admin

 ACC offers third-party Jobsite Safety Accountability Supervisors  

Updated shelter in placer orders have been released in the Bay Area. The current orders extend through May 30, 2020. Revisions to the orders allow construction projects to resume with specific conditions beginning May 4, 2020.

Which Counties are Included ?

The counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara and the City of Berkeley all issued similar orders and gave the green light to construction projects as long as companies maintain compliance with the new Construction Project Safety requirement.
Each county (and city) have respective orders with similar safety protocols that allows for firms to resume construction, while simultaneously practicing social distancing.  

Visit the links below to learn more about the safety protocols set by each county in the Bay area: 

• Alameda Order with Safety Protocols
• Contra Costa Small Construction and Large Construction Safety Protocols
• Marin Small Construction and Large Construction Safety Protocols
• San Francisco Order with Safety Protocols
• San Mateo Small Construction and Large Construction Safety Protocols
• Santa Clara Small Construction and Large Construction Safety Protocols
• The City of Berkeley Order with Safety Protocols

What are the Protocols and their requirements?

There are two sets of Construction protocols, one for “Small Construction Projects (SCP)” and a one for “Large Construction Projects (LCP).” Both protocols require strict social distancing and job health and safety standards.

The Large Construction Project Safety Protocol requires: updated Health and Safety Plans, and both an on-site Safety Compliance Officer (SCO) and a third-party Jobsite Safety Accountability Supervisor (JSAS). 

The JSAS Role: the JSAS will work with the Contractor and the Public Health Department to provide third-party project compliance verification through documentation of visual inspections and interviews with workers during site visits.  As needed, the JSAS  will work with the Prime Contractor’s SCO to resolve any deficiencies in compliance with the Safety Protocols. The JSAS must possess an OSHA-30 certificate, First Aid training and be trained in the protocols and compliance verification.

How can ACC Help?

ACC is closely monitoring implementation of the new protocol requirements and our staff of qualified professionals is ready to support your projects. 

Our Project Management team is available to discuss these new protocols and how they will affect your projects. Including, providing Health and Safety Plan and JSAS support.  

Please contact your primary point of contact or our Northern California office at (510) 638-8400 or Southern California at (213) 353-1240. Or request a proposal: proposal@accenv.com.

Valued Clients,

In these uncertain times our team is here to support you, and your projects, while maintaining the highest standards of safety to our employees, clients and community.

As allowed by “shelter orders” ACC Environmental Consultants is open for business, staffing projects to support other essential businesses, and to provide our professional services to assist in compliance with legally mandated/allowed activities. 

ACC will comply with all Social Distancing Requirements to keep both our employees and clients safe.  Please advise our team of any additional site or project specific requirements.

ACC’s team is also available to talk through your concerns on how to move forward with projects in this constantly changing climate.  

Please contact your primary point of contact or our Northern California office at (510) 638-8400 or Southern California at (213) 353-1240. Or request a proposal: proposal@accenv.com.

Our team will continue to check in with you to ensure we are providing you with the best support needed.

Mark A. Sanchez, CHMM
President/CEO
ACC Environmental Consultants, Inc.
7977 Capwell Drive, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94621
(510) 638-8400 Ext. 104
Cell (510) 773-7303
Fax (510) 638-8404

accenv.com 

Northern California: 7977 Capwell Drive, Suite 100 • Oakland, CA 94621 • (510) 638-8400 • Fax (510) 638-8404
Southern California: 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA 90017 • (213) 353-1240 • Fax (213) 353-1244

Public health officials have been urging people to prepare — not panic — for the new coronavirus (also known as COVID-19). Those calls took on added urgency as cases of the virus have started to spike in countries outside China.

Information and statistics on the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, are daily changing creating worry and misinformation to be spread along with the illness. To combat both the spread of the virus and the negative emotions in connection with it, employers need to have an open dialogue with their employees about the virus; it’s potential impact on the organization and what employees can do to protect themselves.  Include recommendations for protecting the workplace and employees from spreading the virus, and helping to create a more thoughtful discussion between employers and employees.

