Author: admin

It is my pleasure to announce to you that after 30+ years and 18,000+ successful health and safety projects, Pennoni, Inc. is taking a significant step forward and becoming part of Pennoni Associates Inc. (Pennoni), an ENR Top 500 engineering and design consulting firm based in Philadelphia (www.pennoni.com).

 

Now the name you have come to trust as an advisor for your most challenging environmental health and safety projects is backed by the resources of Pennoni’s 1,500+ staff in 35+ offices. Effective June 21, 2021, we will be known as “COCCIARDI, A DIVISION OF PENNONI”.
Pennoni is an employee-owned consulting engineering firm and for 55 years has provided a wide variety of consulting services to public and private sector clients. In joining Pennoni, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen and expand our environmental health and safety services offerings, as well as provide our clients with additional services in the horizontal and vertical infrastructure space. These services include Construction Services, Environmental, Health, and Safety, Geotechnical, Land Development, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing, Planning & Urban Design, Structural, Survey and Geospatial, Technology Solutions, Transportation, Water Resources, and more.

It’s still us…only better.

Our Scranton and Mechanicsburg staff, operations, and training centers will remain intact and strong. All training and education will continue. New offices along the east coast will provide us the resources to address more of your health and safety challenges and to provide innovative and cost-effective solutions. And as always, we will maintain the mission of reducing morbidity and mortality in our world today – so important!

 

I look forward to speaking with you soon about our new resources and how they can best be used to support your operations. I encourage you to visit www.pennoni.com and see what we have to offer. We value our relationship with you and look forward to providing exceptional health, safety, environmental protection, and emergency preparedness services at the same prices we have been known for as we integrate with Pennoni.

 

 

 

The webinar will discuss Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) applicable to the COVID 19 crisis.  It is assumed that students are aware of the standard PPE certification/requirements.  This webinar will focus on how to adapt these to the current situation, as all as crisis standards applicable when PPE may be limited/unavailable.

Registration is required.  https://bit.ly/wtpwebinarJuly30

More Information: https://sites.uab.edu/dsb/

The Pennsylvania School Code was amended July 1, 2018 to require schools to test drinking water sources for lead, or, discuss and decide options at a public meeting^[1].  Childhood lead poison prevention is a serious issue in the Commonwealth, and one that can be positively affected by providing safe drinking water in schools.

This guidance document summarizes recommendations for testing and management of lead in drinking water to both meet compliance with regulatory obligations and best management practices.  The recommendations outlined in this document have been developed with national consensus standards, including those developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)^[2] and the PA Advisory Committee on Lead Exposure.

 

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT:

Developing a written program is an important first step in identifying and controlling potential lead in drinking water issues.  This program should address:

• Roles & Responsibilities
• Reviewing program effectiveness
• Awareness training for building staff
• Establishment of sampling strategy
• Informing parents and staff of results
• Recordkeeping
• Preventative maintenance on the system

SAMPLING STRATEGY:

When developing a sampling strategy, the EPA recommends the following steps:

• Obtain and review building information
• Map potable water supply system components
• Identify sources of drinking water
• Visually inspect the system to identify indicators of concern

 

The above steps are further outlined in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Developing a Sampling Strategy

 

SAMPLING PROCESS:

WHEN TO TEST:

• The EPA recommends that samples are collected after a stagnation period of 8-18 hours, often referred to as a “first draw” sample.
• A second sample may be collected after a 30-second flush of the outlet. This sample is typically only collected/analyzed if the first draw sample is elevated.

 

MATERIALS:

• Collection bottle (250-mL supplied by the laboratory)
• Markers/pens, sample bottle labels
• Sample log and lab chain of custody form; floor plan
• Gloves (nitrile, latex, rubber, etc.)
• Cooler

 

HOW TO SAMPLE:

• Start at the location closest to the service connection and progress away
• Record location, time, outlet identifiers (sinks/fountain; location)
• Don gloves
• Carefully start flow and fill collection bottle, take precaution to not overfill
  • NOTE: Do not remove aerators, screens or filters prior to sampling
  • If taking a post flush sample, allow the water to flow at a constant rate for at least 30 seconds.
• Label bottle and place in cooler
• Complete the chain of custody
• Deliver samples to the lab within predetermined hold times

 

IMPORTANT Only use a laboratory accredited by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. A list of accredited labs can be found at: www.dep.pa.gov

 

INTERPRETING RESULTS and RESPONSE ACTIONS:

The PA School Code Amendment identifies a maximum contaminant level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). If any result exceeds this level, the school must report it to the Department of Education and immediately implement a plan to ensure that no further exposure occurs.  Response actions may include:

• Restricting the use of sources with elevated lead levels.
• Providing an alternate source of drinking water.
• System maintenance, such as cleaning, aerator replacement, etc.
• Replacement of the source or sources.
• Replacement of leaded plumbing materials with certified lead-free materials.
• Implementing a flush schedule.
• Point-of-use treatment, such as filtration.

