It’s What’s Inside That Counts

An introduction to indoor air quality Pollution. The word calls to mind brown clouds, belching smokestacks and toxic waste spills, but does it also make you think about the air you're breathing inside your home or workplace? EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. And indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much [...]

Asbestos Health Hazards Preventions

Why Be Concerned? Asbestos is one of the most widely recognized construction health hazards. In addition to causing asbestosis, a debilitating lung disease, it is also an established carcinogen. It is estimated by HEW that up to two million excess cancer deaths will occur in the U.S. Over the next 30 years as a result of past asbestos exposures. Asbestos is a topic of vital concern to all involved in construction. Asbestos may be more common than you think There exists a dangerous misconception among [...]

Lender beware: Are you foreclosing on a liability nightmare?

Consider the risks, perform due diligence before choosing to seize—or else. For months lenders have been battered by loan delinquencies on real property. Seizures, often resulting in disappointing short sales, account for massive losses on the loan and accrued interest amount. But, in the view of many, a small recovery is better than nothing. What many lenders fail to realize—or fail to remember—is that foreclosure poses serious risks when enacted without performing due diligence to determine exactly what is returning to bank control. In some [...]

Contractors should know asbestos, lead-based paint, mold

General contractors and tradespeople have questions about the laws and their due diligence regarding asbestos, lead-based paint and mold. While this article is in no way a substitute for thoroughly educating yourself on state and federal environmental regulations dealing with these three hazards, we hope it will help you understand some of the basic principles of contractor responsibility. n Asbestos. If you are a residential or commercial contractor or tradesperson involved in maintaining, razing or remodeling construction, you need to know about the law and [...]

Ups and Downs

Checking for elevator safety Stuck and freefalling elevators have spiced up many a movie scene, but in real life such events are anything but entertaining. Elevators demand rigorous inspectors and maintenance to ensure their continued operation and safety. Following are elevator inspection tips for building maintenance personnel: Elevator basics Traveling on vertical tracks mounted on the walls of the hoistway, the elevator combines many machines and devices for its operation. The tracks or guard rails position the car and also provide a surface for the [...]

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