IAQA Board Approves 3 New Research Projects

Weekly Radio Program on IAQ Debuts on Internet

Publisher's Perspective: The Power of Association

Ask Dr. Burge: What Organisms Are Found in Metalworking Fluid?

Insurance for the Environmental Contractor

Preparing for a Bird Flu Pandemic: Serious or Silly?

“In the end, Howard and Helen Homeowner are the ones who suffer, as another legion of 1-day wonders hits the street. After all, for Howard and Helen, all ‘mold certifications’ are the same, aren’t they? There’s gotta be a law...”

— Wane Baker, IAQ division manager for Michaels Engineering, in an Aug. 21 post on the Yahoo! IE Quality Group, reacting to a day-long mold seminar he said provided all attendees with certificates labeled “Certified Mold Inspector”
 

Word on the Street

AN ARGUMENT FOR NATURAL BODIES OF WATER
“Studies of emerging infectious diseases should strongly consider cooling towers as a source of amoeba-associated pathogens,” states a group of scientists led by Dr. Sharon G. Berk of the Tennessee Technological University. The team compared the quantities of infected amoebae in lakes, rivers and ponds with the infected amoeba concentrations in cooling towers, defined in an American Chemical Society press release as “fixtures that extract waste heat and provide cooled water for air-conditioning, manufacturing and electric power generation.” After sampling 40 of each aquatic environment, the scientists determined that infected amoebae were 16 times more likely to be in cooling towers than in natural bodies of water. “Such pathogens of amoebae may spread to the environment via aerosols from the cooling towers,” the researchers state in a report issued Aug. 16. Their study is to be published this January in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, a publication of the American Chemical Society.

LUNG ASSOCIATION URGES CONCERNED PARENTS TO WALK THE WALK
Nearly three quarters of parents of children with asthma say they are concerned about their children’s ability to participate in school, according to a recent Harris poll conducted by the American Lung Association. However, the same parents may be doing little to act on this concern, the same poll suggests. Less than half of the parents surveyed – 48 percent – say they have mentioned their children’s asthma to schoolteachers. Fewer – 42 percent – make sure necessary medication is available at school. Only 31 percent make sure their child is under medical supervision, and only 27 percent talk to the school administration about their child’s health condition. The American Lung Association is providing parents of children with asthma with the basic tools necessary to be prepared for back-to-school asthma and avoid unnecessary asthma episodes and visits to the hospital. “Every child with asthma should have a written Asthma Action Plan, developed with the child’s physician, that details that child’s specific asthma triggers, medications, instructions regarding physical activity, like using an inhaler before strenuous exercise for some children, and an emergency plan,” said Dr. Norman H. Edelman, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. “Communication is critical to a child’s asthma management at school. Take the Asthma Action Plan to school and discuss it with the nurse, classroom teacher and others such as physical education teachers who will be responsible for your child during the school day.” The Association suggests parents walk the walk by taking steps to become involved in asthma management, including participating in asthma walks that benefit asthma research and education – a quite literal suggestion for how they can walk the walk. Asthma action plans can be obtained by visiting www.lungusa.org or by calling (800) LUNG-USA.

STAYING AFLOAT IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL
Unprecedented rainfall this June in Washington, D.C., temporarily shut down portions of buildings housing the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian museums, the National Archives and other federal buildings, the U.S. General Services Administration said in a report prepared for the media. Of the buildings that did not open on Monday, June 26, after the weekend deluge, a Commerce Department building was the first to reopen, on Tuesday, June 27. An Environmental Protection Agency building lost its power and remained closed until Monday, July 3. The Old Post Office reopened that same day, after having rented air-conditioning units brought in from New Jersey.

Worst hit by the flooding were the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service buildings, according to the GSA. Neither building has been restored to full operation yet. Floodwater at the Justice building initially “cascaded down a driveway, knocked down a historic carriage door, and deposited about 20 feet of water in the basement,” the GSA said. Meanwhile, the agency added, the IRS building “ended up with 24 feet of water in its sub-basement and basement, which came crashing through basement windows after filling up the dry moat that surrounds the building.” Cleanup efforts at the IRS building have involved as many as 280 contractor personnel and may take six months in full to restore. Affected IRS workers have temporarily moved to the Virginia suburb Crystal City, and Justice Department employees moved to unaffected areas within their building.

SPORTS AGENT DEMANDS: ‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’
The real-life Erin Brockovich once battled mold, and now the noted sports agent whose career inspired the title character of the movie “Jerry Maguire” has been doing some mold battling of his own. A $10 million lawsuit multimillionaire attorney and agent Leigh Steinberg filed last year against the builder of his Newport Coast, Calif., home made a headline in the Daily Pilot in August, with the local newspaper attempting to garner a quote from the builder, the U.K. company Taylor Woodrow with a regional office in Irvine, Calif. The only comment a spokesperson could make, as reported by the Daily Pilot, was that “the company does not comment on ongoing litigation.” In the meantime, other Newport Coast homeowners are quoted in the article about their own moldy homes, including one family whose 18-year-old daughter was said to be “covered in a head-to-toe rash” blamed on “toxic mold.” The article notes that Taylor Woodrow had recently donated homes to families for the TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

HIGH VOC EMISSIONS ARE VERBOTEN
Indoor air emissions criteria for the Germany-based certification sought by product manufacturers as a display of their environmental consciousness just got stricter. According to a press release from Air Quality Sciences, the Blue Angel Eco-Label “criteria for office equipment with print functions [are now] among the most stringent in the marketplace for low-emitting products.” The Federal Environmental Agency of Germany, in cooperation with the German Ministry of Health, issued a revised RAL 122 standard specifying emissions levels for total volatile organic compounds, ozone, benzene, styrene and airborne particles, thus equaling criteria called for by a standard from the European Computer Manufacturers’ Association. “These emissions must be kept as low as possible to maintain good indoor air quality and to protect the health of building occupants and employees,” said Dr. Marilyn S. Black, AQS chief scientist. She said Georgia-based AQS is the only accredited U.S. lab offering certification testing for both the RAL 122 standard and the Greenguard standard for low-emitting printers, copiers and multifunctional devices.

