity black lights. The application of black light florescence ideal conditions are without the presence of sun light and is best completed early morning or at night, when outside light sources affecting indoors, cannot be eliminated. |
| Blown Acoustic Ceilings: |
The adhesive and acoustic material sprayed on to a ceiling, giving the ceiling an even appearance and better sound absorption. Prior to 1980 and as late as 1994, some of the blown acoustic ceilings contained asbestos. |
| Cause and Origin: |
The exact location and mechanism by which a fire or water damage originated. Legal and Liability Note: The remediation contractor 'must teach' every emergency response technicians to look, think and don't touch or remove, or further damage water or fire damaged areas related to cause and origin, without being instructed to do so and signed-off by a responsible party. The issue of removing or further damaging cause and origin without proper documentation can result in direct liability to the contractor or a company representative. (Smith v. Supreme Court - reference punitive damage of wilfully throwing evidence away and failure to act with reasonable care, meaning, you cannot damage or throw evidence away; and Howe v. Matag destruction of evidence 'spoilage' or the 'spoilation of evidence'). All responsible parties, (claimant and defendant adjusters, manufacturers, forensic experts, to attorneys), must be allowed to investigate damaged property and determine the cause and origin. Before attempting some types of emergency clean-up, the contractor must have paper work signed-off, saying they are being allowed to remove all damaged areas including cause and origin. Other wise, the contractor must limit their damage assessment and emergency clean-up to the best and most appropriate damage control methods. In fire damage, no contractor is to remove cause and origin without all parties, including fire investigators agreeing that they have fully investigated the claim and they have removed or documented cause and origin to their satisfaction. |
| Closed Drying System: |
Restorative Drying Note: A) In water damaged buildings, a closed drying system is a complete drying of the building relying totally on dehumidification through engineering controls and not outside air. A closed drying system requires high amounts of air movement coupled with dehumidification. B) In restorative drying, a closed drying system requires technical expertise and the appropriate drying equipment necessary to dry a wet building properly, efficiently in a timely manner. See Best Conventional Control Technology |
| Cost Accounting: |
An actuarial method of computing costs of a job, which breaks down labor, material, overhead including administrative costs and insurance, and profit. See Best, Xactimate |
| Detergent: |
A water soluble compound capable of suspending dirt and other organics. Detergents can emulsify oils and act as a wetting agent. Caution: detergents with phosphates have been banned in many parts of the nation, because they are one source of pollution which cause environmental hazards to lakes and streams. Detergents residues should not be discharged into storm drains. Education Note: Detergents act-like sanitizer, since they suspend oils, grease and organisms. Detergents need to be rinsed out and off of contaminated surfaces to work properly. Detergents work best if they are allowed to have a surface contact dwell time, are agitated into a material, and are used in warm water. Detergents work better than disinfectants while in the presence of dirt and oil, and much bacteria, such as sewage. See Eutrophication |
| Enclosure: |
a) An enclosed area or room that is either being sealed off from another room or from itself. b) A barrier or partition that separates one area from another. c) A plastic material, usually 6 mm or greater, that is used in asbestos, lead-base paint, and mould abatement. |
| Environmental Impact: |
a) The impact of a contaminate on an building or a material. b) The impact of a contaminate on the environment and building occupancy. The environmental impact may be short lived or long lasting. In either case, the environmental impact must be measured and monitored. Mitigation Note: In water damage mitigation, it is the impact of the water damage event effecting directly the building and its occupants. 1) Saturated asbestos and lead-base paint is a direct environmental impact on the building. 2) Not addressing all the issues of water, water vapor, drying the building immediately, and resulting increase of fungi, may have a direct environmental and health impact on the building and its occupants. |
| Extrapolation: |
The prediction outcome in a particular circumstance. This is based on known circumstances, experience and experimental observations, but are founded on existing empirical data. Contractor Note: For example, a contractor having years of knowledge in water damage remediation, where extrapolation allows a professional judgement, to extrapolate the outcome of issues effecting a particular flooded building. See Best Professional Judgement, Hypothesis Theory |
| Fire Toxics: |
chemicals under a sink or in a garage, which together, produce a soup of toxic materials. No employee should be allowed to inhale soot and toxins that contain carcinogens. A HEPA-rated respirator, during the tear out and cleanup phase, must be worn by all employees. Right after combustion in a fire damaged building, more than 1,000 identified substances can be present in air at any one time. Weeks later, disturbing fire debris, will cause some of the toxins as carcinogens, to become airborne. |
