The NY Hero Act has been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo! This act directs the NYS Departments of Labor and Health to create enforceable health and safety requirements to prevent airborne infectious diseases in the workplace. As more employees return to the office in the wake of Covid-19, we have to look towards the future. How can we control future infectious diseases that appear as we become an increasingly urban and globalized society? What have we learned from the past year and a half? How can we prevent this from happening again in the future? And if it does happen again, how do we prevent it from taking over our lives?

Model plans from the DOL and DOH are still forthcoming. However, we at Airtek Environmental are prepared to help you make the best decisions for your specific business and community. We have decades of experience in industrial hygiene. We will advise your company with the best course of action to take to keep yourselves and your employees safe, and help you comply with the HERO Act.

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Current research suggests that we need to monitor our indoor air quality, especially here in New York City. In NYC we are exposed to large amounts of pollutants daily. Indoor air quality is something we should always be aware of since we spend so much time inside. However it is especially important now as we all plan to return to our offices. Proper indoor air circulation and filtration can greatly reduce exposure to Sars-COVID-19. This protects your workforce from infection and reduces the chances of costly company shut downs.

Indoor air circulation will be greatly improved by having your HVAC system reviewed by an industrial hygienist. When you hire an industrial hygienist from Airtek Environmental, we can help protect against airborne transmission of the COVID-19 virus in workspaces. Together, we can create a COVID re-opening plan in accordance with CDC, ASHRAE, and NYC COVID-19 guidelines for reopening buildings. We can also advise on how best to protect yourselves, your families, and your employees from the virus.  Let us help your company develop a solid plan to reopen your facilities this summer, and come back full force!

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You may ask yourself, Why is OSHA Training Important? The state of safety regulations and requirements in the workplace has only come to truly benefit workers in recent years. The history of industry work and medical work is rife with stories of unsettling accidents and the spread of disease amongst staff. It wasn’t until 1970 that OSHA was established and finally safety regulations started being mandated and enforced in the interest of employees. Since then, OSHA has dedicated itself to keeping workplaces across the country safe and secure through inspections, training, and education for employers and staff. OSHA continues to spread the word of the importance of safety training and maintaining a safe work environment to businesses all over the USA.

Understanding OSHA Regulations

Being employed in an environment with occupational hazards requires a working knowledge of safety rules and regulations as set by OSHA. For business owners in industries where employees are at a higher risk of illness or injury due to the nature of the work, it is essential to emphasize the importance of safety training to employees so that they know what safety measures are in place to protect them from harm and what the company has to expect from them in order to avoid costly accidents.

Why is OSHA training important? Learning the ins and outs of OSHA’s safety training will keep you and your employees safer from potential accidents. It can also help you spot hazards in your building and improve the current safety levels of the building and its equipment. OSHA safety training and safety training, in general, should be given regularly to new employees, employees changing their positions in the office, and to all employees in a department of equipment or tasks change.

The Benefits of OSHA Training

By starting off a new employee’s time at a company with proper OSHA training and continuing that training throughout their career, a company is able to tell its employees that it has a strong interest in their safety and wellbeing. This allows a company to earn the trust of its workers and helps to boost morale. Better morale not only increases productivity and lowers a number of absences, but it also reduces the number of accidents on-site.

On-going OSHA training for employees also gives safety officers and staff the opportunity to identify and discuss incidents. By doing so, the administration can identify problem areas in the infrastructure of the building and avoid any future incidents. By starting these discussions through training, staff can strategically improve the work environment for staff.

The business can possibly reduce worker’s comp claims and potential costs from insurance costs and lawyer’s fees when enforcing safety training. While OSHA safety training classes are an investment, the amount of money they can save a company makes them invaluable. It also means avoiding loss of manpower and reduction in productivity due to workers being out for injuries or illness. By facilitating regular OSHA safety training courses, your staff can revisit the state of safety in your business regularly and keep things in check.

OSHA Training in New York City

Airtek Environmental can provide classes that stress the importance of safety training and cover material specific to your business. Airtek Environmental is able to facilitate introductory courses, refresher courses, and classes for when new equipment or technology is added to the business. Through Airtek, your company will get professional training that covers all of the material necessary to keep your employees safe. Contact Airtek Environmental by calling 718-937-3720 and setting up an appointment with one of our staff to schedule your company’s classes today.

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Our EPA certified inspectors and risk assessors are ready to help you comply with all your testing needs! Please call us at (718)937-3720 with questions, and to schedule your testing today!