IAQA Board Approves 3 New Research Projects
Paul Tran Van Kha
Education Director
Indoor Air Quality Association
Rockville, Md.

Funding and in-kind donations for three new research projects were approved by the IAQA Board of Directors at its meeting held Aug. 14. Combined, the projects equate to a commitment of $46,000 in research funding by IAQA.

The IAQA Research Committee began soliciting proposals for research projects to co-fund in late 2004. Last year, IAQA committed funding to its first project, research by University of Tulsa to study the correlation between indoor air quality and student performance. The two-year study, titled “Indoor Air Quality and Academic Performance in Public Schools,” is using physical measurement of IAQ parameters, test scores, absenteeism as well as economical and social factors to determine if indoor air quality impacts student performance.

“IAQA looks to be a minority source of funding to innovative research projects that better the IAQ industry,” said Robert G. Baker, IAQA president. “Our Research Committee, chaired by George Benda, brought three great new project proposals to the IAQA Board this month and I was very pleased to see all three approved,” said Baker.

Research on Air Return Strategies
The first proposal approved by IAQA last month provides $17,000 to a study titled “Impact of Air Return Strategy on Building Energy Consumption and Indoor Air Quality.” The study will be conducted by the Indoor Environment Center, Pennsylvania State University. The majority of project funding is coming from the non-profit National Center for Energy Management and Building Technologies.

The main objective of the Penn State research is to investigate the impact of the two most common air return strategies: plenum return and ducted return, on building energy, IAQ, and security performance via both analytical and experimental methods. Performance measures to be considered include:

• temperature and humidity of the conditioned space, plenum and return air;

• differential pressures that could contribute to infiltration;

• fan energy consumption;

• contaminant concentrations in the return air stream; and

• inter-zonal contamination through the return system.

The RA temperature, humidity ratio, and fan energy consumption are the parameters determining the impact of a return system on building energy consumption. Contaminant types, concentrations, and inter-zonal contaminant dispersion characteristics are strongly related with the IAQ and building security performance.

For analytical evaluation, the thermal behavior, airflow and contaminant dispersion in the plenum return and ducted return systems will be modeled based on the first principles and/or using existing simulation tools. Controlled experiments comparing ducted and plenum return will be performed in test facilities of the Iowa Energy Center Energy Resource Station by its experienced and highly qualified staff. The Energy Resource Station is designed for the simultaneous testing and demonstration of multiple, full-scale commercial building HVAC and air distribution systems. These high-accuracy, tightly controlled tests will be supplemented by a limited program of field measurements in actual buildings with different return system type. A field-applicable, return system performance measurement protocol will also be provided.

Research on Filtration and Air Cleaning
A second proposal approved by IAQA is titled “An Evaluation of Filtration and Air Cleaning (FAC) Equipment Performance in Existing Installations with regard to Acceptable IAQ Attainment.” This project will develop controlled, third-party field data that documents the effectiveness of FAC to control both internally and externally derived contaminants, as well as the resulting energy utilization economics.

An on-site evaluation and analysis of up to 20 selected installation sites of enhanced filtration and air-cleaning equipment will be performed. The project will be conducted by a research team led by Building Wellness Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm based in Atlanta. The principal investigator, H. E. Barney Burroughs, will supervise the selection of those sites of installed filtration and air-cleaning equipment that most closely represent the usage of air cleaning technology to attain acceptable indoor air conditions while reducing energy usage from HVAC operation.

Each of the selected sites will be thoroughly characterized as to the nature of the ambient outdoor air, the performance of the air cleaning system, and the cleanliness and contaminant control attained within the occupied space. The evaluation will include testing and analysis of particulate matter, viable airborne microbial constituents, and chemical content of the air – both organic and inorganic. The results of the data will be summarized to provide scientific documentation and a more thorough understanding of the performance of air cleaning equipment as an adjunct and/or potential alternate to the use of outdoor air for dilution and control of indoor conditions.

In addition to IAQA, other co-funders of the research include Kimberly-Clark; Purafil Inc.; the National Center for Energy Management and Building Technologies; The Filtration Group; McKenney’s Inc.; AirEnergy Inc.; and Building Wellness Consultancy Inc. IAQA’s contribution to the research includes a $15,000 grant.

Research on Mold Remediation Practices
Last year, IAQA approved a proposal to provide in-kind support for a research project, “A Critical Review of Current Practices for Managing Moldy Indoor Materials,” conducted by St. Louis University School of Public Health and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. IAQA offered Saint Louis University access to the industry’s professionals by convening focus groups, distributing surveys and lining up expert panels to assist the university in creating a white paper for dissemination.

This year, the university came back to IAQA to request supplemental funding for the project. A proposal from the project leader, Anupma Dixit, Ph.D., of the Saint Louis University School of Public Health, explained that the field survey is a major component of the HUD-funded project. The study will critically review the current practices for managing mold contaminated indoor materials. This project comprises of a systematic collection and scientific evidence, based on examination of the current field practices for mold contamination management as well as the suggested guidance that is available from various organizations. The total study period is 24 months.