| Full-scale Containment and Correction: |
In fungal contamination, full-scale containment and correction are the appropriate steps necessary, including those commensurate with fungi contaminated building materials having mass-amounts of visible fungi or from testing and laboratory analysis, which indicates that a particular fungi is present and is known to release dangerous toxins. In these situations full-scale containment and correction must include asbestos abatement techniques for the containment and removal of fungi contaminated building materials. (Ref: Morey, 1994; Weber and Martinez, 1996; ACGIH Bioaerosol - Assessment and Control, 1999). See Containment-Unit Cleaning and Decontamination, Critical Barrier during Fungi Abatement, Decontamination Unit during Fungi Abatement, Full-body Covering during Fungi Abatement, Full-scale Fungal Decontamination Unit, Negative Air Pressure during Fungi Abatement, Occupational Exposures during Fungal Remediation, Perimeter Area Cleaning from Fungal Contamination, Visible Fungi Contamination |
| Full-scale Fungal Decontamination Unit: |
A decontamination unit made from PVC pipe and plastic sheeting, wood frame and plastic sheeting, or a pre-manufactured unit for employees who actively are involved at a full-scale fungal abatement work site. Typically like in asbestos abatement, the decontamination unit consists of three chambers or small shower size rooms. The rooms are: (1) as you are entering the first cubical, a donning of PPE equipment; (2) a pass-through shower; and (3) a pass-through cubical; and in reverse as you are leaving, (3) a doffing room and removal of PPE; (2) the shower; and (1) donning clean and dry street clothing. Depending on the size of the operation, there may be a separate equipment pass-through and air lock. General Mitigation Note: As mandated in asbestos abatement and decontamination, and which should be required in full-scale fungal abatement and decontamination operations, the decontamination unit is to be constructed and installed between the entry and exit of the remediation area, or between the secondary containment-unit and access to a control area. Health and Safety Note: Unlike asbestos abatement, in fungi abatement, there is no scientific evidence at present to say that the use of the shower room, is either a direct ir indirect health benefit to the worker, except possibly related to the general hygiene of the worker who most likely is saturated with sweat and they could benefit from a shower. Fungi Mitigation Note: It is recommended in the book Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, ...during fungal abatement, that properly bagged waste can be passed directly through the decontamination unit. The bag(s) surfaces are to be HEPA vacuumed before transport into uncontaminated parts of the building. Waste bags are to be removed by the most direct exit route... and without disturbance and exposure to occupants remaining in the building]. See Containment-Unit Cleaning and Decontamination, Critical Barrier during Fungi Abatement. |
| Generator(s): |
1) A company or person who inherits regulated and non-regulated chemical or biological waste through the act of owning, renting or managing a building, such as asbestos and lead-base paint. 2) A home or business where regulated and non-regulated waste is stored. 3) A contractor who contains hazardous waste, and now has custody, care and control of the waste. 4) A gas powered generator that produces AC/DC electricity. It powers lights and equipment for mitigation and remediation of building related problems. See Custody, Care and Control |
| HEPA Air Scrubber (High Efficiency Particulate Air Scrubber): |
Depending on the application, it is a machine that has an air intake and one or more of- prefilters, HEPA filters, [Carbon Filters], plenum motor and exhaust that is contained in a metal housing. Mitigation Note: HEPA air scrubbers-scrub and remove contaminated air, allowing cleaner air to remain in a building. For example, asbestos and lead abatement contractors must use HEPA filtered air scrubbers machines during abatement. When fungi and bacteria contaminated building materials are removed from buildings, air scrubbers must be installed for the protection of employees and for the reduction of cross-contamination in non-contaminated areas. See Air Scrubbers, HEPA Filters, HEPA Sanders, HEPA Vacuums |
| HEPA Vacuum (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filtering Vacuum): |
Vacuuming equipment specially manufactured and designed to remove settled and loose contaminates from a surface, and the vacuum filter not release the debris and micro-fine dusts back in air through the exhaust. Education Note: The HEPA vacuum retains all micro-fine debris and it will not release or redistribute captured particles larger than 0.03 microns in size in air. For industrial size vacuums, the HEPA vacuum filter is rather expensive, and usually one or two prefilters precede and protect the HEPA filter. a) HEPA stand up vacuums can be purchased for residential use, but in commercial applications, including the containment of asbestos and lead-base paints, only industrial rated HEPA vacuums can be used. In some states, if asbestos and lead is being contained and controlled in the HEPA vacuum, each vacuum must have a state registration number on it. The registration number is issued and renewed yearly by the state, as long as the vacuum can meet the performance and leakage test. b) Industrial HEPA vacuums are used in mold and fungi mitigation and abatement. Dangerous fungi, mycelial fragments, mold toxins, and cell parts are captured and retained in the HEPA vacuum. See HEPA Air Scrubber, HEPA Filters |
