The First Facility Management Blog

Safety, health, and environmental professionals should develop safeguards to protect workers from nanoparticles that could enter their bloodstream or lungs, recommended American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) member Robert Adams, CIH, CSP. Nanoparticles are particles of materials the size of one-billionth of a meter; at this level, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of matter can be engineered to create new products and applications such as water-repellant coatings and more-durable titanium cutting tools.

According to Adams, occupational safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) professionals in the nanotechnology industry should proactively develop safety practices to protect workers from nanoparticle exposure. He recommended that SH&E professionals continue to use–and improve upon–safety and risk management programs in addition to providing necessary personal protective equipment and localized exhaust ventilation systems to reduce the build up of nanoparticles in the workplace.

As the number of nanotechnology businesses grows, more research and data is needed to understand potential health effects to workers. Adams advised that nanoparticles could be absorbed into the bloodstream and brain through skin contact or inhalation through the lungs, but the specific health effects are not yet known. Organizations such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are conducting studies of this kind, but it could be years before any long-term effects are determined

With Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst storms to ever hit the US mainland, leaving billions of dollars in property damage in her wake, many property owners are asking “What could I have done to prepare better before it hit?” And even those who did prepare as best they could are asking the now more important question, “How do I recover?”

For those looking for information on how to receive assistance in the wake of Katrina, DKI has created an informational Web site. The site assists property owners and managers in taking inventory of their situation after the storm has left and helps them identify sources of appropriate relief. The site features links to aid agencies and other resources that can deliver necessary aid.

For those fortunate enough to survive Katrina unscathed, but worried about the next storm that is sure to come, the Web site has numerous tips to assist property owners and managers on how to prepare weeks and months before a storm hits, what to do when a storm is identified as being on a path to affect one’s property, and how to protect one’s own personal safety.

In addition to the information on the Web site, DKI also has a 24 hour call center available to assist those property owners requiring emergency services and property reconstruction in the wake of storms like Katrina. That number is (888) 735-0800.

With the recent signing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Itron Inc. will host two online seminars to help understand some of the sweeping legislation in the policy. The measure includes directives that relate specifically to time-based rates for electricity, demand response, and the metering technology required to support the initiatives.

The energy policy will have a significant impact on utilities and will change the relationships between utilities and regulators and will change how utility customers are served. Itron has scheduled two online seminars to help utilities understand, prepare for, and manage these directives. The free 60-minute presentations will be hosted by Ben Boyd, director of regulatory affairs at Itron, Emmett Kelly, vice president of Itron’s regulatory affairs, and Randi Neilson, vice president of marketing. All three have followed the issue for the past few years.

The first seminar was held Tuesday, August 30th, and will be repeated on Tuesday, September 13 at 1 pm Eastern Standard Time. Online registration is available.