 

[1] Act 14 of 1949: The Pennsylvania School Code: Section 742: Lead Testing: Harrisburg, PA; Updated July 1, 2018.

[2] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water: 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water; EPA-815-F-18-014; October 2018.

 

If you’re attending the following event(s), stop by our booth and say hi!

 

Central PA GOSH Conference

October 28-29, 2019

Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA

Register here: http://www.pasafetyconference.com/2019REGISTRATION.html

 

 

Schools are faced with a special challenge when students and teachers return after the summer recess.   When building ventilation is adjusted due to a return to full occupancy, issues with mold can occur due to warm and humid weather and lack of air circulation within the school over the summer break. Pennoni, Inc. is helping multiple districts this season return schools and classrooms to a healthy environment.

 

Lynn Stutzman, Safety, Health and Environmental Professional with Pennoni, Inc., reports air sample test results at the Central Mountain Middle School in Mill Hall and the Woodward Elementary School.

READ MORE…

Mosquito and tick-borne diseases have tripled in the last 10 years in the United States, with 1 in 5 of the recorded cases occurring last year.  A heavy tick season is predicted for 2018 in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Mosquito-borne diseases typically occur between June and September and have been reported in 50 states.  Lyme disease, Zika and West Nile viruses, and Chikungunya typify diseases of concern.  The CDC identifies that of these reports, 60% are caused by ticks.

 

The following is recommended for best protection:

 

• – Control vectors at home: use screens and remove standing water every 4 days.
• – Wear long sleeves shirts and pants when outdoors.  Ticks are seen easily on light colors.
• – Use an EPA registered insect repellent while outdoors. Click here to determine the right repellent for your needs: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
• – Treat boots, socks, and tents with permethrin.
• – Check yourself and pets daily for ticks. Ticks removed within 24-48 hours present little chance of disease transmission.

 

Culex mosquitos (West Nile carriers) are most active between dusk and dawn. Those bitten develop symptoms within 3-14 days. If you have a severe symptom, such as a headache or confusion, seek medical attention.

 

Deer ticks live in shady, moist areas usually less than 24″ off the ground. They climb upward until they reach protected areas, such as treated clothing.

 

For additional information, contact Pennoni, Inc. at info@pennonitraining.com.

 

Kidde Recalls Smoke Alarms For Risk of Failure to Alert of Fire (March 2018)

 

Inspect your fire alarms! Nearly half a million smoke alarms nationwide are being recalled due to a risk of failure to alert consumers to a fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported on Wednesday, March 22. Kiddie dual-sensor smoke alarms, Models PI2010 and PI9010 are being recalled. The issue is a defective cap possibly left on the smoke alarm during the manufacturing process that may cover one of two sensors, compromising its ability to detect smoke.

 

Name of product:
Kidde dual-sensor (photoelectric and ionization) smoke alarms – models PI2010 and PI9010

Hazard:
A yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the smoke alarm’s ability to detect smoke, posing a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their home.

Remedy:
Replace. Consumers should remove the alarm from the wall/ceiling and visually inspect it through the opening on the side of the alarm for the presence of a yellow cap.

Recall date:
March 21, 2018

Consumer Contact:

If your unit is affected, please continue and register for a replacement.

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR REGISTRATION

Kidde toll-free at 833-551-7739 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, or online at www.kidde.com and click on “Product Safety Recall” for more information.

 

To review the full CPSC press release, click here.

In 2016, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule requiring health care providers to develop Emergency Preparedness Plans and establish new Conditions of Participation (CoPs). CMS has updated the Emergency Preparedness standards to establish more consistent planning,
coordination, and response to both natural and man-made disasters. Updates are a direct response to hard lessons learned and lives lost during disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.

The update applies to 17 facility types and requires the following components:

• Risk Assessment and Emergency Planning
• Policies and Procedures
• Communications Plan
• Training and Testing
• Emergency Standby & Power Systems

CMS has indicated there will be no exceptions for conformance during survey process. Failure to comply
with CoPs will result in loss of CMS Funding.

Read more….

National Safety Council: October 20, 2017

OSHA has released interim enforcement guidance for its Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard (1926.1153), which is set to be enforced in full on Oct. 23.

The guidance was issued Oct. 19 in a memorandum to OSHA regional administrators from Patrick Kapust, deputy director of the agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs. RAs should use the guidance to help them gauge whether employers meet various requirements, including those for inspections and avoiding citations. The guidance also provides flow charts for evaluating employer methods of controlling worker exposure to silica.

Read more on the OSHA Silica Standard…

New York Post: October 2, 2017

A gunman opened fire during a country music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night — killing more than 20 people and wounding
over 100 with a high-powered assault rifle before being shot by police, according to officials.

Read more…