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Mold Inspection NYC

New York prides itself on being an epicenter of business and culture in the United States. Companies that make their homes on and around Long Island know that maintaining an environment of safety and good health for their employees is essential to staying successful in the fast paced world of business in the Big Apple. When contagions appear in company spaces, business owners can find themselves struggling with ongoing health issues among employees. In New York City, mold can be an especially troublesome contagion due to the close proximity to water. With the help of companies like Airtek Environmental, mold problems can be identified and mitigated with the help of a mold inspection in NYC.

A mold inspection in New York is essential to identify all sources of mold in your building. If you suspect your property might have a mold issue, scheduling an inspection can prevent an outbreak of upper respiratory problems and agitated health conditions among staff. Without intervention, chronic exposure can result in prolonged symptoms and makes performing at work difficult for those with mold allergies and sensitivities and those with asthma or lung conditions. Mold inspections help to prevent disruption in productivity caused by these symptoms and keep workers comfortable and safe in their working environment.

Mold Inspection Process

The initial meeting with your environmental health inspector from Airtek Environmental will begin with a series of questions asked to create an initial assessment of the situation. By helping them pinpoint any water, weather or moisture issues your company has been having within your building, you can help your inspector locate problem areas and devise better solutions for your mold issue. This initial meeting will also give you opportunities to ask questions of your own and provide specific observations for the inspector.

These inspections performed by Airtek Environmental’s investigate areas most likely to facilitate mold growth, like boiler rooms, air ducts, and water systems, by performing a visual inspection and taking surface and air samples. These samples help the inspector locate the sources of mold in the building and identify the types of mold. By uncovering this information, the inspector is able to meet with the building owners and help them devise a plan of action to mitigate the mold issue.

Mold Inspection in New York with Airtek Environmental

The mold inspection in NYC gives Airtek Environmental’s specialists the tools they need to develop a plan for mitigation alongside you and your health and safety staff. These plans vary depending on the source of the mold problem and can include repairs to the water system, sealing or mending sources of leaks from the outside environment, and deep cleaning the affected areas with industrial supplies. The planning process takes into consideration your company’s needs, budgets, and time constraints in order to create the most efficient and appropriate remediation for your business.

Airtek Environmental is a New York-based company that knows the ins-and-outs of how the environment on Long Island can affect the health of buildings. With top of the line equipment and experienced staff, we are able to provide cost-effective solutions to keep buildings safe from contagions that can harm employees and affect morale. Contact Airtek Environmental to schedule a mold Inspection in New York to meet with our experts and improve the environment of your employees’ workplace today.

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When planning to build in the city, there are elements to consider long before construction begins. The city of New York has seen buildings come and go and little virgin soil remains on Long Island. Most properties in and around New York City have held multiple buildings since the city’s founding. The land left behind after demolition can hold many different types of dangerous chemicals and pollutants from previous building materials and manufacturing byproducts. Disturbed soil can unearth contaminants long buried that can affect the safety of the construction site and the areas around it. Workers on-site and people that come in contact with a contaminated construction area can suffer severe health problems caused by the contaminants. Testing and conducting a soil investigation report for structural and health purposes is a crucial first step to the building process, but often these essential tests are overlooked. If construction begins before a thorough subsurface investigation is performed, a company can see itself incurring sudden construction site costs in the millions and losing months of time on the progress of a project.

Importance of a Soil Investigation Report for your Business

Airtek Environmental is the best equipped to help companies in New York avoid these costs by providing an in-depth soil investigation report that outlines the content of the soil and groundwater. These subsurface reports are capable of identifying contaminants buried in the soil and can detect the area range of contamination as well. With Airtek Environmental’s technologically advanced tests, we can create soil sampling reports that can determine levels of contamination on site if contamination is detected and help a company create plans for soil remediation. Remediation can return value to the land and make it safe for occupation.

Airtek’s investigators in New York are trained to set up a variety of drilling, sampling and monitoring tests to judge the composition of the soil with little disruption to the site. Our direct-push system is minimally invasive and versatile, capable of being used on any type of property. This method obtains samples efficiently and allows our expert team to gather detailed information to create a soil investigation report that gives your company all the information you need to determine the safety of the soil and groundwater before you start any foundation design. This valuable data can save companies from huge losses caused by the after-effects of contamination that isn’t properly managed. Keeping your business’s workers and neighbors safe from contaminants in the ground should be a top priority and Airtek Environmental is your best source in New York for preventing these potential health hazards.