| Hermetically Sealed Environment: |
An air tight environment that keeps contaminates either in or out. Hermetically sealed environments are necessary in asbestos, lead and mold abatement. Even though abatement contractors may not define containment as being hermetic, in actuality, the containment engineering controls for such an environment are required. |
| Hypothesis Theory: |
An informed theory which best describes the best available information about why buildings and their occupants are having problems. Hypothesis modeling comes by visual and sometimes scientific investigation, attempting to prove the hypothesis and to validate the theory. See Best Professional Judgement, Extrapolation. |
| Indoor Air Quality Profile Survey: |
An IAQ profile survey is a description of the features of the building structure, function, and occupancy that impact indoor air quality. It is best recommended that commercial building owners, managers and engineers have completed the EPA recommendations for an indoor air quality profile, survey or audit, before there become an IAQ problem or complaint. See Phase-1 |
| Insulation: |
1) Building insulation is typically fiberglass, cellulosic materials, and sometimes rigid or blown-in urethane foam, having an average thermal rating of R-11, R-13, R-19 or R-30. Construction Note: Building insulation is found in exterior walls and attics, and sometimes under the floor joists of sub-floors. Wall insulation is found in the UBC Codes and meets different ASTM Standards. 2) Building insulation is any other property that provides moisture and thermal protection for a building. Safety and Construction Note: Wind driven rains to fog, will not enter the building, based on its design and engineering. This design and engineering of protecting the building atmosphere cannot take into account indoor water damages. Indoor water damages are considered sealed in a tight buildings insulated envelope, having no reasonable method of escape, either for the water, vapor, humidity and condensation. Once building insulation become wet, they must be investigated immediately and determined the best method for drying and dehumidification before mold and secondary building damage occur. Refer to the Moisture Control Handbook by Joseph Lstiburek; and Restorative Drying by Claude Blackburn, See Condensation, Dehumidification, Drywall, Wall Cavities, Water Damage. |
| KraftMaid: |
A Masco affiliate company. KraftMaid manufacturers kitchen and bathroom cabinets out of Middlefield, Ohio. The KraftMaid brand of cabinetry has become popular over the past several years since Consumers Digest named them best buy and an outstanding value for its price. Also, KraftMaid line is being promoted through Home Depot. For more information contact Home Depot or KraftMaid at www.kraftmaid.com. |
| Lawyer: |
Individuals, partnerships and corporations who are licensed and practice to state and sometimes federal rules, laws and regulations. Some lawyers are specialists in environmental tort law. During a dispute between two or more parties about environmental related problems, it is important to retain the best environmental lawyer to plead your case. Some lawyers are specialists in construction defect claims, they should be retained for construction related defect claim cases. |
| Manifest System: |
The regulations applicable to transporters of hazardous waste. Included in hazardous waste which must have a manifest are asbestos and lead-base paint. A company may decide to have their own non-regulated manifest system, to track and control the use of chemicals. |
| Microscope: |
The optical instrument used by trained professionals and microbiologists to determine the physical and biological properties associated with a damage. Microscopes are used to identify asbestos, bacteria, yeasts and fungi to name a few. |
| Mould Abatement: |
The term mold abatement is a misnomer and it is a misused term. The term mold abatement came from the asbestos abatement industry. Mould abatement is often confused with asbestos abatement, since most all of the asbestos terminology, methods and equipment, have been borrowed from this industry. Harmful mould is remediated, not abated, since not all mold can be removed from an environment, nor should it be. |
| Mould Remediation: |
Specific industry accepted methods for the containment and removal of mould-contaminated building materials safely, while applying acceptable industry standards-of-care. NYC Education Note: Mould remediation of contaminated building materials having over 30 square feet of contaminated surface, must follow the same containment and abatement methods as prescribed for asbestos remediation. See IICRC, Mycotoxin Abatement, Personal Protective Equipment, Serious Violation, Stachybotrys Mitigation |
| Occupational Related Respiratory Diseases: |
Education and Health Note: Diseases associated with the water damage and mitigation industry that are occupational exposures, resulting in the inhalation of airborne contaminates causing illness and disease. Respirable Compounds Include: hardwood floor sanding, silica dust, chemical vapours, soil dust, asbestos, pollens, dander, lead-base paints, aluminum shavings, mold spores, fungal toxins, cotton dust, paper dust, fibreglass, carbon monoxide, cellulose particulates, cement dust, clay dust, fly ash, bird and rodent feces. See Allergies, Allergens, Biological Particles, Bronchitis, Byssinosis, Conjunctivitis, Labored Breathing, Non-Biological Particles, Pneumoconiosis, Rhinitis |
| Pneumoconiosis: |