The field survey of current remediation practices, targeted at remediation professionals, will be administered preferably online. This project is fully funded from HUD with a $408,353 grant, with the exception of the remuneration for the field survey participants, an information technology consultant, and small miscellaneous expenses related to the survey administration and management. The university’s proposal to IAQA requested that the association fund these additional study costs.

The investigative group told IAQA it would like to offer survey participants monetary compensation for their professional opinions and expertise, and of their intention to offer $35 per person as a minimum.

IAQA’s Board of Directors voted to provide the funding to compensate survey participants, but added a unique twist. The association will produce $14,000 worth of “IAQA Gift Certificates” in $35 increments and supply them to the university. The university may then distribute the gift certificates to focus group and study participants. The certificates will be redeemable toward any product or service offered by IAQA, including membership dues, meeting registration fees and publications.

The IAQA Research Committee
The IAQA Research Committee includes nine members and three subcommittees. Committee members include university researchers, product manufacturers, contractors and IAQ consultants. The Project Acquisition Subcommittee reviews all proposals and ensures that all required information is present. The Research Administration Subcommittee oversees the projects by working closely with the researchers to ensure that the Research Committee receives the necessary updates on the funded projects. The Research Promotion Committee focuses on expanding awareness of the RFP as well as the status and information coming out of currently funded projects.

Technical sessions on the status of IAQA-sponsored research constitute an afternoon of programming at the IAQA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Nashville, Oct. 25–28.

To view the IAQA Research Committee’s RFP, download it from www.iaqa.org. For information about becoming active as a member of the committee, contact Kristy M. Lee by e-mail at kristymlee@ev1.net or by phone at (301) 231-8388 ext. 19.

Paul Tran Van Kha is education director for the Indoor Air Quality Association. He can be reached by e-mail at IAQpaul@aol.com or by phone at (301) 231-8388 ext. 18.
 

Weekly Radio Program on IAQ Debuts on Internet
By Steve Sauer

A roughly 60-minute talk show called “IAQ Radio” hosted by two highly opinionated voices within the IAQ industry has been scheduled to air on the Internet each week in September and October, beaming over the Internet an array of guests and segments that would interest consumers and IAQ professionals alike. For IAQ professionals, the show is hoped to have an additional draw in that it could aid in the completion of certification-renewal credits.

“Welcome to IAQ Radio,” said co-host Joe Hughes in opening the debut episode, broadcast live on Aug. 18. “Yes, the rules have changed,” he continued, referencing a lyric in the second verse of the Chambers Brothers’ hit 1968 single “Time Has Come Today.” Hughes, who is president of the IAQ Training Institute, described in an interview with IE Connections what makes this a fitting motto for the show.

“Our [Cliff’s and my] opinions are like oil and water,” he said, referring to his counterpart on the show, Cliff Zlotnik, president of Microban Systems. Both company heads are based out of the Pittsburgh area, and both possessed the time and the interest to carry out the idea of hosting a show (an idea Hughes credits to Zlotnik). However, that is about where the similarities end, said Hughes, who anticipates there being some healthy discussions on the air.

“I think our show will be a little controversial because Cliff is ... somewhat of a controversial person but, at the same time, a really experienced, well recognized authority on some of these issues, water damage and restoration issues – fire and odor restoration,” said Hughes. He said Zlotnik positions himself to be somewhat of a contrarian. Hughes used Zlotnik’s assessment of IICRC mold remediation standard S520 as an example: He said that while it is commonly perceived that the “S520 hates water,” Zlotnik holds the opinion that “Sometimes you gotta get wetter before it gets better.”

“Our political views are somewhat different too, so there may be some interesting give and take from the political aspect of things,” Hughes said. (He settled on using the term “give and take” after searching for one that is less combative than “debate”; however, Zlotnik had said in the pilot episode that “debate” would be encouraged on the show and scheduled debates would abound.) Asked whether the two hosts’ political biases – Hughes described himself to IE Connections as “ultra-liberal” and Zlotnik as “ultra-conservative” – would be shared with listeners during a live show, Hughes said they nearly did in the debut episode.

About 17 minutes into that premiere, during a conversation with special guest Dr. Dietrich Weyel, Zlotnik suggested that one likely source of funding for potential IAQ research “should come from Mexico or another country that’s providing the workers that are actually doing this work.” Hughes said he had to bite his tongue in order to keep the broadcast from devolving into a side discussion about what the hosts believed the Mexican government could or could not afford. Instead, Hughes mumbled a few words while his guest stammered through a congenial response to Zlotnik that “there’s nothing wrong with having several sponsors for one common goal.”

Hughes said that despite his political differences with Zlotnik, “I guess the whole idea is that ... we want people to meet in the middle and we want the show to be something everybody can listen to.” There are some ground rules in place for what the show is not to become – for instance, the hosts agree that they won’t be discussing sports scores and the weather. The list of those things the show would comprise is much more expansive, however. Zlotnik spent some time during the first show explaining the broader range of those things of which the show would consist.

“We’re going to have an opportunity for people to stand on a soapbox,” he said. “If they’ve got an idea or strong opinion for the world to hear, we’re certainly going to look for that. We’ll have an opportunity for debate. If people have two sides of an issue, we can schedule a debate on the program.” He also said the show would include some intense technical discussions. Hughes said future guests would include the heads of industry organizations.

Off the air, Hughes has been using some of his contacts at industry organizations to lobby for a method of providing some extra incentive for industry certification holders to listen to the program. He envisions a way they can earn certification-renewal credits by listening to the show and responding to questions posed on it.

