HEALTHCARE

Provided on-going industrial hygiene and IAQ investigation services for a regional healthcare provider's facility management company. Conducted an investigation into the appearance of black particulate matter on medical device and equipment packaging in the Central Sterilization and Supply, Operating Room Suite Sterile Supply storeroom, and various patient treatment rooms. The investigation included the collection of environmental particulate air samples for the purpose of forensic analysis to identify its composition. A review was conducted of the HVAC system(s) serving the affected areas and the collection of particle counts to determine the actual percent efficiency of the HVAC system filters versus the design efficiency. The predominant particles were identified as soot associated with air pollution, vehicles, and fire that had infiltrated the HVAC system via gaps in the gaskets used to seal and secure the system filters. Recommendations were made to replace the defective gaskets; upgrade the filters with more highly efficient filters; replace the aging and delaminating HVAC unit duct liner; and clean the ducting in order to remove it as a source of contamination.

Provided on-going industrial hygiene and infection control support during the construction of a 17-story medical tower (estimated completion date 2012). The tower is constructed, and connected to an occupied hospital tower. Conducted construction and infection control training for hospital Facilities Planning, Engineering, Safety, Environment of Care, and Infection Control departments, and general contractor/subcontractor workers. Conducted periodic infection control construction walkthrough inspections for moisture, mold growth, pressure relationships, and infection control work practices. Developed construction monitoring air sampling plan for patient care areas for opportunistic environmental fungi. Developed and conducted building commissioning infection control protocol for airborne particulate, and viable opportunistic fungal species (Aspergillus) for other sustaining hospital projects that included construction of an ambulatory surgery center, and support work required by the tower construction in the OR suite, temporary HVAC system shut downs, stair towers, and other on-site clinic projects.

RESIDENTIAL

Conducted a forensic investigation of a $2 million emergency clean up of asbestos-containing acoustical plaster and debris in a residential apartment complex. Interviews were conducted with the asbestos industrial hygiene consultant and abatement contractor. Abatement methodologies and work practices, work orders, daily logs, invoices, notifications, and critical decisions were reviewed. Asbestos air, dust, and bulk sampling methodologies were used to determine "contamination" and then were reviewed. Asbestos apartment, goods, and furnishing cleaning protocols were reviewed. Department of Labor & Industries inspection reports and citations were reviewed. Site walkthrough inspections and sampling were conducted and assistance to the forensic accounting team was provided. The investigation concluded that the emergency clean up measures were excessive and that the clean up could have been conducted for approximately $350,000.00 if reviewed earlier. An expedited settlement based on the forensic review was reached.

RETAIL

Provided on-going industrial hygiene and IAQ investigation services in response to employee reports of gasoline odors in gasoline fueling station kiosks. A photoionization detector and summa canisters (analyzed in accordance with TO-17) were used to determine volatile organic vapor components, employee exposure, and a source. It was determined that gasoline vapors were infiltrating the kiosks via the electrical conduit that connected the kiosk with the individual fuel pumps. Sealing the open conduits with fire seal caulking on an interim basis and re-engineering the control systems to prevent vapor infiltration was recommended.

INDUSTRIAL

Served as site safety coordinator and asbestos consultant during the dredging and transport of contaminated dredge spoils from the $55 million EPA CERCLA Hylebos Waterway Sediment Remediation Project. Conducted twice weekly site safety inspections of dredging, marine, rail, laboratory, and engineering contractor activities. Developed approved sampling and analytical protocol for determining asbestos content for the sediment in the material barges for waste characterization purposes for EPA. Served as liaison between site and OSHA, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency on site safety and asbestos regulatory compliance. Developed Class II alternate means of control for OSHA and L&I. Developed heavy metals and asbestos air monitoring program to determine worker exposures and developed negative exposure assessments for asbestos. Reviewed all contractor site-specific Health & Safety Plans and Job Hazard Analyses for adequacy.