a) Any group of lung diseases caused by the inhalation of certain mineral dusts. These dusts originate from non-fibrous materials, so they do not include asbestos or fiberglass. Materials included in pneumoconiosis diseases are silica sand dust, from air blasting, sanding and stone cutting, fine fly ash dust or coal dust. b) A condition of the respiratory tract due to inhalation of dust that are deposited and retained in the lungs, resulting in signs and symptoms of a pulmonary disease, called pneumoconiosis. |
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Pollution Liability Insurance Coverage: |
A coverage that usually protects the contractor from liability and damages resulting from a pollution occurrence. Most general liability policies exclude pollution coverage. However, depending on the policy language, limited pollution coverage may apply. Pollution insurance may be necessary when contractors come in contact with lead-base paint, asbestos, contaminated soil, liquids and solvents, mold, sewage, biohazards, toxins, or when contractors use or apply chemicals, such as cleaners, disinfectants and deodorizers. See General Liability Insurance Policy. |
| Poly: |
An abbreviation for polyethylene sheeting. In the asbestos abatement and mold remediation industry, 'poly' is usually referred to as polyethylene or plastic sheeting that covers, seals, masks, protects an environment or contents. In asbestos and mold remediation, poly must be 6mm thick plastic sheeting or bags for contaminated material containment. In some areas, poly that is used as a barrier of a room for example, must be 6mm thick and FR or fire retardant rated. |
| Replacement Air Volume: |
Replacement air volume should equal the total volume of air removed from the building by exhaust ventilation. An average building may require 3 to 5 air exchanges per hour while an industrial building may require more. Industrial building air heaters are usually designed to supply 100 percent outdoor air. Mitigation Note: After a fire or flood, it is best to have 100 percent outside air exchange, unless the temperature and humidity do not warrant 100 percent air exchanges. |
| Risk Assessment: |
An analytical study of the buildings physical concerns or damage along with other factors. Some other factors may include the potential for adverse effects on humans and a building caused by a damage occurrence. Education Note: a) Risk assessment means disclosure of locations of potentially harmful substances. b) Risk assessment considers what is the best method of mitigation and abatement, such as development of corrective action goals and determination of where interim remedial actions or a combination of actions are required. c) Depending on the risk assessment survey and analysis, the recommendations must address the overall risk, both today and possibly one year from now, if complete clearance could not be provided at the time of analysis. See Phase-I, Phase-II, Phase-III |
| Roof Wrap: |
A wind and moisture barrier covering, extending beyond the damage of a roof. Mitigation Note: A roof wrap is used to cover roofs that are damaged from wind storms and wind driven rain, and roof damage resulting from a fire. Safety Note: Completing a roof wrap under the best of conditions can result in increase fall issues for employees. Workers wrapping a pitched roof must wear harnesses that protect them from falls. The use of ladders must be properly designed ladders made for the purpose, and placement against a roof must have an extension above the roof edge of no less than 3 to 5 feet. Wrapping a roof usually means the roof is damaged, and employees must be made aware there is the potential of falling through damaged roof materials. |
| Sanitization: |
Health and Safety Note: a) The process of completely cleaning all harmful pathogenic bacteria and harmful microscopic elements from the surface of building material, while leaving the building material with a safe level of resident growth. b) Sanitization is not an antiseptic and is not disinfection or sterilization. By cleaning porous building materials you may have reduced the bacteria, fungi and yeasts in the building, but technically, you have not disinfected the building of all organism presence. Sanitization is the best possible cleaning method, next to removing the contaminated building material. c) Sanitization includes applying a sanitizer or a disinfectant solution on a surface only after the surface has been cleaned and rinsed. See Mechanical Agitation, Surface Cleaning |
| Scope Estimating with Costs: |
One of several methods used to prepare a scope of work and an estimate as to the approximate rough-costs for services. Education Note: a) Rough scope estimating, can be calculated based on the total square foot of a damage area room or size of the building, such as found in a water damaged building. The price for a particular service, such as water extraction, is calculated at a certain price times the measurements of the damage area, (ie. 25 cpsf x 2,000 sf equals $500.00). b) More refined scope estimating with costs are calculated on a preprinted form, where the services and preprinted prices are highlighted, and the square feet, square yards, or cubic feet are calculated to come up with the approximate costs. c) For precise scope estimating with costs, these are scope estimates with costs that are computed, using software programs that not only calculate square feet and materials, producing a cost estimate, but the software produces a scope of work for employees and subcontractors to follow. See Best, Bluebook, Cost Accounting, Xactimate |
| Scope writing: |