Remind employees that the best way to prevent the spread of the illness is to regularly wash their hands and avoid touching their mouth, eyes or nose. The CDC recommends washing your hands with water and soap for 20 seconds, rubbing and lathering the backs of the hands, between your fingers and under your nails. In order to effectively time out 20 seconds while washing your hands, you can hum or sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice from beginning to end. To reinforce and remind employees that they should be washing their hands regularly, place signs around the building and especially in public areas such as bathroom and food preparation spaces.

A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association that examined the first 45,000 cases in China found that 80% of the reported cases appear to be mild. The other 20% of those diagnosed had moderate, severe, or critical symptoms, including a hard time breathing, pneumonia, and organ failure. About 2.3% of overall infections have been lethal. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a similar virus that started in China in 2002, also hit people over 60 the hardest. More than 8,000 people contracted the virus over 8 months, nearly 10% of whom died. 

With COVID-19, so far children ages 1-9 account for just 1% of all Chinese infections, and none of the deaths, according to the JAMA study. Another 1% are ages 10-19.

People in their 70s who got the virus, 8% died, the study found, along with nearly 15% of those 80 and older. “Someone in their 80s has a pretty high risk of not leaving the hospital” if treated for COVID-19, Mina says.

People with heart problems, diabetes, or lung issues like COPD are also at a higher risk for severe disease and death.  Comparing COVID-19 to viral pneumonias, both tend to have a worse effect on people who already have a weakened immune system.

DO wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, several times a day. Use soap and water or a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol:

• Before cooking or eating
• After using the bathroom
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

DON’T touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you have somehow come into contact with the virus, touching your face can help it enter your body.

DO learn the symptoms, which are similar to flu:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Most cases do not start with a runny nose.

DON’T wear a mask unless you’re sick. Masks help protect others from catching the virus, but wearing one when you’re healthy won’t do much. Demand has been so high worldwide that shortages have begun. Leave the masks for people who really need them, like the sick or health care professionals.

DO consider taking extra precautions and staying out of public places if you’re over 60 years old, or have a condition, as you have a higher risk of developing the disease. Note that as of now, the highest-risk groups appear to be seniors and people with preexisting conditions like heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

DON’T travel if you have a fever. If you get sick on flight, tell crew immediately. When you get home, contact a health professional.

DO reconsider travel to affected countries. Currently, the CDC advises against all nonessential travel to China and South Korea. For people in a higher-risk group — seniors and people with preexisting conditions — the agency suggests postponing nonessential travel to Italy, Japan, and Iran as well. Find the latest advisories here.

DON’T panic. At this point, public health officials still say the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 is low. Taking proper precautions — wash your hands! — and making preparations are the best things you can.

DO: Prepare by making sure you have supplies at home in case someone gets sick and needs to be quarantined. This would include prescription medications for anyone in the family, other health supplies such as over-the-counter pain relievers, and disinfectants to clean household surfaces. Studies suggest that coronaviruses can live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. Clean them regularly with a disinfectant to kill the virus.

While COVID-19 has just been declared a pandemic, a government web site also suggests keeping a 2-week supply of food and water in the case of a pandemic and having copies of electronic health records.  Defn. Pandemic: An epidemic (a sudden outbreak) that becomes very widespread and affects a whole region, a continent, or the world due to a susceptible population. An epidemic affects more than the expected number of cases of disease occurring in a community or region during a given period of time.

Do’s and Don’ts When You Don’t Feel Well

DO seek help early if you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Don’t just drop into the nearest urgent care clinic. Call your doctor to find out the protocol first, to make sure you won’t spread the disease to others.

DON’T go out except to see your doctor, after calling first. And if you do have to go out, avoid public transportation, taxis, and ride-sharing.