Airtek Environmental: We’re New York’s Best

Airtek Environmental is New York’s top provider of environmental health and safety assessments and environmental consultation for businesses. We have a reputation for saving companies from expenses brought on by costly environmental hazards across New York City. We employ expert investigators that are trained to administer the most advanced tests in the industry. The data collected from these in-depth tests will save your company money before and during the construction process. Our team is well versed in the common pollutants and chemicals found in New York and have experience creating effective and strategic plans for remediating local contaminated soil and groundwater. Airtek can help you maintain health and safety standards through every step of construction. Our highly trained team members will develop plans to limit your liability and costs as you prepare your property for construction. Contact Airtek Environmental at 718-937-3720 to schedule an appointment for a consultation with our investigators and begin testing your property for safety.

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Lead paint has a longstanding legacy for the Baby Boomer generation. The lead paint used on toys and in household products carries a notorious reputation of causing lead poisoning in adults and children alike. While many modern homes have been long since freed of the worries of lead paint contamination, many old commercial buildings in metro areas like New York still have contaminants like lead and asbestos hiding in their walls. Uninspected paint and pipes can still contain lead and create potential health risks. Manufacturing, construction and utility companies might even find lead paint lingering on older machinery and tools around the workplace. It takes proper inspections, like those done by Airtek Environmental, to confirm that a building is safe and lead-free.

Lead has been used as a base material for many products since the Colonial era of the United States. Lead-based pigmentations were incorporated in paint production in these early days, and the use of lead in paint increased over the decades. In 1922, lead-based paint production peaked, and most paints contained lead until around the end of 1978 when a full federal ban of lead paint in consumer products was issued. The solder used on pipes and metal air ducts also contained lead until 1986. This means in the average commercial building built before 1980 employees and customers are potentially being exposed to lead in both the air and the water daily.

Identifying Lead Paint Poisoning Symptoms

In 1904, the medical community was starting to link lead paint exposure to lead poisoning identified in children. Typically, when we talk about lead paint poisoning symptoms, we discuss its effect on children. While lead paint poisoning symptoms differ by age group, it is important to recognize that lead paint poisoning can affect adult employees just as much as it affects children. Even low levels of exposure to lead can lead to health problems over time, so it is important to watch for employee complaints about:

• Muscular, joint or abdominal aches and pains
• High blood pressure
• Headaches
• Sudden mood disorders
• Problems with memory or an inability to focus

Ongoing or high levels of exposure to lead can lead to damage to the kidneys, the reproductive system or the nervous system if left unchecked. In buildings with the critical levels of lead contamination, exposed workers can die from poisoning. Sometimes lead is buried under layers of paint and is contained, but if the top layers of paint peel away or deconstruction occurs, lead paint can be exposed to employees or contracted construction workers. If lead-contaminated dust gets into the air, surrounding buildings and their employees may also be affected by the contaminants as could the soil surrounding the building.

Airtek Environmental Can Help You with Lead Removal

Since 1988, Airtek Environmental has been providing professional lead-based paint sampling and surveys for businesses in New York. Our inspection teams consist of USEPA licensed lead-based paint inspectors and risk assessors that have extensive training in proper sampling techniques and high-quality testing of collected samples. Our factory-trained professional inspectors use X-ray Fluorescence technology to find lead in paint, dust, and water samples. This, along with lead-in-air sampling done through monitoring, creates a thorough set of data that will confirm that any lead present on company property is identified. This way, company owners can start working with Airtek Environmental to being building a plan for decontaminating a building to make it safe for continued use or renovations.

For lead removal or lead management specialists, Airtek Environmental also provides expert training and provides a lead training certification for those that complete the courses successfully. Training classes are available for a variety of positions including handlers, risk assessors, inspectors, and supervisors. We also provide refresher courses for those that need to revisit training after certification.

Creating a safe working environment is essential to running a business with healthy, productive employees. Scheduling regular environmental assessments of buildings, especially those about to undergo renovation or deconstruction, is important to avoid unwanted fines from OSHA for breaking regulations. Airtek Environmental has the best-trained inspectors available to help businesses identify and rectify problems with contaminants and health hazards. Contact Airtek Environmental today at (718) 937-3720 to schedule an inspection for your business.

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Bringing down a building that’s past repair can cause a lot of mess and take a lot of time to destroy and clear, but there are concerns that lie within the walls of older buildings that many businesses may not think about. Commercial buildings constructed before the times of OSHA and modern building regulations may have major health and environmental risks lying within their framework that could cause severe problems if the building is just knocked down.

