Construction Accidents Could Be Avoided With Safe Working Conditions

Author: Katie Kelley
Source: articlesbase.com

Unsafe working conditions continue to plague some construction sites, both locally and internationally, according to many news reports. Though several websites exist that offer construction accident information, construction accidents continue to occur frequently. Many times, these unsafe conditions can be easily remedied by a competent foreman on the job site. Sadly, there is a certain stigma against safety on some construction sites. Safety is often overlooked or it is thought that engaging in dangerous construction site behaviors is overtly masculine. Others believe that safety is a cost that can be cut to save money on job projects. This specific belief that money can be saved by ignoring building code safety requirements or using sub-par building materials has been the cause of two recently reported construction-related issues.The first has been the widely reported problem of defective Chinese drywall present in recently constructed homes across the U.S. It has come to the attention of several homeowners that their homes may be contaminated with defective Chinese drywall imported between 2000 – 2007, which may now be releasing harmful gases into their homes. This gas has been shown to corrode copper wiring in electrical sockets, copper duct work in air conditioning units, and tarnishing silver flatware. Additionally, it may present health concerns both from short term and long term exposure; Reported symptoms include respiratory problems, headaches, fatigue and other potentially serious health concerns.The contaminated building product has gone beyond creating unsafe working conditions for the construction workers that may have been exposed to the toxic Chinese drywall; it has now created a potentially hazardous living environment for many of the homeowners in which this defective product was installed.The world was shocked to hear of another tragic construction accident in Shanghai. A 13 story apartment building collapsed almost completely intact, killing one worker. The collapse was apparently caused by workers beginning excavation on the underground parking garage, causing the river bank nearby to collapse and triggering a foundation failure for the complex. Preliminary reports have said that the Chinese government is holding 9 individuals connected with the building’s construction. This tragic accident shows us what happens when costs are cut on building code safety regulations.Those in charge of the building should be the ones in charge of enforcing safety standards on the projects. The construction worker is often the victim of oversight when safety concerns are ignored. Oftentimes, this leads to the victim contacting a construction accident lawyer and developing a costly construction accident lawsuit for the building contractor.

Individuals seeking information on construction site accidents can utilize http://construction-accident-lawyer.legalview.info for access to construction accident litigation as well as construction accident information.

How to Stay Safe From Toxic Poisoning in the Workplace

Author: Chris S Work
Source: ezinearticles.com

You may think that only someone who works in a chemical plant would have to worry about toxic poisoning, but unfortunately that is not the case. Whether you are a teacher in a public school, a nurse in a hospital, or an office worker in a new, high-tech building, you could be susceptible to toxins in your environment. Toxins are all around us. They are in the new carpeting, in the brown-stained ceiling tiles, and in the cleaning products that are used the workplace on a daily basis.

How do you know if you are being affected by toxins in your environment? The issues associated with these poisons are not always instantly apparent when you transition into your workplace. Pay attention to any physical changes you feel throughout the day. Try to determine if these changes improve when you are not at work. Some symptoms of toxic poisoning can be skin and eye irritations, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or breathing problems. The longer you are exposed to the toxins, the more severe your symptoms may become.

So, what are the most common toxins found in the modern worksite? Mold is the most prevalent source of toxic poisoning. Many people can have a reaction to even small amount of mold in their environment. Mold can be lurking in the walls, carpet and ceiling of your office space, especially if you work in an older building where water leaks are more common. Even if your workplace is brand new construction, you are still vulnerable to toxins. The air in your new space may be polluted with VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. VOCs are emitted from cleaning solutions, paints, and newly installed carpeting. Due to the effects of VOCs, the air quality inside your office could be up to five times more polluted than the outside air.

If you are now more than a little concerned about your workplace environment, what can you do to stay safe from the effects of toxic poisoning? Well, for starters, open your windows whenever possible. That will help to vent the indoor air pollutants. If you can’t get fresh air, at least use a fan to keep air circulating. Make sure your heating and air conditioning vents aren’t covered by furniture or stacks of paperwork. Circulating air will help impede the growth of mold. Check out what types of cleaning products your company uses. Try to get the cleaners to switch to natural products that don’t emit VOCs.

If you have been exposed to toxins in your workplace and have questions regarding your legal rights, Call a Chicago personal injury lawyer at USA Hurt. The consultation is free and you don’t pay unless their Chicago injury lawyers receive compensation for your injuries. Call toll free, 1-866-579-5328 or visit them online.

Is Your Organization Flirtering With EPA Compliance Risk?