Hughes, whose company provides training for courses from the Indoor Air Quality Association and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, said he expects the show to contain questions that professionals should be able to answer. He explained, “The way that would work is you would listen to the show and you would e-mail the host for a list of questions, then fill out the questions and sign off on the fact that you filled out the questions.” For a fee, the IAQ Training Institute would then grade the submitted responses and ultimately track how many certification-renewal credits are to be awarded for each individual. Hughes said he hopes to involve certification providers like IICRC, the American Indoor Air Quality Council and the American Industrial Hygiene Association in awarding certification-renewal credits.

This would represent one of the few ways for IAQ Training Institute to make some money from the radio show. The program also accepts money from sponsors that receive on-air blurbs. (Sponsors for the pilot episode were IE Connections, IAQ Training Institute and Microban Systems.) The show is accessible to Web users at no cost. Each episode is to be available online via a live stream and then downloaded after their initial airing as audio files that can be played on personal music players. IAQ Radio is one of several programs on the Web site Talkshoe.com, which is apparently so named to refer to the way TV personality Ed Sullivan used to pronounce “show.”

Listeners wishing to interact with the show have the option of calling the show with questions or sending questions by e-mail to be answered on the air. Zlotnik said the medium of Internet radio provides listeners a means of becoming involved, adding a new layer of instant gratification that was previously unavailable in other media. “I was always frustrated with chatrooms and listservs,” Zlotnik said toward the beginning of the first episode. “They were impersonal, [and] there’s a delayed reaction. They really weren’t fun. They really weren’t interactive, and we hope that you will give us a little bit of indulgence and patience as we get better at working the system as we go.”

The show’s first technical glitch came about eight minutes and 45 into it, when a question the guest apparently did not hear was followed by a few seconds of dead air. To help eliminate such snafus, technicians are on hand during the production of each episode, which for the time being emanates out of Talkshoe’s studio in Cranberry, a town located in the Pittsburgh area just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Hughes, who calls himself “Radio Joe,” said the studio is going to be the show’s home for a while. “They have several phones there, and a studio with sound absorption,” he said. “It’s also helpful to have the Talkshoe people there to talk you through it the first few times.” However, he does not plan on staying put for very long. “The nice thing is I can eventually do the show from anywhere,” he said, announcing to IE Connections for the first time that he anticipates broadcasting a show live from the IAQA annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Oct. 27.

“I’ll line up a couple of speakers who can come in and say hello while we’re there,” said Hughes. This is likely to be the first of a recurring segment tentatively called “Event Review,” in which participants discuss and appraise industry gatherings.

Other segments planned for the show include book reviews and interviews with people in the field and others. “We’ve lined up an interview with a lady who, while Cliff was in New Orleans [working under contract with the Federal Emergency Management Agency] – they inspected her home and he spoke to her this week to hear how things are going and, bottom line, it was a sobering report and it would be a good interview.”

New episodes of IAQ Radio are scheduled to air live each Fridays at 12 p.m. Eastern time each week beginning Sept. 8. A software download and Talkshoe user registration, both free, are required to listen to live broadcasts; these are available at Talkshoe.com.
 

Trade associations and professional societies – there are dozens, perhaps hundreds, catering to various needs of those who work in the IAQ industry. But what are these groups, and why are they so important?

A trade association is a group of individuals and/or companies that voluntarily enter into an agreement to form an organization to accomplish a purpose. Merriam-Webster defines a professional society as “an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession.”

Associations exist because people within a given industry, professional or special interest recognize that collectively they can accomplish more than they can achieve as individuals. Throughout history, there are countless examples of associations performing colossal tasks that few believed were possible.

The creation of associations is older than the United States. The first settlers in the “new world” formed guilds of specialized tradesmen. That tradition became part of the American socioeconomic formula for success, so much so in fact that by the early 1800s other countries marveled at the ability of Americans of diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds to form associations. According to the American Society of Association Executives, in 2004, there were 86,054 trade and professional associations, and 1,010,365 philanthropic or charitable organizations.

The accomplishments conceivable by a non-profit association are truly limitless. In 1979, two mothers and their children, on opposite sides of the country, were in automobile accidents with drunken motorists. One lost her daughter; the other had a child who became quadriplegic. These two women and a small group of friends met in a steakhouse in Sacramento and that night formed MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Today, MADD has more than 600 chapters and dozens of community action teams in all 50 states and affiliates in Guam, Canada and Puerto Rico. As a direct result of MADD’s efforts, the legal drinking age was increased to 21, states enacted stiffer penalties for drunk driving convictions and reduced DUI and DWI limits, and most importantly, across America today it is publicly recognized and universally accepted that drunk driving is a reckless, selfish, stupid thing to do. Just ask Mel Gibson.

Next month, the Indoor Air Quality Association will hold its Annual Meeting and Exposition in Nashville. Coming off the recent unification of the IAQA membership with those of the American Indoor Air Quality Council and Indoor Environmental Standards Organization, IAQA goes into its convention 5,500 members strong and with vastly increased potential to make an even bigger impact on not only its industry, but perhaps society as a whole. That’s why convention organizers chose the theme, “Power of Association,” for the event.

If a handful of mothers who felt the pain of drunk driving affecting their lives could change laws, societal norms, and public perception, why can’t an industry of thousands of professionals and tradepersons who see the dangers of poor indoor air quality first hand perform similarly phenomenal work? Like ending the ever-rising incidence of childhood asthma, or ensuing that every public school provides a clean indoor environment, or making sure that cigarette smoking is banned in every public place? The answer is that there’s no reason these goals can’t be accomplished. An association can make a monumental impact on trades, professions, and society as a whole.

