Archives by: Noal Kraft
New COVID-19 requirement updates for Oregon workplaces
November 16th 2020 With the resurgence of COVID-19 infections across the state, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has adopted a temporary rule to address COVID-19 risks in the workplace. This rule will remain in effect until May 4, 2021 unless it is revised or repealed before that date. The purpose: to protect employees in the workplace against potential exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pathogen associated with COVID-19. These requirements are applicable to all workplaces in the state. ... Read more
Keeping Employees Safe: Industrial Hygiene Assessment for Semiconductor Facility
G2 is often retained for Industrial Hygiene Assessments to help facilities identify potentially hazardous conditions, as well as to assist with compliance and applicable health and safety standards. One of G2’s Certified Industrial Hygienists performed one such assessment at a semiconductor fabrication facility to address concerns about their employees’ exposure to cleaning chemicals during routine maintenance procedures. The semiconductor fabrication industry uses either a dry etching or wet etching process to remove material and create recesses on semiconductor surfaces. Part of ... Read more
3 Important Things to Know About Radon Testing For Schools
Chances are you have heard about radon--an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas. What you may not know is that it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country. Given the serious health hazards associated with radon exposure, radon testing is highly recommended for anyone who owns or occupies a building. In some cases--such as testing in school districts in certain states--it is mandatory. Radon can be found in any building, in any state, at any time. Luckily, it also ... Read more
Noise Exposure Assessment for a Food Production Company in Oregon
The Center for Disease Control estimates that over 22 million Americans are exposed to hazardous levels of noise at work each year. It’s vital for employers to protect their employees against damaging noise levels from operating equipment, machines or ambient noise. If the exposure is severe enough--and if it remains unmitigated--the risk is permanent occupational-induced hearing loss, a condition that cannot be corrected through hearing aids or surgery. G2 was retained to perform a noise exposure assessment for a food production ... Read more
Water Sampling for the Presence of Legionella at a Research and Development Facility
Facility management requires diligence to ensure the safety of the building’s occupants. This diligence should include a water management program for potable and non-potable water sources to prevent the growth of Legionella pneumophila. When this bacteria is present in drinking water or water tanks, it puts building occupants at risk of developing Pontiac fever and Legionairre’s disease--the latter of which is a severe and often fatal form of pneumonia that infects 10,000 to 18,000 Americans each year. For this very good ... Read more
Addressing Water Damage Concerns in Michigan with an Indoor Environmental Quality Assessment
As a resource, water is vitally important. When it comes to buildings and facilities, however, water intrusion can be the start of potentially serious health effects for building occupants. Not only can intruding stormwater damage the structural integrity of a building, it often ends up being a catalyst for potentially harmful mold growth. The occupants of a medical facility in Michigan were concerned about their indoor environment after observing water damage along the ceiling tiles of the lunch room, triage room ... Read more
Unusual Odors in a Commercial Facility: Investigating Potential Air Quality Issues
Out-of-the-ordinary odors in commercial, public and work environments can be troublesome to diagnose. They can also be concerning to occupants, particularly when they’re observed to be “moldy” or “musty” in nature. Exposures to an elevated presence of airborne fungal spores or other air quality issues can cause a host of health issues, especially if not corrected promptly. For everyone’s safety, it’s best to err on the side of caution when faced with potential mold and air quality issues. Such was the decision ... Read more
About the author: Noal Kraft
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