CAM Environmental Services

Volume 3

 

When you need Environmental Services, you need CAM! sm

CAM e - Tips

 

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

  1. Fall Protection:  OSHA Gets Tough 

  2. Recent Study Finds Asbestosis Deaths on the Rise

  3. Need Asbestos Training?  CAM has the Answer

  4. News and Events at CAM Environmental Services

CAM's Anti-Spam Policy.
It's my sincere desire not to waste your time by sending unwanted emails.  In addition to past and current clients, this Newsletter is sent to those that have requested information or who have visited with us at a conference, professional meeting, or trade show.  If this email has reached you by mistake and you do not wish to receive future issues, please reply to this email with "REMOVE" in the Subject Field and I'll  immediately remove your name from our distribution list.  I want this newsletter to provide some real value so I welcome any comments, suggestions, or ideas for future articles.  Thank you.  

Hiram Perez ,  President

hiram.perez@cam-enviro.com

CAM Environmental Services

 

 

TAKING A HARD LINE ON FALL PROTECTION

"Falls are among the most common causes of work-related injuries and fatalities," said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao in a recent interview.  "OSHA's standards are in place to protect workers, but they must be strictly followed to avoid accidents."  Many companies are finding out the hard way exactly how serious OSHA is in enforcing its fall protection regulations.  Recently, a New York contractor was fined a total of $156,000 for failure to protect employees from the hazards of working on roofs and elevated scaffolds.  OSHA has placed the construction industry squarely in its sights since this industry is responsible for the majority of fall protection violations. 

The issue of "Fall Protection" applies in many instances--some of which are not totally obvious at first glance.  OSHA's Fall Protection in Construction Standard identifies areas or activities where fall protection is required.  These include, but are not limited to:

                      - Ramps, runways, and other walkways                - Excavations

                      - Hoist Areas                                                             - Holes

                      - Formwork and Reinforcing Steel                       - Leading Edge Work

                      - Unprotected Sides and Edges                               - Overhand Bricklaying and Related Work

                      - Roofing Work                                                         - Precast Concrete Erection

                      - Wall Openings                                                        - Residential Construction

The OSHA standard sets a uniform threshold height of 6 feet.  This means that construction employers must protect their employees from fall hazards and falling objects whenever an employee is 6 feet or more above a lower level.  Protection must also be provided to employees who are exposed to the hazard of falling into dangerous equipment.

Fall protection can be accomplished by a variety of methods including the use of covers, guardrails, personal fall arresting devices, and safety nets, among others.  For more information on how to comply with this important standard, click here to access the OSHA's Fall Protection page.

CAM Environmental can provide a complete range of Program Safety services including training, hazard identification, and mock OSHA audits.  For more information on CAM's safety  services, email us at  info@cam-enviro.com

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THE LEGACY OF ASBESTOS

The "Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 2002" is a reference manual of occupational respiratory diseases and exposures that is available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Recently released, the findings include:

  • Asbestosis deaths increased from fewer than 100 in 1968 to more than 1,250 in 1999 with no apparent leveling off of this trend.  Asbestosis is now the most frequently recorded cause of death among dust-induced occupational diseases.

  • Nearly 2,500 malignant mesothelioma deaths were recorded in 1999.  Of those deaths, nearly 20% occurred among women.  More than 1/3 of the deaths were concentrated in just five states--California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.

According to the study, the most frequently recorded occupations of those who have died from asbestosis include:

                             - Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters                  - Electricians

                             - Carpenters                                                                     - Insulation Workers

                             - Laborers                                                                         - Supervisors (production occupations)

                             - Welders and Cutters                                                    - Janitors and Cleaners

                             -  Truck Drivers

Asbestos is serious business--mainly because you never know when you're going to come across it.  Any work activity that creates any amount of dust such as cutting, grinding, drilling, chipping, or sanding, should not be started until you're sure that the material you're working on does not contain asbestos.  Click here for a list of common building materials that contain asbestos.  When in doubt, check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or have a sample of the material taken and analyzed for asbestos fibers.