DO cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue, and dispose of the tissue immediately in a covered bin. (You should be doing this whether or not you suspect COVID-19 — you don’t want to spread a common cold, either.)

DON’T hang out with your family or pets if you suspect you have the virus. In order to protect them, eat and sleep separately from them, try to stay in one room, and use a separate bathroom if possible. Yes, pets are included in the recommendations. There has been one report of a dog testing positive in Hong Kong for the virus. But officials there said they are not sure the dog is actually infected. The CDC says experts don’t know for sure whether pets can catch it.

DO wear a mask properly around others if you suspect you may have the virus — the mask itself can be a source of infection if you don’t follow the guidelines. The World Health Organization has videos on when and how to use a mask.

DON’T reach for antibiotics. If you happen to have some lying around from a previous illness, you may be tempted. But antibiotics work only on illnesses caused by bacteria, and the coronavirus is — you guessed it — a virus. Source: WebMD senior health writer Brenda Goodman. 

Interview with Steve Jackson, CAC, CA/DPH, Vice President Planning for winter weather is an important element in a strong project plan.  In this interview, Steve shares his tips on how to keep water out of your building and prevent post-construction defects. Q: Why is it important for Project / Construction Managers to include moisture management strategies in the Project Plan?  It takes a team of experts (architects, engineers, contractors and other professionals) to design, build and renovate buildings. One often over looked area of expertise is the water intrusion/moisture management expert. There are countless ways water can impact a project: broken pipe, groundwater intrusion and storms, just to name a few. Having a plan in place to manage water intrusion concerns is important. The plan, when combined with periodic proactive inspections can help identify areas of concern before they become major problems. Q:  What are some examples of damage that may occur due to unplanned water intrusion during a project? Unfortunately, most projects are built with a reactionary approach to moisture management. Every winter we get countless calls from clients with “problems” related to rain water intrusion. Often times early season rain events are unexpected and protections are not adequate to prevent water intrusion. Construction sites can get wet fast and the extent of water damage can often be overlooked until the impact to schedule and cost is extensive.  It is important not to just think about rain.  We recently had a project where ground water intrusion damaged finishes in a building after the building was occupied. As the building was under construction for more than a year, these areas of intrusion could have been identified long before occupancy. Now the response will require impact to the building users, requiring design, implementation and monitoring of the repairs. If these issues had been observed during construction a different response could have been considered and the impacts (time, money and inconvenience) could have been better managed. With a proactive approach to mold and moisture we can avoid problems rather than respond to problems we call it “problem avoidance before problem solving.” Q: Have you had any incidents where clients have gone over budget or had their project time prolonged due to water intrusion issues? Unfortunately, yes, far too often we get the call where a project is delayed and the budget is impacted because a situation that could have been identified sooner or was thought to be minor turned out not to be the case. Waiting days or weeks to report a water condition can lead to mold and much longer impact to the construction schedule. Conducting periodic, proactive moisture inspections can identify potential issues much sooner. These issues can be resolved faster, cheaper and create opportunities to learn; preventing similar problems as the project progresses. Having the project team notify the water intrusion expert as soon as an issue is noted helps expedite an appropriate response.  Better yet, detecting the issues during periodic routine inspections allows the issues to be managed as part of the ongoing work and within the current schedule. Q: Describe the most significant or challenging water intrusion project you have worked on?   On one project, I got a call to respond to an emergency flood at a large multi-family building under construction. The first phase of units was days away from being turned over to the owner, ahead of schedule. A vandal had plugged a bathtub drain on the fourth floor one Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend and turned on the faucet. By Monday morning, security noticed water rushing out the first floor door. By the time my client (the builder) called over 10- days had passed since the leak was reported. They thought they had a plan in place to address the flood. By the time we arrived for our initial inspection, mold was present in about 20 units. The mold impacted gypsum board walls/ ceilings, cabinets, and finished floors. Water had also impacted insulation and gotten into several HVAC units within units.  Had we been called on day 1, the response could have included aggressive drying and removal of water-damaged materials. Instead, with the delayed response this became a mold remediation project.  During our time onsite we discovered a previously undiscovered concern. Mold was observed along the base of many walls outside the flooded areas. Further inspections identified mold under cabinets in the kitchens and bathrooms of many units. The source turned out to be related to Gyp-crete flooring. The Gyp-crete was not adequately dried prior to installation of cabinets and the drying was not monitored to observe impact to adjacent gypsum board. This discovery had a HUGE impact to the construction schedule and the owner was forced to delay “move-in” dates for tenants. The damage to the building, the time impact to the schedule, the cost of the repairs and liquidated damages were all tremendous. If the problematic Gyp-crete floor had been allowed adequate time to dry none of these unexpected conditions would occurred. Periodic inspection of moisture conditions would have likely noted the elevated moisture conditions in the gypsum walls prior to installation of cabinets. Perhaps there would have been impact to the schedule, but the impact could have been identified sooner allowing for schedule recovery in other areas. So instead of a few days of lost time from drying, the project was delayed over six weeks.  Having the water intrusion expert on your team from day one, to develop and implement the Mold and Moisture Plan, oversee periodic inspections and provide training to key team members helps ensure that your projects get completed on-time, on-budget while handing over a healthy building. Request a Project Consultation