Parents tell their children, “You can do anything you want if you put you mind to it.” An association can change the world if its members work together, united for a common cause.

“The Power of Association” – come live it in Nashville, Oct. 25–28, at the IAQA Annual Meeting and Exposition. That’s where your industry will be gathering to chart the future course of IAQ – not just for remediators, investigators, engineers and the like – but for future generations of Americans who deserve the right to clean indoor air.
 

We have discussed metal working fluid before, but updates are often useful. First, to review briefly: There are four general types of metal working fluid in common use – straight oil (mineral oil), soluble oil, semi-synthetic oil and synthetic oil. All but mineral oil contain water, the magic ingredient for microbial growth. All water-containing fluids support microbial growth, and nothing we do will prevent that. Thus, we have to understand the population structures that are normal to non-problem fluid, and try to maintain those populations. In addition, if we consider exposure to any of these populations dangerous, mechanical exposure control is the only reasonable way to reduce risk.

I am sure we can all agree at this point that there are no simplistic approaches to any microbial population question, although, because we know so little, simplistic methods are used to monitor microorganisms in fluid. Thus, monitoring generally involves collection of pH data, and simple dipstick approaches to measuring microbial concentrations. Excessive bacterial growth leads to a decrease in pH, and concentrations of culturable bacteria above 1 million milliliters are considered indicative of a problem.

So, why would you want to do more testing? A few reasons are unpleasant odors, slime building up in the system, off colors or appearance of the fluid, or health effects. Unusual odors are often caused by anaerobic bacteria that produce sulfur compounds. Detection of these odors should prompt cleaning and aeration of the system. Other, less well defined odors could be due to unusual bacteria or fungi in the system. We have seen situations where masses of fungal hyphae will clog filters. Fungi usually become abundant when pH falls.

Finally, with respect to health effects, an increase in dermatitis or respiratory complaints might prompt sampling. For dermatitis, I would focus on fungi. Fusarium and Acremonium are common in metal working fluid, and their presence has been related to increases in dermatitis. I have even seen Stachybotrys on surfaces of machines coated in fluid that has led to severe dermatitis. For respiratory irritation or asthma symptoms, endotoxin may play a role, although overuse of biocides and other chemical causes may also be a cause, and these kinds of situations occur when inadequate exposure controls are used.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis may be caused by Gram positive bacteria in the fluid. In this case, one generally looks for acid fast bacilli. This includes the genus Mycobacterium.

Our standard screen for metal working fluid produces data on numbers of culturable bacteria and fungi/ml of fluid, identification of the dominant bacterium and the fungi, and presence or absence of acid fast bacteria. If acid fast organisms are present, we suggest culturing the fluid specifically for Mycobacterium species.

All of these are essentially after-the-fact measures that may lead to information as to why a particular problem exists. Much better would be a monitoring program that actual would predict the development of problems before they actually occur. We are beginning to address the development of such programs. Meanwhile, for those of you who do have the responsibility for monitoring, sampling or maintaining machining coolant systems, the best advice is to use good housekeeping techniques – i.e., keep the fluid as clean as possible, and encourage the powers that be to reduce exposure mechanically.

Dr. Harriet Burge is director of aerobiology at Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Inc. and associate professor and director of the microbiology laboratory at the Harvard School of Public Health. Widely considered the leading expert in IAQ, Burge pioneered the field more than 30 years ago. She has served as a member of three National Academy of Sciences committees for IAQ, including as vice chair of the Committee on the Health Effects of Indoor Allergens.

To submit a question to Dr. Burge, write to her by e-mail at askdrburge@emlab.com. All questions posed to Burge will receive a reply, although space limitations prevent us from publishing them all. By submitting a question, you agree to have your question and its answer published in a future edition of IE Connections.
 

Your company needs a well constructed plan for insurance. Why? Even if your business employs the best work practices and hires the most competent employees, you are still at risk for a claim that would put your company out of business. We function in an extremely litigious society. People tend to sue for virtually any type of accident. Merely contacting your local insurance agent and purchasing a run-of-the-mill commercial general liability policy package is not enough to protect your business. Your insurance plan needs to be appropriate for your particular needs. Pay attention to this need now, before it is too late, and reap the benefits of protection and peace of mind.

Insurance coverage is complex and cannot be addressed thoroughly in just a few pages. This article explains fundamental insurance concepts and identifies some issues for you to consider before purchasing or renewing insurance for the environmental work your business performs.

Negotiate Your Contract for Insurance
Purchasing an insurance policy, in many respects, is no different from buying a car. When you buy a car, you can negotiate to get more of what you want – whether it be for increased trade-in value on your current vehicle or for more “bells and whistles.” An insurance policy is no different.

When you buy insurance for your business, you should negotiate to obtain more of the terms and conditions that benefit your business. An insurance policy is a legal contract that can be negotiated to provide greater coverage to a particular policy holder than a standard liability policy.

Unfortunately, most people only negotiate the policy coverage limits, which is the maximum amount that an insurance company could ever pay on a claim. Then they bask in the false security of their $1 million or $5 million insurance policy, figuring that they have so much coverage that anything and everything will be taken care of by this policy that has “more coverage” than they anticipate they will ever need. What most people do not understand is the basic premise that insurers are exceedingly particular about the types of lawsuits they will actually pay for. It serves no real purpose to have $1 million of insurance that does not operate to protect you from the risks your company actually faces. Sophisticated insurance buyers thoroughly consider their potential liability, are suspicious of standard forms, and carefully negotiate exclusions, riders, endorsements, terms and conditions.