Author: Daniel Stouffer
Source: articlesbase.com

The EPA Enforcement Office will issue fines for undocumented refrigerant gas usage as it relates to ozone depleting substances. Do you know how to mitigate this compliance risk?The phase-out program of refrigerant gas is now in full swing and facilities that use equipment requiring the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are at risk for a substantial EPA penalty if they fail to follow the requirements outlined in the U.S. Clean Air Act related to data management and usage reporting. Equipment that must be tracked includes refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, commercial refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and fire protection systems.To avoid an EPA penalty, companies, municipalities and property managers that utilize refrigerant equipment must monitor its usage and submit documentation outlining refrigerant management efforts. Those who fail to do so face substantial fines. As such, many facilities are relying on refrigerant tracking and reporting programs that automatically manage their use of refrigerant, identify leaks, track repairs and guide in proper disposal. This allows them to keep current with government policies, compliance requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.Overseeing the EPA penalty aspect of the U.S. Clean Air Act is the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. They are aggressively pursuing enforcement of the requirements to curb harmful gas emissions. Auditors and inspectors are permitted to make spot inspections to review a facility’s records pertaining to regulated gases. Those unable to produce proper documentation, or have incomplete or missing data are subject to heavy fines.The EPA penalty applies to facilities that improperly emit, vent, or dispose of refrigerant gas. The law requires proper servicing and safe removal of any equipment using restricted substances. Noncompliance could result in fines of up to $25,000 a day, per violation. Additional fines are added if the refrigerant gas is not properly recovered. Because of the substantial penalties involved, the government has developed a technician certification program for anyone who provides service, repair, maintenance, or disposal of equipment containing refrigerant gases.Under the EPA penalty guidelines, refrigerant leaks not fixed within 30 days are subject to a $32,500 fine per day, per unit. Furthermore, purchasing used or imported refrigerant gas calls for fines of $300,000 per 30 pound cylinder of refrigerant gas. With so much money at stake, it is crucial for business entities, organizations, and municipalities to track every pound of gas and manage its inventory, especially those with more than one location where records management and ease of reporting becomes difficult.Any amendments to the environmental laws usually allow for a period when comments are accepted and updates to the regulations are proposed and implemented. Currently, the EPA and other governmental agencies are taking civil and criminal actions against companies nationwide who violate the law. The total of fines collected is in the billions of dollars each year. With the added incentives related to carbon emissions management and the World’s heightened awareness of climate change it is fully anticipated that more stringent and more restrictive measure will be placed on all substances that harm the environment.Because refrigerant gas contains chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, identified as the major causes of ozone depletion, its use is being reduced, and eventually eliminated, worldwide. The plan reduces the use of R-22 refrigerant gas by 75% by 2010 and eliminates it by 2015. The EPA penalty increases as the complete phase-out comes to a close.EPA penalty policies are based on the guidelines established by the U.S. Clean Air Act, and its international counterparts, the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol, to control the use of refrigerant gas as a means of reducing the damaging impact it has on the ozone layer and lower the potential for global warming. Penalties are being issues to protect the environment and to encourage facilities to improve their carbon foot print.

Refrigerant tracking products from Verisae help to organizations manage the EPA enforcement and compliance risks as defined in The Montreal Protocol regulations. Verisae makes it easier to report refrigerant usage and track ozone depleting substances (ODS) across all HVAC-R systems. Explore further Verisae’s refrigerant management tools at www.Refrigerant-Tracker.com

Is Your Organization Flirting With EPA Compliance Risk?

Author: Daniel Stouffer
Source: ezinearticles.com

The EPA Enforcement Office will issue fines for undocumented refrigerant gas usage as it relates to ozone depleting substances. Do you know how to mitigate this compliance risk?

The phase-out program of refrigerant gas is now in full swing and facilities that use equipment requiring the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are at risk for a substantial EPA penalty if they fail to follow the requirements outlined in the U.S. Clean Air Act related to data management and usage reporting. Equipment that must be tracked includes refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, commercial refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and fire protection systems.

To avoid an EPA penalty, companies, municipalities and property managers that utilize refrigerant equipment must monitor its usage and submit documentation outlining refrigerant management efforts. Those who fail to do so face substantial fines. As such, many facilities are relying on refrigerant tracking and reporting programs that automatically manage their use of refrigerant, identify leaks, track repairs and guide in proper disposal. This allows them to keep current with government policies, compliance requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.

Overseeing the EPA penalty aspect of the U.S. Clean Air Act is the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. They are aggressively pursuing enforcement of the requirements to curb harmful gas emissions. Auditors and inspectors are permitted to make spot inspections to review a facility’s records pertaining to regulated gases. Those unable to produce proper documentation, or have incomplete or missing data are subject to heavy fines.