Here at ACC Environmental, we love to give back to the communities that we service. Throughout the state of California, either through direct initiatives on our own behalf or through our clients, you will find ACC’s philanthropic footprint. 

This past May, we sponsored Macy’s Store Environment Memorial Golf Outing, an event that allowed for various firms to golf and network for a good cause. The proceeds from the event were donated to a charity of Macy’s choice.

Take a look at our photos from this year’s event!

 

On July 6, 2019, 7.1 magnitude earthquake sent Southern California into a brief frenzy this past Independence Day weekend.  While damage is currently being accessed in Ridgecrest, a city 100-miles outside of Los Angeles and closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, we are relieved to hear that there were no casualties to report.

Nonetheless, Southern California is prone to earthquakes and can find that they are quite common, where magnitude 6 earthquakes occur every three to five years on average. With these numbers, residents need to know how to be prepared when such natural disasters strike. It is most imperative that building owners keep their water up to standard regulations, so that they will keep tenants safe during any future bad quakes.

To best prepare for earthquakes follow ACC’s helpful steps to stay safe:

1. Be prepared to fend for yourself without electricity, gas, and telephones just in case such utilities are not working after an earthquake.
2. Stock up on necessities like, food, water (a gallon a day per person), medication, flashlights, fire extinguishers, a portable radio, blankets, batteries, clothing, shoes, and cash (ATMs may not be operating), and other items like pet food and a small tool kit.
3. Decide on a centralized meeting point amongst your family to ensure everyone is united, if separated during a quake.
4. Inquire about and obtain earthquake insurance, if necessary.

During an earthquake, it is best practice to follow the follow steps to ensure safety during the natural disaster.

1. If indoors, stay put and find cover under sturdy furniture and stay clear of exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture and fireplaces.
2. If you’re outside, stay clear of powerlines, trees, buildings, and remain in the open as possible.
3. If you’re driving, find a clear shoulder to park and avoid bridges overpasses, and power lines.
4. If in a crowded place, do not rush to the exit; avoid panic, stay low and cover your head.

Learn more about Emergency Environmental Planning and Earthquake preparedness resources by visiting the following link: https://www.accenv.com/files/General/ACC_Env%20Quick%20Reference%20050912.pdf

How To Protect Your Tenants From Smokey Environments Caused by Wildfires

ACC Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Over the last few years California has been increasingly devastated by wildfires with 2018 being the largest wildfire season on record in the State.  The poor air quality outside has kept people indoors but it is also important to ensure that the Indoor Air Quality in your building is safe.