GOVERNMENT

Provided industrial hygiene and indoor air quality (IAQ) investigation support as a member of the IAQ Team investigating the emergency evacuation of the 911 Communications Center. Worked together with the City of Seattle Industrial Hygienist, Police Department, Dispatchers Union, Executive Services Department, and a Medical Team from Harborview Hospital. Conducted walk-through evaluations of the building, HVAC system, and underground parking garage. Conducted interviews with dispatchers and operators, maintenance personnel, union representatives, and management. Developed a sampling & monitoring protocol that included air sampling for volatile organic compounds (polar and non-polar), aldehydes, carbon monoxide, radon, bioaerosols, temperature, and relative humidity. Identified various pollutant pathways, wrote daily investigation updates for 911 Center personnel, and wrote and presented comprehensive report of findings and recommendations to the operators and dispatchers.

Conducted lab technician exposure assessments and lab hood ventilation measurements for regulatory compliance purposes. Collected full-shift, breathing zone air samples (8-hour Time Weighted Average) and 30-minute Short Term Excursion Limit samples for regulatory compliance purposes for methylene chloride, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol, and methanol. Audited lab technician work and hygiene practices, measured lab hood face velocities to determine appropriate sash heights, and used ventilation smoke tubes to determine air patterns and movement in the laboratory.

Served as Site Safety & Health Officer during the emergency remediation and excavation of burning tire chips used as road fill on the SR 100 Scenic Loop for WA DOT. Duties included: developing the site specific safety & health plan, evaluating chemical and safety hazards, determining levels of worker protection, developing and executing air monitoring plan, supervising four site safety and environmental technicians. Planning included a remediation strategy and the enforcement of site safety rules with the Incident Commander for WA DOT, Contractors, Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the City of Ilwaco.

EDUCATION

Provided on-going industrial hygiene and infection control support during 2009 Expansion Project that includes the construction of an 8-story medical tower (estimated completion date 2012) that will be connected to two other existing high-rise medical towers. Conducted construction and infection control training for hospital Facilities Planning, Engineering, Safety, Environment of Care, Infection Control departments, and general contractor/subcontractor workers. Reviewed and revised the infection prevention air sampling program. Conducted periodic infection control construction walkthrough inspections for moisture, mold growth, pressure relationships, and infection control work practices. Developed construction monitoring air sampling plan for patient care areas for opportunistic environmental fungi. Developed and conducted building commissioning infection control protocol for airborne particulate, and viable opportunistic fungal species (Aspergillus) for other sustaining hospital projects that included construction of an ambulatory surgery center, and support work required by the tower construction in the OR suite, temporary HVAC system shut downs, stair towers, and other on-site clinic projects.

Provided industrial hygiene and health & safety support of a $1.2 million dormitory fire restoration project. Conducted hazard evaluation for PAH's and microbial contamination immediately following the fire. Wrote Bridgeway's site specific health & safety plan. Reviewed and approved subcontractor health & safety plans. Served as liaison with WWU Safety Department. Assisted with the development of the scope of work. Supervised site health & safety office. Developed and supervised worker exposure monitoring of asbestos, lead, solvent, and noise exposures.

MANUFACTURING

Conducted an investigation for unknowns in response to worker reports of menstrual abnormalities at a composite material manufacturing facility. Teamed with an occupational and environmental physician, conducted employee interviews to develop symptom profiles, conducted interviews with management, and conducted a site walkthrough inspection to identify potential worker exposures, pollutant pathways and possible engineering control options. Developed sampling protocol for VOCs (ketones, alcohols, anhydrides, phthalates, petroleum distillates, aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and phenols), ethers, Bis Phenol A, amines, and carbon monoxide. Low level airborne exposures to various VOCs and carbon monoxide were found. Potential exposures due to skin contact were identified. Local exhaust ventilation of the vacuum exhaust system was recommended and implemented as an engineering control. Strict use of PPE and respiratory protection was recommended and implemented.

Conducted a program of noise dosimetry in order to characterize historical worker noise exposures at a slaughterhouse and meat packing plant. This was in response to a worker compensation claim. Conducted a noise level survey to identify work tasks and work stations that have sound levels above 85 dBA and identified workers for dosimetry. Conducted a dosimetry of 6 workers engaged in the saw cutting of meat, grinding frozen meat, and meat packing. Determined employee noise exposures were below 85 dBA as an 8-hour Time Weighted Average when hearing protection was worn per the Hearing Conservation Program.