Different Policy Types
To determine what type of insurance your business needs, you should understand the difference between first-party and third-party insurance. First-party insurance covers loss, injury or damage suffered directly by the policyholder. Businesses need first-party policies to protect their vehicles, property and, perhaps, employees. Although the focus of this article is third-party policies – which cover loss, injury or damage suffered by persons or entities other than the policyholder – suffice it to say that even the scope of first-party coverage, which tends to be taken for granted, should be carefully analyzed.

A second important concept that business owners should understand is the difference between an occurrence-based policy and a claims-made policy. An occurrence-based policy will cover only losses (known as “occurrences”) that took place within the policy period. A claims-made policy will cover a loss that occurs at any time as long as the claim is brought during the policy period. If you anticipate changing from one type of coverage to another, be careful that there are no uncovered gaps in coverage.

What’s Covered under My CGL?
The third-party policy that many mistakenly believe to be the panacea for all business insurance needs is the commercial general liability policy (“CGL”). Known prior to 1985 as comprehensive general liability policies, CGLs are designed to protect the policyholder from liability for damages or losses incurred by third parties arising from the policyholder’s business operations. Generally, CGL policies cover four types of injuries:

1.) bodily injury that results in actual physical damage or loss;
2.) personal injury;
3.) property damage; and
4.) advertising injury.

The first component of CGL coverage is for “bodily injury” to any non-employee, third-party. This covers only physical injuries and not claims for emotional or mental damage. On the other hand, the personal injury component of the coverage is broader than it sounds and provides coverage for other intangible injuries, such as damage to reputation. The third component of a standard CGL policy is coverage is for property damage, which is usually defined as physical injury to tangible property. Finally, advertising injury coverage protects against liability for harm that result from the company’s promotion of its own goods or services.

The most relevant and serious problem for environmental contractors purchasing a standard CGL policy is that most of these policies, if not all, contain exclusions for coverage related to environmental issues. Many companies within the IAQ industry mistakenly believed that they had coverage for asbestos, lead paint or mold, yet once they were sued because of these substances, their insurance carrier denied coverage for their claim. You don’t have to fall victim to this. For years, it was extremely difficult for companies that concentrate on microbial assessments or remediation to find insurance policies that didn’t exclude the very work that they performed. Further, it was almost impossible to find insurance for companies performing microbial work without staff members with hard science degrees. This is changing. Now, it is possible to get coverage for almost every type of environmental work that companies perform. Just as important: This coverage is now more affordable.

When you purchase a CGL policy, it is absolutely imperative that you inform your insurance agent about the type of work your company performs. Many insurance agents will provide worksheets or applications for you to fill out to help them become familiar with your work. Beware of just filling out these sheets, sending them in, and hoping for the best. The representations you make on the application become part of the policy. Misrepresenting your work to obtain a better premium is a mistake. You should be proactive when buying insurance because being reactive means you are too late. Make sure you talk to your insurance agent directly. Ask him or her to go section by section or line by line through the policy to make sure you understand your coverage. Individual policies must be closely scrutinized to determine what is being excluded and what is being included for a policyholder to have the best chance of obtaining the full coverage needed.

What Isn’t Covered under My CGL?
There is no coverage under CGL policies for obligations or coverage an insured would have under workers compensation, employee disability benefits, unemployment compensation or other similar insurance policies or laws. There are specialized policies for these claims and benefits. For instance, CGL policies do not cover bodily injury suffered by employees in the course of their employment. Most states require employers to have separate worker’s compensation insurance. Other employee-related issues such as discrimination or wrongful termination claims typically require employment practices liability insurance, which is a separate coverage policy.

Additionally, CGL policies will contain exclusions which result in no insurance coverage for potential lawsuits your company could face. These exclusions can be for automobiles, watercraft and other activities giving rise to injury, including one of the most heavily litigated exclusions, the so-called “pollution exclusion.”

Professional Liability Insurance
Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions or malpractice insurance, insures a person or entity against claims brought by a third party as a result of negligence in the rendering of, or the failure to render, professional services. E&O policies have become necessary because most CGL policies specifically exclude claims for injuries or damages resulting from the rendering of professional services. The particular “professional services” excluded are specifically defined in CGL policies, but generally consist of any service requiring specialized skill or training.

People who perform professional services are typically sued for failing to perform with a degree of knowledge or skill that is comparable to professionals within the industry. Originally, professional liability insurance policies were designed for professions which required an advanced degree, such as doctors, lawyers and architects. However, exclusions for “professional services” have become so broad that most professionals, including environmental consultants, require separate policies to have coverage for professional malpractice. Environmental contractors fall under the category of professionals who provide a service requiring specialized skill and training, as will a number of other professionals in the indoor air quality industry. Thus, if their CGL policy contains the standard exclusion for professional services, environmental contractors should obtain an E&O policy to be fully insured.

Where to Go from Here
Insurance can give you peace of mind only if you follow a few pieces of advice. First, maintain continuous communication with your insurance agent. Your insurance agent is no less important to your business planning as are your lawyer and accountant. Be sure your agent is well qualified and knowledgeable. By explaining your business and all of the specific factors and potential issues you may face, a qualified insurance agent can tailor a coverage program that will meet your needs. It is your responsibility to make sure that your insurance agent understands what it is you do. If you do not fill him or her in on all of the details that make your business unique, you may have nobody to blame but yourself if you end up with a loss for which there is no insurance. After all, you are the expert when it comes to your business. Do not expect an insurance agent to read between the lines to determine what potential liability you may face. Document your communication with your agent and maintain these records. Similarly, preserve your insurance policies permanently.