The EPA penalty applies to facilities that improperly emit, vent, or dispose of refrigerant gas. The law requires proper servicing and safe removal of any equipment using restricted substances. Noncompliance could result in fines of up to $25,000 a day, per violation. Additional fines are added if the refrigerant gas is not properly recovered. Because of the substantial penalties involved, the government has developed a technician certification program for anyone who provides service, repair, maintenance, or disposal of equipment containing refrigerant gases.

Under the EPA penalty guidelines, refrigerant leaks not fixed within 30 days are subject to a $32,500 fine per day, per unit. Furthermore, purchasing used or imported refrigerant gas calls for fines of $300,000 per 30 pound cylinder of refrigerant gas. With so much money at stake, it is crucial for business entities, organizations, and municipalities to track every pound of gas and manage its inventory, especially those with more than one location where records management and ease of reporting becomes difficult.

Any amendments to the environmental laws usually allow for a period when comments are accepted and updates to the regulations are proposed and implemented. Currently, the EPA and other governmental agencies are taking civil and criminal actions against companies nationwide who violate the law. The total of fines collected is in the billions of dollars each year. With the added incentives related to carbon emissions management and the World’s heightened awareness of climate change it is fully anticipated that more stringent and more restrictive measure will be placed on all substances that harm the environment.

Because refrigerant gas contains chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, identified as the major causes of ozone depletion, its use is being reduced, and eventually eliminated, worldwide. The plan reduces the use of R-22 refrigerant gas by 75% by 2010 and eliminates it by 2015. The EPA penalty increases as the complete phase-out comes to a close.

EPA penalty policies are based on the guidelines established by the U.S. Clean Air Act, and its international counterparts, the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol, to control the use of refrigerant gas as a means of reducing the damaging impact it has on the ozone layer and lower the potential for global warming. Penalties are being issues to protect the environment and to encourage facilities to improve their carbon foot print.

Refrigerant tracking products from Verisae help to organizations manage the EPA enforcement and compliance risks as defined in The Montreal Protocol regulations. Verisae makes it easier to report refrigerant usage and track ozone depleting substances (ODS) across all HVAC-R systems. Explore further Verisae’s refrigerant management tools at http://www.Refrigerant-Tracker.com

Air Conditioning Unit Falls On Worker

Author: Carys Robshaw
Source: articlesbase.com

In a shocking workplace accident a man was left with three broken vertebrae and a broken pelvis after an air conditioning unit fell on him while he was at work.The man, who was aged 31 at the time of the accident, had only been in his job four months when his employment was cut short by the dramatic accident.Following his terrifying accident at work, the man spent over a year recovering and afterwards was unable to return to the strenuous work of installing air conditioning units, so retrained as an IT consultant.Throughout the recovery period he was on crutches and so unable to work as moving about was slow and very painful for him.Doctors who tended to the 31 year old’s injuries and aided him throughout the recovery period expressed surprise that he had not come away from the accident with more serious injuries.Traumatised by his horrific accident, the man decided to seek compensation and won his work accident claim in which he was awarded an undisclosed amount of compensation.Due to the lasting effects of his injuries and the substantial period which he spent in recovery and unable to work, injury lawyers have suggested that he may have been awarded a six figure sum.Although making an almost complete recovery and returning to work in his new position as an IT consultant, he still feels lasting effects from his injuries, most notably severe back pain, particularly when engaged in strenuous activity.He is now extremely vocal on the topic of safety at work and on International Worker’s Memorial Day made public pleas for improving safety standards in the workplace.International Worker’s Memorial Day aims to raise awareness of injuries in the workplace and remembers those who have died in the workplace following accidents and negligence.Last year, 229 people were killed in the workplace, with thousands more injuries recorded and many more injuries believed to be left unreported.The injured man remembers the shock of the accident and the many painful months he spent recovering from his devastating injuries:”One of the harnesses gave way as we were trying to lift an air conditioning unit and it fell on me. It was about three-quarters of a tonne and doctors couldn’t quite believe I wasn’t more seriously injured.”He added: “I could have been killed and now because of the injuries I am unable to work in the same trade. I will always suffer with back pain but it could have been a lot worse. I am just thankful to be alive.”His injury lawyer, who helped secure a substantial compensation settlement, commended his involvement in International Workers Memorial Day, saying:”Although he was seriously injured in this accident it could have been a lot worse and Workers’ Memorial Day is a time for reflection and to remember those workers who have been killed simply trying to earn a living.”"It is also a time to highlight safety in a bid to prevent further needless deaths through workplace accidents or illness with this year’s theme to be ‘Remember the dead – fight for the living’,” she added.

If you have had an accident at work, look into claiming the compensation that you may be entitled to.