How do wildfires affect the Indoor Air Quality of my building?

Wildfire smoke is primarily made up of carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Particulate matter is typically the major pollutant of concern from wildfire smoke, as the particulate from smoke tends to be very small. This fine particulate matter are respiratory irritants and in high concentrations can cause persistent coughing, production of phlegm wheezing and physical discomfort in breathing. Persons with compromised respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems tend to be more seriously affected, triggering asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung functions.

Secondary concerns are volatile organic compounds (VOC) that are present in the smoke from byproducts of combustion. These compounds, most commonly, acrolein and benzene, are also irritants, which can produce respiratory symptoms as well as other symptoms, such as, stinging or tearing eyes and nausea.

What steps should you take to prevent the outdoor smoke from getting inside?

The immediate response to wildfire smoke is to minimize the amount of outside air (thus particulate and other compounds of concern) from entering the building, which is done primarily through controlling HVAC systems.

Follow these key steps:

Close fresh air intake and seal with tape and plastic sheeting, until fire situation has stabilized and air quality is considered safe.

Replace all HVAC filters. Install charcoal filters or use charcoal pre-filters, when available.

Install sticky walk-off mats at all egress locations and change them frequently to help control tracking dust from outside.

For non-mechanically ventilated spaces keep all doors and windows closed until the fire situation has stabilized and air quality is considered safe.

Who is most vulnerable in smoky conditions?

Not everyone who is exposed to wildfire smoke will exhibit respiratory symptoms. Extent and duration of exposure, age, individual susceptibility and other factors play a significant role in determining whether or not someone will experience smoke-related health problems. However, as indicated in the answer to question #1, persons with compromised respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems tend to be more seriously affected, triggering asthma, bronchitis and reduced lung functions. Air quality warnings and recommendations should be followed.

What precautions should be taken/ guidelines should be followed to protect yourself as well as these high-risk individuals?

If the local air quality district issues warnings and recommendations to stay indoors, these instructions should be followed. The local air quality district may also recommends wearing a respirator rated for fine particles when outdoors, but this may require medical approval and proper fit testing and training.

Project Example and Lessons Learned

In 2017, the Los Angeles area was struck by major wildfires that impacted multiple properties belonging to one of our clients. At the time, we immediately mobilized to the impacted properties to perform visual inspections for site conditions, which included inspecting the interior and exterior of the buildings for the presence of ash; inspecting the HVAC system (along with the HVAC contractors, to ensure the units were sealed up properly and filters were replaced); and sampling the indoor air for the presence of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOCs, and particulate matter.

We generated a detailed initial response document for our client, which included specific instructions of activities to follow in order to protect the buildings, prior to and following a wildfire.

Have questions on Indoor Air Quality and Smoke Safety?  Contact:

ACC Environmental Consultants, Inc.

1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450

Los Angeles, CA 90017

proposal@accenv.com/ (213) 353-1240

For more information on wildfire safety visit:

http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/wildfires/index.html

Interview with Mark Sanchez, CAC, CHMM, CA/DPH, President of ACC

Water intrusion happens, whether it’s from a heavy rain, flood or plumbing malfunction, when it occurs it’s important to know how to respond to prevent mold growth.  In this Interview, Mark shares his tips on how to keep water out of your building to prevent mold growth from starting and creating a hazardous situation to your tenants and maintenance workers.

Q: What proactive steps can we take to reduce the chances of water intrusion, damage & mold growth?

The main step is to get the building space as tight as possible to prevent weather intrusion. Make sure all gutters and downspouts are clean of debris and leaves and running freely.  Inspect roof systems to make sure no visible issues are present such as missing flashing or missing shingles.  Take other preventative steps like weather stripping and caulking of windows and doors.  Inspect beneath sinks and in showers for signs of leaking pipes and drains.  Act early to repair any issues before the rains come and create problems.