CAM Environmental is a Texas Department of Health (TDH) licensed asbestos consultant company as well as a TDH-licensed asbestos laboratory.  For more information on our asbestos consulting and field services, email us at info@cam-enviro.com.

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ASBESTOS TRAINING SCHEDULE

Performing demolition, renovation, or remodeling an existing public or commercial building?  Then according to current TDH regulations, you need an asbestos survey and your workers need to be licensed and trained.  CAM Environmental is an Asbestos Training Provider licensed by the Texas Department of Health (license # 00-0066) and certified by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (certificate # A03TF0095).  The following is a list of asbestos courses and refreshers that are scheduled to be held during November and December 2003:             

  

                      Abatement Worker Initial Course (32 Hour)  -  $245.00              
                                          December 1-5             Nederland, TX 

                      Abatement Worker Refresher (8 Hour)  -  $100.00           

                                          November 12              Borger, TX

                                          November 18              DuPont SRW - Orange, TX

                                          November 25              Nederland, TX

                                          December 9                 Houston, TX


                      Contractor/Supervisor Initial Course (40 Hour)  -  $555.00         
                                          December 15-19          Nederland, TX
                      Contractor/Supervisor Refresher (8 Hour)  -  $175.00      

                                          November 13              Borger, TX

                                          November 19              DuPont SRW - Orange, TX

                                          November 21              Houston, TX

                                          November 24              Nederland, TX

                                          December 10               Houston, TX


                      Asbestos Inspector Initial Course (24 Hour)  -  $360.00              
                                          December 22-24          Nederland, TX
                      Asbestos Inspector Refresher (4 Hour)  -  $120.00               

                                          November 20              Houston, TX (afternoon)

                                          November 26              Nederland, TX (afternoon)

                                          December 11               Houston, TX (afternoon)


                      Air Monitoring Technician Refresher (4 Hour)  -  $125.00

                                          November 20              Houston, TX (morning)

                                          November 26              Nederland, TX (morning)

                                          December 11               Houston, TX (morning)

Additional courses in other locations can be added based on demand.  Courses can also be taught at your location (minimum number of students required).  CAM also provides a complete range of Environmental, HAZWOPER, OSHA, and Safety training.  Please call the Training Department at 877-722-0999 xt 5 (409-722-0999 xt 5) or email at training@cam-enviro.com to confirm dates, pricing, and availability.

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ABOUT CAM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Recent CAM news:

  • CAM's participation in the Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo's BBQ Cook-off was a great success.  CAM competed against over 100 other BBQ teams from around the state and actually did quite well making it into the top third.  CAM would like to sincerely thank all of our sponsors for supporting our team.  We also want to thank all the people who volunteered their time during that weekend.

  • CAM has recently been awarded a major contract with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for the management of their Asbestos Program.  This 3-year project will include managing all aspects of any asbestos-related activities at 116 school locations.  An important aspect of the project will be the implementation of a document management system designed to provide ready access to program data.

Since 1986, CAM Environmental offers a variety of field sampling, testing, and consulting services including:

- Asbestos Surveys & Air Monitoring                              - Industrial Hygiene Monitoring

- Abatement Design Specifications                                    - Program & Contract Safety Services

- Project Management                                                           - Environmental Site Assessments (ESA's)

- Lab Analysis of Asbestos, Lead, & Mold                      - Data Management

- Field Sampling (Air, Soil, or Water)                                  - Contract & Staff Augmentation

- Hazardous Waste Sampling & Characterization             - TDH, OSHA & HAZWOPER Training

- Indoor Air Quality Investigations                                     - Mold Investigations, Clearances, & Analysis

CAM maintains a technical staff of over 75  people operating from 6 locations in 4 cities.  For additional information on these services, please contact your nearest CAM office or visit our website at www.cam-enviro.com.

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CAM Environmental Services

Houston - Beaumont - Dallas - Baton Rouge

© 2003. All Rights Reserved.
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