When your policies come up for renewal, avoid just sending in your premium and hoping your coverage is enough. You should review your coverage annually. Moreover, anytime you change, expand, reduce or in any way alter your business, meet with your agent to make sure that what you are now doing conforms with the coverage you previously negotiated. If you started your business as a one-person operation and now have expanded to include employees and subcontractors, chances are that the policy you put in place when you opened your doors is no longer adequate.

Protect Yourself at All Times
Insurance provides a crucial piece of your business planning package. Identifying and securing optimal coverage, however, requires knowledge and attention. Question your insurance agent and attorney about your options. Analyze your risk management choices and spend the time to retain qualified experts to guide your decisions. With this approach, you can be confident that you have put the best plan into place.

Consider the “conditioning” and preparation a boxer performs before he or she steps into the boxing ring. When the boxer hears the referee say, “Protect yourself at all times,” most of the work has been done. Follow this approach, and make sure your business “conditioning” is sufficient to allow you to win the battle of the marketplace.

David M. Governo has over 25 years of experience in helping clients prevent and resolve environmental and indoor air quality problems, including lead, asbestos and mold. Governo has served on technical committees of organizations including ASTM International and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. He has written and lectured extensively on environmental consulting, indoor air quality, risk management, insurance and litigation. Governo’s firm counsels individuals and companies in risk management and litigation. He can be reached by e-mail at dgoverno@governo.com or by phone at (617) 737-9047.
 

Individuals who specialize in the investigation or remediation of indoor environmental problems appear to be as confounded about the potential impact of an avian flu crisis as the rest of the American population. Is it really a possibility; is it even plausible? Will it be as bad as some people are predicting? What can be done to prepare for such a situation? What role could our organization play in the event of an outbreak? What impact would a bird flu pandemic have on our business? Is it worthwhile to invest time and effort in preparing for a possible crisis? What preparations are appropriate without “going crazy” about the whole concept?

These questions and many more swirl around professionals dealing with indoor environments as they hear snippets of information from the media regarding the potential of an avian flu outbreak. Many individuals are reluctant to take action because they have difficulty finding rational advice that seems to hit the middle ground, rather than the extremes of alarmists who think that everyone is going to die and skeptics who disparage the whole issue as marketing hype. However, the combination of current events and historical precedents should motivate individuals and organizations dedicated to environmental safety and health to adopt a reasonable proactive stance rather than to dismiss the whole discussion as silly.

Information is the Key
In order for contractors and consultants in the environmental industry to approach the issue of avian flu reasonably, they must understand the basics of the subject. The following points provide a foundation for the recommendations presented later in this article. It is important to remember that this information is a simple overview. Several data sources are available from credible resources including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.avianflu.gov).

• Avian flu is also known as bird flu. The virus which creates the illness develops in the stomachs of wild birds.
    
• Different strains of avian flu appear each year in wild aquatic birds that are often passed on to domesticated poultry. Transmission generally begins in Asia due to the migratory patterns of waterfowl and farming practices. Although all strains of the virus are contagious and can be fatal to domesticated birds, it is generally transferred only between birds.
   
• Initial crossover of the virus to human infection usually occurs in individuals with substantial direct contact with infected birds.
   
• Once the virus infects a person, it could potentially mutate into a form of the illness which can be easily transferred between humans.
   
• Mutated viruses which can affect people directly are the ones that adapt to survive in respiratory droplets aerosolized by coughing and sneezing. Such viruses can then also be spread by skin contact and bodily fluids.
   
• There are concerns that 2006–2007 may be the time for a serious outbreak because a particular strain of avian flu known as H5N1 has been identified in a number of bird populations and a limited number of people. The H5N1 strain is extremely contagious and deadly among birds.
   
• There have been at least 10 epidemics of influenza in the last 300 years that have spread across the world and thereby earn the title of a “pandemic.” The average time span between these pandemics is 24 years. It has been 37 years since the last major worldwide flu epidemic.
   
• In the last 100 years there have been three human influenza pandemics, all of which are believed to have initially come from avian flu: the 1918–1919 Spanish flu that killed 50–100 million people worldwide, the 1957–1958 Asian flu, and the 1968–1969 Hong Kong flu (each resulting in over 1 million deaths worldwide).
   
• The World Health Organization has classified the current situation as a “Phase 3 pandemic alert period.” This means that human infections with a new subtype of influenza virus has been identified, but little or no human-to-human spread has been verified.

Reasonable Preparations
Anyone associated with the environmental industry should be aware that an outbreak of avian flu which does turn into a pandemic will have a direct impact on them in a number of ways. Like every other employer, indoor environmental consultants and contractors would potentially have employees made ill or killed by the disease. This likely loss of manpower would come at a time when the demand for environmental services is skyrocketing. Therefore, organizations should begin now to alert their team members to the facts related to bird flu and how it is transmitted. All employees should be reminded of the basic safety measures that can be employed to protect themselves from infectious diseases such as:

• Take advantage of flu vaccinations if one is developed that deals with the strain of virus causing the infections. Employers should consider absorbing the cost of this vaccination for workers even though this crucial preventive measure may not be covered by insurance policies.
   
• Prompt isolation of individuals who exhibit the initial symptoms of flu infection during times of a pandemic or pandemic alert even if they refuse to isolate themselves. Dedicated individuals who normally go to work and “gut it out” when they do not feel well must be reminded to stay away from the workplace voluntarily. Encourage employees to isolate themselves, and if necessary, restrict them from the workplace.
   
• Provision of facilities and supervision to require frequent hand washing.
   