Q: Can you describe a worst-case scenario when someone thinks they are doing the right thing in responding to water intrusion but it goes wrong?

Number 1, if people are going to manage water intrusion in-house they have to be trained. You can’t just assume they’ll know what to do.

I was called in on an apartment job where there was a water leak.  Mold was already visible.  The in-house maintenance worker was trying to help and thought the best approach was to bring in blowers to dry the space.  But, since mold was already visible the blowers actually increased the mold spore concentrations in the entire space making the problem much worse.  In this case the apartment was still occupied so by increasing the the spore concentration in the air the health of the tenants also became a risk.

Once mold is visible, blowers should never be used. De-humidification, cleaning and/or removal in a controlled environment will be the best treatment.

It’s important to create an “Operations and Maintenance” plan and to provide training to the affected personnel so when a situation occurs everyone knows how to respond and what can be handled in-house and when an outside contractor needs to be brought in. Thinking that you’re doing the right thing can make the problem worse!

Q: How long does it take for mold to grow after a water intrusion incident?

As soon as 24-48 hours.  When water intrusion is discovered you want to immediately and aggressively start to dry down the affected area.   Attacking the problem within the first 24 hours is key to preventing possible mold growth.

Q: How should mold affected materials be treated if they also contain hazards like asbestos and lead paint?

This situation is something we see a lot.  A restoration contractor is brought in to contain a mold problem, and in some cases, cuts into walls before testing has been done to identify if there are other hazardous materials present.  If Asbestos or Lead-containing materials are determined to be present in this situation, the problem has been made worse.  Now, Asbestos and Lead contamination has been added into a space in addition to the water problem.

Asbestos and Lead are heavily regulated so you need to know if they are present ahead of time so you can take precautions and prevent additional contamination.  This is the type of important information that could be added to an Operations and Maintenance Manual.

Q: Are responding personnel required to have special training or protection for working with mold?

Absolutely, even though there isn’t a specific CAL-OSHA regulation, mold is recognized as a hazardous material and therefore covered under Cal-OSHA’s General Duty Clause. People react to mold differently, some may not experience symptoms in the area, but protection is still very important. During cleaning/removal activities fungal spore levels in the area will increase dramatically.  Workers should wear respirators, protective clothing and gloves (especially when working with cleaning agents). Depending on the amount/surface area of mold growth containment of the work area may be necessary to protect adjacent occupants/areas.

Click here for a list of training courses

Q: What do you do when a mold is discovered?

1. Here are some good steps to follow when mold is discovered:
2. Follow your company’s remediation plan – we always recommend that companies develop a Mold Operations and Maintenance plan that spells out what is acceptable to do in-house and when you need to bring in an outside contractor for mold cleanup/abatement. There is nothing wrong with handling a small job in-house but it’s important to know what your limitations are – what you can safely deal with and when you need to call in help.
3. Determine the problem size – how big is it?  Even though there are no California regulations yet, EPA, OSHA and the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) have issued guidelines and standards that can help you determine the scale of the problem.
4. Is the space safe to occupy?  There are a few factors to consider here, however the safety of tenants/ occupants is most important therefore this decision should happen as quickly as possible. These decisions are typically made based on the amount of mold growth and/or after reviewing available air sampling data. If tenants are complaining of breathing or respiratory issues, they should be removed immediately.
5. Determine the cause – Is this a storm water leak, domestic water leak or sewage leak?
6. Keep remediation safe – make sure everyone follows your in-house procedure or the procedure developed by your qualified consultant.

Have questions on Water Intrusion?  

Contact:

ACC Environmental Consultants, Inc.

1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450

Los Angeles, CA 90017

proposal@accenv.com/ (213) 353-1240

Other helpful resources:

Ready.gov

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace

Did you miss Mark Sanchez’s presentation at the AHMA-NCH 35th Conference & Trade Show?

Download it now:

ahma-mold-remediation-9-12-16

Questions?  Call us now – 510-638-8400 x 104