Hazardous Building Materials

Hazardous materials like asbestos, mold, and lead could not only affect workers on-site but can also spread to surrounding buildings in the area. The process creates a lot of waste and leaves wide openings for hazardous materials to be handled carelessly and dumped into improper disposal sites. All in all, demolition poses many risks and while seemingly cheaper it can have a business missing out on the benefits of choosing deconstruction instead. Deconstruction may take more time and a bit of extra cash but has advantages that will make it more appealing overall.

Benefits of Deconstruction

Deconstruction is a process that focuses on salvaging as much of a building’s materials as can be saved and re-purposing or donating as many usable pieces as possible. When a business plans to deconstruct a building instead of demolishing it, they not only avoid creating unnecessary waste but also have materials to donate charitably and claim as a tax deduction in the future. With as much material that’s left behind by a commercial building that could easily be donated, a business can see a sizable amount of their investment in deconstruction paid back come tax time.

Less waste also means less clean-up post-deconstruction. Demolition destroys not only valuable building materials like windows, doors and framing lumber, but it also can wreck the groundwork for the property itself. If a business is planning to re-purpose the property or sell it, demolition can create a lot of potential issues. The property can lose value quickly if it is torn up during demo work. Deconstruction preserves the state of the property and allows for less clean-up time, letting a business move onto their next step after the building deconstruction is done.

Environmental Services for Building Deconstruction

Careful deconstruction plans also help a company avoid the potential health risks to employees, contracted workers and people around the deconstruction site. When working with environmental consultants like Airtek Environmental, we insure the safe and careful removal of hazardous material and create a process for the building deconstruction. Airtek employs all tests and specialties at their disposal to keep all people in contact with the site and the surrounding area safe from potential microbes and health hazards present in older building materials. Airborne microbes and toxins can cause issues ranging from chronic irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs to deadly conditions like mesothelioma cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Workers with asthma and other upper respiratory issues can be severely burdened by the demolition dust and dirt kicked up by demolition and may end up hospitalized depending on the severity of their reaction. The potential hazard situations caused by demolition can leave a business paying more for it in time, money and lost resources.

During a period of Remediation, Airtek Environmental specialists educate all workers accessing a building site on industrial hygiene, test air quality for toxins and bacteria and study surfaces and materials present for potential risks. By utilizing these steps and working alongside a business to create a sound strategy for deconstruction, an environmental business can help a company avoid worker’s comp and insurance claims by keeping workers healthy and out of harm’s way.

Why Choose Airtek Environmental Consultants?

Airtek Environmental is designed to help businesses accurately analyze the health and environmental safety of a company’s building before tear down begins. Airtek’s services can show a company the benefits of choosing deconstruction vs demolition through expert consultation and testing using advanced technology and methods. When it is time to destroy a building, whether a business is moving or rebuilding on the same property, Airtek can work alongside a business and help them to create a safe environment for workers through deconstruction planning and on-site testing that identifies hazards. They can also educate workers on proper hygiene and safety practices while being present during deconstruction. These methods of risk assessment and prevention can save a business time and money that could otherwise be lost during a demolition job. To find out more about Airtek Environmental’s consulting services or set up an appointment to plan your business’s building deconstruction, call 718- 937-3720.

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Since OSHA’s inception in 1970, businesses have been seeing continuous gains from committing to safety training and upholding regulations as established by OSHA. The costs of an unsafe work environment can stack up over the year and severely damage the bottom line. The financial gains of well-enforced safety regulations paired with regular safety training and building inspections create a healthy workplace environment that promotes trust, productivity and great morale amongst employees.

Dedication to safety and wellness has made a huge impact on the cost-cutting efforts of businesses across the country. OSHA, in cooperation with business and labor organizations, has documented the potential costs and losses, both direct and indirect, that can be attributed to poor safety and health regulation in companies. From medical expenses to OSHA penalties, businesses can lose thousands of dollars a year if regulations are not upheld.

