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Occupational Exposures
Occupational exposures are those exposures at a work site which employees are exposed. Exposure to contaminated water%u002C including sewage%u002C is an OSHA violation and an exposure to an employee can result in fines and penalties to the employer. Employees must be trained in all aspects of health and safety and their job in a controlled classroom environment%u002C before the employer is allowed to expose an employee having proper PPE%u002C to pathogenic substances. Health and Safety Note%u003A Occupational exposures to workers cleaning up blood%u002C is an OSHA violation%u002C if the worker has not been properly trained in bloodborne pathogens%u002C and they have not been taught the proper handling and disposal of the blood contaminated materials in a controlled classroom training environment.
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Occupational Exposures during Fungal Remediation
The scientific data is limited on fungi related occupational exposures that have occurred during the remediation of fungi%u002C but the signs and symptoms of fungal spores have been recorded. %u0028Morey and Hunt%u002C 1995%u003B Ansari and Morey%u002C 1996%u003B Rautiala et al.%u002C 1996%u003B Weber and Martinez%u002C 1996%u0029. ACGIH in their Bioaerosols%u003A Assessment and Control%u002C 1999%u002C mentions that decisions on what PPE will adequately protect workers performing %u005Bfungi%u005D remediation requires experienced and professional judgement%u002C which occupational physicians%u002C toxicologists%u002C respiratory protection experts%u002C and health and safety professionals may be able to provide. Individuals employed in the extensive removal of contaminated building materials should be informed in writing by a physician of the potential health risks of bioaerosol exposure.
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Occupational Hazards
Education and Health Note%u003A In water damage remediation%u002C occupational hazards are the perils%u002C hazards and diseases which can be identified by OSHA and medical professionals%u002C which are directly associated with water damage cleanup and mitigation industry. See Employee Protection and Training%u002C Employee Right to Know%u002C Occupational Related Respiratory Diseases%u002C Routes of Exposure%u002C Sanitation Hazards at a Temporary Workplace%u002C Sewage Mitigation Health and Safety
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Occupational Related Respiratory Diseases
Education and Health Note%u003A Diseases associated with the water damage and mitigation industry that are occupational exposures%u002C resulting in the inhalation of airborne contaminates causing illness and disease. Respirable Compounds Include%u003A hardwood floor sanding%u002C silica dust%u002C chemical vapours%u002C soil dust%u002C asbestos%u002C pollens%u002C dander%u002C lead-base paints%u002C aluminum shavings%u002C mold spores%u002C fungal toxins%u002C cotton dust%u002C paper dust%u002C fibreglass%u002C carbon monoxide%u002C cellulose particulates%u002C cement dust%u002C clay dust%u002C fly ash%u002C bird and rodent feces. See Allergies%u002C Allergens%u002C Biological Particles%u002C Bronchitis%u002C Byssinosis%u002C Conjunctivitis%u002C Labored Breathing%u002C Non-Biological Particles%u002C Pneumoconiosis%u002C Rhinitis
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Occupied Zone
The region within an occupied space between planes 3 and 72 inches %u002875 and 1800 mm%u0029 above the floor and more than 2 feet %u0028600 mm%u0029 from the walls or fixed air conditioning equipment. ASHRAE Standard 55-1981
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Occurrence
An accident including exposure to conditions which result during an insurance policy period in bodily injury or property damage. Repeat or continuous exposure to the same general conditions is considered to be one occurrence. Insurance Note%u003A Occurrence does not include accidents or events which take place during the insurance policy period which do not result in bodily injury or property damage until after the policy period.
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Odour
An acute olfactory sensation of smell and taste at a distance. Education Note%u003A Odours are all around us%u002C with most odours not being recognized%u002C unless they produce good or bad smells. Odours cause our nerve receptors to tell our brain%u002C that they are OK to be around%u002C and they are pleasant%u002C or the odour is offensive%u002C and we must not be around the cause. See Malodor
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Odour Counteractant
A process by which odor is reduced or eliminated. Some odours can be reduced through aeration or oxidation. Other odours require the cleaning and removal %u0028sanitizing/deodorization%u0029 for the odour counteractant to be effective. Chemical odour counteractants %u0028COCs%u0029 are meant to penetrate%u002C dissolve and absorb the odor molecule%u002C resulting in the neutralization of the odour.
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Off-Gas
The normal process by which emissions are released from a substance or a material.
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Old Growth
The presence of mature and dead fungi and yeasts from a previous occurrence. See Pre-Existing Conditions
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Olfactory
A perceived personal air quality term which attempts to quantify a given odour pollutant or pollution load. For example%u002C one person creates 1 olf of bio-effluents. If there are 10 cubic meters of floor space per person%u002C then people create 0.1 olf per m %u0028olf/m%u0029. Other sources are compared and quantified by olfs. For example%u002C if 40%u0025 of the people smoke%u002C this adds 0.2 olf/m to the load.
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Oli or Latex Base Paint%u003F
The two most common paint finishes on interior and exterior surfaces. Contractor Remediation and Restoration Note%u003A In determining whether the surface is oil or latex-based paint%u002C consider using a small amount of denatured alcohol on a cotton ball or swab%u002C gently applying the denatured alcohol on a test area %u0028usually in a corner of a closet%u002C or area behind furniture or appliance%u0029. Latex paint is disolved by denatured alcohol where the oil-base paint is not. With Latex paint%u002C the paint softens%u002C becomes tacky to the touch%u002C and it will come off on the surface of a cloth. If there is no change%u002C most likely the paint finish is oil base. Most professional painters can visually tell oil painted surfaces from Latex. Oil paints for example%u002C tend to have a smooth and hard feel to them%u002C while Latex %u0028or water-based%u0029 paints feel more rubbery to the touch. The difference is subtle and by no means foolproof. Remember%u002C oil and water don%u0027t mix. Meaning%u002C oil-base and water-base paints will not adhere or bond with each other.