• Detailed cleaning of surfaces where there is contact by multiple individuals such as lunchrooms, restrooms, common workstations and doorknobs/push bars. Cleaning techniques should employ antimicrobial chemicals so that microscopic contaminants that are not physically removed are neutralized.
   
• Develop and enforce procedures for disinfection of field equipment that is utilized in client facilities where infected individuals are present. These procedures should include measures for sanitizing the interior of the vehicles that transport equipment if it is not cleaned at the site.
   
• More frequent change out of HVAC filters to reduce airborne particulate levels since viral contaminants stay airborne longer when they hitch a ride on particles. The use of higher-efficiency filters or supplemental room air cleaners with HEPA filtration will also make your work environment less likely to spread the contamination.

A pandemic situation could also impact individuals in the environmental field in a positive way. The demand for consultative and infection control services would expand greatly in such situations. Organizations that “practice what they preach” by turning their workplaces into environments which reduce the spread of viruses rather than promoting them would be in a position to offer similar services to their clients. Offering information or services related to specialized cleaning techniques would be beneficial both to the clients and the bottom line.

In May, the Department of Homeland Security released a “National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan.” Chapter 9 of that plan describes steps that institutions should take to protect personnel and ensure the continuity of operations. Specific recommendations related to the cleaning of facilities and equipment are provided in this chapter (page 172): “Given the concern regarding the spread of influenza through contaminated objects and surfaces, additional measures may be required to minimize the transmission of the virus through environmental surfaces such as sinks, handles, railings, and counters. Transmission from contaminated hard surfaces is unlikely, but influenza viruses may live up to two days on such surfaces. Surfaces that are frequently touched with hands should be cleaned at least once a day during community outbreaks.At a minimum, organizations should develop procedures for cleaning facilities during an outbreak and develop procedures for employees to follow to keep work areas clean (e.g., disinfecting telephones, keyboards, personal items).”

Environmental companies that want to be of assistance with such cleaning should begin to train their employees in the techniques which have been proven to be most effective in infection control. Some of the most tried and true procedures include:

• Utilization of HEPA-filtered vacuums to minimize the spread of dust and microbial contaminants.
   
• Spray cleaners designed to remove surface dirt should be utilized in conjunction with disposable wipes.
   
• Wiping towels should be folded to expose a clean side after wiping a few square feet and replaced frequently even if they look clean.
   
• Each surface should be cleaned multiple times. An effective approach is to clean once using horizontal strokes and then re-clean the same area using vertical strokes.
   
• During the cleaning process the workers should wear gloves and eye protection that are appropriate for the selected chemical.
   
• In order to prevent person-to-person transmission and minimize the possibility of a worker touching his or her nose or mouth with contaminated gloves or hands, respiratory protection should be mandated. Although the CDC notes that surgical style masks are acceptable, I recommend that N-100 filtering face pieces be employed.
   
• Just as they do in the office, environmental contractors should facilitate frequent hand cleaning by providing wash stations and sanitizing lotions and supervising their use for employees who are working at client facilities.
   
• A more aggressive approach to inventory of critical response items is warranted. While I do not recommend stockpiling large quantities of products, companies that regularly use such basic infection control items such as filtering facepieces, surgical-type gloves, and antimicrobial chemicals should adjust their reorder point so that they always have product in stock. Do not let the quantity of critical supplies in the storeroom fall to very low levels before replenishing as any declaration of a mutation in the virus that allows it to pass from person to person is likely to create a run on these types of items.

Know Your Chemicals
With human nature being what it is, a pandemic situation is likely to bring forth a number of charlatans promoting various products or equipment guaranteed to eliminate the problem. The time to start sorting fact from fiction in regards to chemical sanitizers, ultraviolet light inserts for HVAC systems, and heat disinfection systems is now.

However, evaluating the effectiveness of chemical sanitizers and mechanical systems is complicated by the fact that testing laboratories and manufacturers cannot import samples of the H5N1 virus into the United States. The manufacturers have no materials for efficacy testing because of the risk to public health and concerns of terrorists using the virus as a weapon. Still, the EPA has developed a list of 100 products that it believes will be effective against the H5N1 strain of influenza, should it mutate into a type that directly infects people. The EPA’s list includes products that are registered disinfectants and have been shown to be effective at inactivating Type A influenza virus on hard, non-porous surfaces. Chemicals that are also registered for use in disinfecting food processing areas and poultry houses are ones that I recommend to my clients.

Conclusion
Reasonable preparation for a flu pandemic is not silly or an overreaction. To be prepared when a crisis such as a massive flu epidemic impacts your area, you have to start taking steps at this point. Companies involved in the environmental industry should begin training their employees, acquiring EPA-registered disinfectants, gloves and filtering face pieces, and planning how they will help their clients in keeping a pandemic from becoming a disaster.

Michael A. Pinto, Ph.D., CSP, CMP, is chief executive officer of Wonder Makers Environmental Inc., a manufacturing and environmental consulting firm that specializes in identification and control of asbestos, lead, IAQ, mold, industrial hygiene, and chemical problems. Pinto is the author of over 100 published articles and several books, including “Fungal Contamination: A Comprehensive Guide for Remediation.” He holds a doctorate degree in environmental engineering from Kennedy Western University and holds numerous other certifications in the environmental and safety arenas. He was selected as part of the mitigation assessment team for FEMA following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Pinto can be reached by e-mail at map@wondermakers.com or by phone at (269) 382-4154.

The author wishes to thank Cole Stanton and Scott DeLeo from Fiberlock for their assistance in preparing this article. All opinions and recommendations presented are those of the author.