If you're an employer, you know there are OSHA, EPA, DOT, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act regulations pertaining to hazardous material management in the workplace. CEC, Inc. can help you interpret the regulations and then work with you to design and implement a program that complies with those standards in the most practical way. Services are designed to leave you with products that can be updated easily and procedures that can be used in a "self-audit" mode.

To remain in compliance, you need to keep on top of changes as they occur, understand how they affect you, and have the knowledge and tools you need for cost-effective implementation. To meet this challenge, we design our services to:

• Identify key environmental and health regulations that affect your business.
• Determine handling, disposal, training, and reporting compliance issues.
• Review and/or develop required environmental, safety, and health plans.
• Identify employees requiring training under the relevant standards.
• Design, develop and deliver training programs.
• Provide self-audit checklists and procedures to maintain compliance.

Bill Corwin of Corwin Environmental Consultants, Inc. has 28 years of environmental management experience and has been involved in over 500 Environmental Assessments.

Professionals who are involved in real estate transactions have likely heard about the rise in environmental concerns in real property. Current property owners could be at risk for environmental contamination on their property. This means that an unsuspecting buyer could purchase property and then be held liable for environmental clean up even though the contamination was caused by previous owner activities. One mechanism to minimize environmental liability is to have a qualified Environmental Professional conduct an “All Appropriate Inquiry" or Environmental Assessment, of the property, as part of the transaction.

All Appropriate Inquiry or Environmental Assessment, as standardized by the American Society of Testing Methods, are referred to as Transaction Screen and a Phase One Environmental Assessment. Property with a commercial use history generally has more potential for environmental concerns and a Phase one Environmental Assessment is usually necessary. A Transaction Screen is helpful to preview property where there may not be recognized environmental conditions. The All Appropriate Inquiry is applicable to any party who may potentially claim protection from CERCLA liability as an innocent landowner.

Biological agents found in buildings can be diverse, arising from water damage, plants, animals, or microorganisms. Chemical agents can also arise from a variety of sources. Mold is a living organism that proliferates in damp environments. To reproduce, molds generate microscopic spores that become airborne and are dispersed through the outdoor and indoor air. When these spores land on a damp spot indoors, given the right nutrient source, humidity and temperature, they will begin growing and digesting the material around them. Mold exposure may be result in allergic reactions and respiratory illness. The objective of an Indoor Air Quality Evaluation is to determine whether conditions in your building or home could pose a health risk.

Air samples are a good place to start if you do not see any visible mold or other microbial growth. CEC, Inc. conducts visual inspection of the facility, collects indoor/outdoor air samples, performs analysis, reports results and provides recommendations for corrective action. CEC, Inc is a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association and all inspectors are Council Certified Microbial Consultants.