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On-Site
The ability to preform certain tasks successfully at a job site%u002C without taking away the material or content to a plant for cleaning%u002C decontamination or restoration. On-site is the same as on-location. See In-Plant Cleaning and Restoration
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Open Item
Items listed on the scope of work%u002C work order or estimate%u002C that states%u002C the work necessary have not been disclosed or completely investigated%u002C and therefore%u002C the exact costs for repair or replacement cannot be defined%u002C without further investigation%u002C or an attempt to complete a repair.
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Organic Load
a%u0029 The amount of organic waste in or under a building from a mainline sewer system backup. b%u0029 The amount of organic contamination existing in a given area.
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Organic Substances
Compounds and materials which are descended from vegetable and animal life%u002C and petroleum derivatives.
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Organic Waste
Carbon-based materials that are discarded into the environment. The term is often used to define the presence of domestic sewage.
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OSHA %u0028Occupational Safety and Health Administration%u0029
The agency primarily responsible for the safety and health of employees in their workplace. In 1970%u002C the federal statute that established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration %u0028OSHA%u0029%u002C for the purpose of ensuring a safe and healthy workplace of all employees. See EPA
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OSHA-Log
A record keeping of a injury log that contains all employee injuries%u002C exposures and summaries about the injuries or exposures%u002C called the OSHA 200 or 300 log. 29 CFR 1900.002%u0028a%u0029.
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Other Insurance
In insurance policy management and claims settlement%u002C other insurance is additional or secondary insurance that applies to the same loss. It is against the law to collect on the same loss by two separate insurance company policies. The other insurance clause in an insurance policy directs settlement between two or more insurance companies%u002C where each company will agree to settle and pay a particular portion of a loss to equal 100%u0025 of the claim.
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Other Relevant Measurable Criteria %u0028ORMC%u0029
Parameters used to define other corrective action goals for chemical%u002C toxic or biological agents of concern. The ORMC are concentration values%u002C other numeric values%u002C physical condition or performance criteria. The ORMC must be determined for values%u002C conditions%u002C and performance criteria which will be used for the corrective action goals.
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Outdoor Air
Outdoor air is air taken from the external atmosphere and%u002C therefore%u002C in mass%u002C it has not previously been circulated through the HVAC system.
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Out-Gassing
The loss of vapours or gases from a material%u002C usually as a result of raising the temperature of a material or reducing the pressure exerted on a material.
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Overflow
The results from a sink%u002C tub%u002C toilet%u002C basin or berm %u0028ie. water heater pan%u0029%u002C to flood and saturate the surrounding building materials with fresh water%u002C gray water or sewage.
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Overhead
The general costs associate with the operation and maintenance%u002C material and labor burden on a job%u002C along with hidden costs %u0028insurance%u002C administrative%u002C education%u002C training%u002C marketing%u002C licensing%u002C fees%u002C rent and utilities%u0029 which must become part of the overhead recovery costs of a job. See Overhead %u0026 Profit
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Overhead and Profit %u0028O%u0026P%u0029
The reasonable overhead and profit required on each contracted job. There are different interpretations about overhead and profit across the United States and Canada. Contractor Note%u003A In state construction codes for state licensed contractors%u002C overhead and profit is the legal add-on of the estimated percent of overhead and costs%u002C including labor burden%u002C added on to the estimated costs%u002C then a percent of profit is added on top of all costs of the job. General contractors will add a 10-20%u0025 to the job cost estimate as part of the overhead costs%u002C and then%u002C 10-20%u0025 on top of all combined costs. Adjuster Note%u003A Some insurance company adjusters will accept or deny O%u0026H costs. The reasons appear to vary with each claim%u002C adjuster%u002C adjusting claims office and region. Some insurance adjuster state that you have to have three subtrades on a job before they will allow O%u0026H to the general contractor%u002C while other insurance company adjusters have their own reasons%u002C why they accept or deny O%u0026H from a general. Some state contractor licensing boards have suggested guidelines on overhead and profit. See Administrative Costs%u002C Overhead
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Oxygen Concentrations
Too much or too little oxygen in air provides a confined space hazard. Oxygen concentrations must not go below 19.5%u0025 and they are not to exceed 23.5%u0025 oxygen.
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Oxygen Deficiency
That concentration of oxygen by volume below which air supplying respiratory protection must be provided. It exists in atmospheres where the percentage of oxygen by volume is less than 19.5%u0025 oxygen.
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Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres
Any atmosphere having a percentage of oxygen by volume that is less than 19.5%u0025 of available and breathable oxygen. A low concentration of oxygen by volume that is above exposure levels%u002C where atmosphere supplied respiratory protection must be provided. 29 CFR 1910.146%u003B 30 CFR Part 11.90%u0028a%u0029.
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Ozonation
In air%u002C it is the use of ozone as a gas%u002C %u0028O3%u0029 as a disinfectant or oxidizer. Ozonation has been very successful in reducing carbon-base fire odors in buildings%u002C but current science suggests gas-phase ozone generators are not capable of producing sufficient amounts of ozone to kill fungi infestation and sewage bacteria in buildings. If that amount of ozone gas is available%u002C the indoor environment would be toxic and harmful.
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