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HBIA Offers Training Support and Solutions
For Hurricane Katrina Damaged Properties
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For Release: September 6, 2005
The Healthy Building Institute of America (HBIA) is offering environmental training support and solutions for contractors involved in restoration and reconstruction projects resulting from Hurricane Katrina damage along the Gulf Coast Region.
HBIA Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Randall Peterson, says “HBIA will play a significant role in helping resolve and prevent environmental health issues during the restoration and build back of hurricane damaged properties”.
Hurricane Katrina and resulting flood waters across the Gulf Coast have created one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history. Over 90,000 square miles were devastated by high winds, flooding and debris.
The severity of Katrina's destruction have posed an even greater environmental problem for properties that survived the storms main surge. The resulting bacteria from dead and decomposing animals and humans, combined with raw sewage, fuel and chemicals have created a virtual toxic wasteland.
With the New Orleans levees now temporarily restored, water is being pumped from the flooded areas, though it will leave behind a toxic sludge throughout most of the area. Additionally, it may still be several weeks before a full assessment of the damage can be completed. Most of the homes in low lying areas will likely be razed, while restoration of commercial buildings will require extensive detoxification and remediation. Still, the question of how to effectively decontaminate an entire coastal region remains.
We can begin by taking a lesson from the widespread hurricane damage across Florida in 2004. Property owners, building contractors and restoration companies were ill-prepared for the environmental conditions that arose after the initial wave of destruction. Indoor mold and bacteria in homes, condos, schools and public buildings created a variety of health problems, legal challenges and new risk factors for property owners, as well as restoration and reconstruction contractors.
Furthermore, traditional methods of restoration and remediation need to be reconsidered. Traditionally, contractors have relied solely on chemicals to treat indoor mold and bacterial growth. With the growing threat of chemical resistant molds, bacteria and viruses, as well as increased numbers of chemical sensitive individuals, the use of chemicals to sterilize microbiological contaminants is no longer a viable option.
HBIA specializes in managing the risks associated with indoor contaminants and utilizes advanced technologies and environmentally friendly solutions as an effective alternative to chemical based cleaners and biocides.
This approach has proved extremely effective against indoor molds, bacteria and viruses and has reduced the overall cost of remediation to about half of the national average.
A "whole building approach" is also utilized to ensure that biological contaminants throughout the entire structure have been sterilized. Additionally, special attention is also paid to the heating, cooling and ventilation systems to eliminate the spread of microbes that have found their way into those mechanical systems. Furthermore, taking pro active efforts during the restoration and build back process will greatly reduce future mold and IAQ problems. Thus, reducing the risk of potential lawsuits, environmental health problems and increased property insurance rates.
HBIA has developed a unique and comprehensive training program to teach contractors and restoration companies how to utilize these new technologies to effectively resolve and prevent indoor mold, bacteria and viruses. HBIA also provides ongoing coaching support to address specific problems that contractors may encounter in the field.
HBIA is working with governmental and private organizations to provide training, solutions and support services in the restoration, remediation and reconstruction of those properties damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Click Here For more information or contact HBIA via toll free phone at: 1-877-384-9800
Randall Peterson, R.S. is a 30 year veteran in Environmental Health and Safety. He has worked for The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has headed the design, construction and management of luxury passenger cruise ships to address indoor environmental health and safety issues.
Healthy Building Institute of America (HBIA) is a professional training and educational organization, whose programs are nationally approved and recommended by The Environmental Education Foundation (EEF). HBIA is also a US EPA advisory committee member for the development and implementation of new IAQ Standards in the U.S.
Click Here To Learn More About HBIA Environmental Training and Coaching Support
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