Workplace Injuries and Illness Prevention

In the mid-2000’s, the Liberty Mutual Safety Index reported businesses spending $48.6 billion dollars on covering severe illness and injuries while OSHA reported $60 billion in losses due to a reduction in productivity caused by illness and injury. Direct costs of losses stack up over the course of the year on their own, but the indirect costs can add together and triple yearly losses. Liberty Mutual’s executive polling has shown that companies estimate $3-$5 dollars in indirect losses on every $1 in direct losses. By comparison, this means that every $1 invested in a healthy workplace environment can save a company $3 in potential losses by helping a business avoid not only the direct and immediate costs of worker injury but also the indirect expenses like replacement employee training, damage repairs, loss in productivity and damaged customer and community relations.

Return on Investment of Healthy Workplace Protocols

The returns-on-investment for companies that dedicate part of their spending to maintaining safety protocol aren’t the only on-going gains from a business putting effort towards creating a healthy workplace environment. The trust that a company gains from employees by reinforcing their interest in their workers’ well-beings improves morale and productivity. When employees feel safe and secure in their workplace environment, the amount of days absent drop and workers are more dedicated to staying on-task. Safety and health concerns can be distracting and can reduce performance quality and speed. With safety at the forefront of a company’s interest, they can streamline workflow and automate problem-solving when accidents do happen in the workplace.

Creating a Healthy Workplace Environment with help from Airtek Environmental

When you’re looking to optimize your safety protocols and assess and manage potential risks in your company’s infrastructure, Airtek Environmental can give you expert guidance and help you to create a healthy workplace environment that supports the interests of workers and administration alike. Airtek Environmental’s consultation services allow expert staff members to assess a company’s needs and perform tests for air and water quality. Airtek staff can provide high-quality technical data and analyze it to determine the best course of action for risk management and improving safety regulations.

Airtek Environmental can provide industrial hygiene options to improve building cleanliness and air quality services to reduce the spread of allergens and microbes available for companies looking to tackle problem areas in their employee’s working environment. Contact Airtek Environmental by calling 718-937-3720 and schedule a one-on-one consultation to analyze your business’s needs, plan a building inspection and start your business on the right path to improving the working environment for your employees.

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Mold is a big issue wrapped in a small package. As a potential health hazard and code violation, the presence of mold can end up costing money and time if it isn’t taken care of before it spreads. Working with an environmental investigation company that knows how to recognize mold and can create solutions for potential mold issues that can save a business valuable assets and prevent potential illness among workers.

What does Mold look like?

Mold is an extremely common form of fungi and forms in damp areas. Mold can typically be found in basements, bathrooms and boiler rooms as they are key locations for water intrusion. While it’s not always easy to spot, mold often appears in wooly mats in distinct colors like black. It lets off a distinct, strong smell that will be persistent in a specific location of a building. The overbearing odor of mold can be an instant lead to mold hidden behind wallpaper or in recesses in the walls of a building.

Mold Symptoms

An increase in allergy problems, sneezing and coughing in people regularly present in the building can be another warning sign for mold. It has been known to cause health issues and is a potential threat to those with upper respiratory conditions, weakened immune systems and patients in recovery from surgery. A mold problem can contaminate the air in a building, putting people all over a building at risk of illness even if they don’t work in the immediate area of the mold issue. As a source of potential health issues, the mold should be dealt with as quickly as possible when detected.

Sick Building Syndrome

If mold is left unchecked, it is possible for a building to experience Sick Building Syndrome. Sick Building Syndrome is characterized by acute health and comfort issues in an isolated area of a building or throughout a building. Mold gives off spores that can travel through air ventilation systems and be breathed in by occupants in a building. These spores can lead to severe allergic and upper respiratory reactions. This can pose a danger to any occupants with any upper respiratory diseases, asthma or allergy problems. Persistent mold problems can lead to health violations while being a severe threat if more dire health issues develop among employees in a mold-affected environment.

Keeping a clean, safe environment for employees and visitors is a key function of a business’s administration. While a little bit of mold might seem harmless, it can spread quickly and become a nuisance in no time. By immediately dealing with a mold problem when it’s detected, business owners can avoid a troubled and sick staff. No one wants to endure an odorous and uncomfortable environment filled with coughing and sneezing.

Mold Management Experts in New York City | Airtek Environmental

Airtek Environmental consultants can provide careful inspections and they know how to recognize mold and other potential environmental issues in a business facility. They have specialized training in air quality testing and sampling and are able to properly assess the environment for you. Through a consultation with you and your lead staff, Airtek specialists can make recommendations on how to improve air quality and solve problems involving mold and bacteria as well as other potential health threats present in your business properties. Call Airtek Environmental today at (718) 937-3720 to make an appointment and learn how to optimize your business’s environment for a better, safer workplace experience.

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