COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED CAPABILITIES
All too frequently, the emergency nature of a first response to occupant complaints attributed to building conditions results in an accelerated or spontaneous selection of individuals without relevant medical expertise.
A great deal of the testing, examination and remediation costs which follow are, from the health standpoint, unfocused at best, unnecessary at worst, and costly in either case. BHS eliminates this common and costly first reaction by understanding the essentiality of early medical oversight. Such oversight is critical not only for ensuring the environmental health and safety of the building occupants, but also for controlling the related situational cost drivers.
Critical indoor environment incident management mandates a multidisciplinary team. Such indoor environmental issues are driven by occupant health and safety concerns. Building Health Sciences realized in surveying today’s prevailing industry paradigm, that health decisions were not being made by medical doctors. The nucleus of Building Health Sciences is physicians, thus providing a supportable, orderly and appropriate sequencing of the management process. Our expertise and approach ensures credibility, while gaining the trust and respect of all concerned.
Active participation by the right environmental health experts can make a dramatic difference in the risks and costs of water damage or mold-related evaluations and remediation. Health issues do drive much of today’s remediation costs following water damage and mold growth, but they do so erratically and with little health input or oversight. The result is an unfocused, misdirected system which wastes resources and contributes to unnecessary remediation costs, personal fears and claims risks. The goal should be a medically driven investigation which appropriately addresses and resolves the health risks as illustrated by the following case studies.
Case Study 1
A child developed bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (a serious mold-induced lung disorder). When the school was found to have some Aspergillus contamination, the parents and faculty panicked, certain that the school was the source of the child’s illness and a pervasive threat to all in the building. The community demanded that the school be closed immediately. Several physicians concurred with closing the school, further fueling the panic. A more in-depth evaluation of the child and his medical records by the medical doctor revealed two critical facts: first, the ill child had cystic fibrosis, making him susceptible to this fungal disease; second, he had been playing in a mulch pile all summer, providing the near certain source of his infection. Effective medical communication with the school and its occupants explained these facts and why the school was not causal in this case. The actual threat to others was minimal. The school was permitted to reopen following limited, focused remediation.
Case Study 2
An atopic (one with multiple environmental allergies) instructor reported asthma-like symptoms when working in his classroom. He complained of “toxic mold” in his classroom and formaldehyde off-gassing from furniture as the cause of his problems. Others in the building were also concerned. A comprehensive health evaluation was performed. A visual inspection revealed signs of an old water leak with no obvious evidence of mold amplification. The furniture was also inspected. There was on going renovation of this old building occurring in nearby offices. A pathway with enough air pressure differential was also found to be exposing this instructor to allergens probably carried on the construction dust/ debris. The occupants were so advised and the instructor was temporarily transferred to an existing trailer classroom for the duration of the renovation. Dust control modifications were recommended to the construction team to prevent widespread distribution. The instructor returned to his classroom after the renovation without a medical incident. Health-based management of the situation by trained health professionals identified the root cause of the problem and addressed the fears of the occupants through effective risk communication, mitigating potential problems.
Case Study 3
Following the flooding of an assisted-living facility, significant mold growth, Stachybotrys included, resulted. Decisions had to be made about the occupants, their accommodations and their possessions with respect to the extent of remediation required. Several town meetings with physician communicators revealed that the residents were more fearful of being forced to vacate their rooms than they were of the potential health risks associated with the mold. Although ambient levels of mold were higher than customary, the medical doctors concluded that the health risks were minimal. It was concluded that the health-based remediation plan could take place with no resident relocations. The remediation plan was communicated to the residents. Remediation went forward with medical oversight and the occupants remained in place with minimal inconvenience. The cost was reasonable and everyone remained healthy.