The written script on how a hazard or damage must be abated, or how reconstruction must be completed. Education Note: a) In building disasters, scope writing is the written emergency scope of work that must be completed by trained personnel to eliminate hazards to the building and to the public. b) In water damage remediation of flooded buildings, scope writing may include a two-phase scope: b1) the written scope of work for the containment and removal of flood water and damaged building materials; b2) The written scope of work necessary for restoration. The written scope of work usually becomes an intrinsic part of the contract which labor and material are to be estimated. See Best, Cost Accounting, Xactimate. |
| Source Release, Assessment and Monitoring: |
Contaminates and agents that are potentially toxic, explosive, flammable, pathogenic or carcinogenic, which must be assessed by monitoring back to their source. Mitigation Note: A source release assessment and monitoring program must include the types and amount of contamination, what are acceptable engineering controls, what needs to be done next, and how to best complete the containment, control and removal, along with methods for proper disposal. See Risk Assessment. |
| Surface Screening for Coliform Bacteria: |
Screening for coliform bacteria on surfaces first requires an investigation of the problem based on information supplied to our industrial hygienist or microbiologist by the customer, adjuster or contractor, then, a visual assessment and survey of the problem area(s) is completed. Only after the visual investigation, should bacteria screening be conducted. Swab sampling in this instance is a screening devise only. To be cost effective, sampling strategy is very limited in the number of swab samples collected. Representations as to what type of bacteria and activity are or are not present on a given surface, is through laboratory microscopic analysis. Since we cannot see bacteria with our eyes, the industrial hygienist or microbiologist must use their best judgement, knowledge and training, in considering their sampling strategy. See Qualitative Surface Screening. |
| Tear Gas Exposures: |
Toxic gas exposures from police and riot-type tear gas. Health and Safety Note: Seldom will emergency response water damage technicians come in contact with tear gas. But in several instances, technicians have been asked to cleanup tear gas exposures with their cleanup equipment. No technician or adjuster should enter a tear-gas contaminated building without proper respiratory and skin protection. Health Note: 1) Tear gas can effect technicians and adjusters from ingestion, inhalation in nasal passages, and absorption on skin. 2) Seldom is tear gas considered a medical emergency or a medical concern. 3) Yet, depending on the type, concentration and severity of exposure, the health of the technician or adjuster, the health concerns may result in a immediate medical emergency. 4) Skin and respiratory reaction to airborne tear gas is almost immediate. 5) CN/CS/CR/OC tear gases residue and powders are white in color. 6) CN/CS/CR tear gas are not-stable when heated. 7) Tear gas is generally dispersed as powder-like aerosols having a chemical dispersion reactivity to an environment from their explosion. 8) Once the agents have been dispersed into a building, the agents react violently in the presence of humidity, higher temperatures, some oxidizers and a combination of factors. 9) All of the tear gas agents have low solubility in water but they can be dissolved in several organic solvents. Hydrolysis of CN tear gas for example, is very low reacting in water solution, even when alkali is added. On skin, it is best to flush continuously with cold water. CS tear gas on the other hand, is rapidly hydrolyzed in water solution , having a half-life at pH 7 is about 15 min. at room temperature (65 to 70 ?F, and 30 to 45% Rh), and react extremely rapid when alkali is added (half-life at pH 9 is about 1 min.). 10) As remediation technicians, you must be extremely careful in adding alkali substances to skin, since they can add to dermal discomfort and skin damage. Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) is best used as an adsorptive and cleaning agent on skin. |
| Tort Law: |
Tort: As per Webster's Desk Dictionary, a wrongful act, damage, or injury done willfully, negligently, or in circumstances involving strict liability for which a civil suit can be brought. a) Tort claims cases are not new, they go back to the common law of England before the 1700's. Legal and Liability Note: Common law today has greatly changed and covers many areas of public law. Tort laws protecting the public are growing daily as new court decisions are being made across our country. Most tort suits are brought by plaintiffs who are seeking damage from personal injury, negligence, strict liability, product liability and misrepresentation. Persons not suffering tangible injuries at this time, are now suing for fear of future damages for increased risk of personal injury or property damage. b) The term, environmental laws are being entered as a new language in our vocabulary, especially now that we are trying to cure some of the 200 years of wrongs of Western industry. Asbestos, lead, Legionaries Disease, pesticides, toxic chemicals and hazardous waste are a few mentioned in being this new vocabulary of items which we are to stay away from. Now being added to your vocabulary is tort claims, which are part of every business persons responsibility to understand. Contractor Note: Water damage, odor control and restoration contractors are now being sued for neglect, wrongful damage and misrepresentation. |
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