Beginning in the 1930s, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were heralded as the wonder replacement for the insulating and conducting oils used in electrical transformers and capacitors. PCBs withstood high heat, were miscible in oil in any concentration and were, in fact, almost indestructible. Unfortunately, they also had almost immediate and deleterious health effects.
What is PCB Oil?
Electrical transformers and capacitors produce tremendous amounts of heat and must be continuously cooled to avoid damage. It can be done with air but the process is expensive, inefficient and unreliable. Various types of oils were used but the constant exposure to high heat eventually resulted in their breakdown. The addition of PCBs to the transformer oil solved this problem and resulted in a durable, high performance insulating fluid.
Manufacturers took advantage of this new technology and produced millions of transformersand capacitors using millions of gallons of PCB oil. In 1979, PCBs were banned and other chemicals with lower health risks were substituted. Unfortunately, many of the substituted mixtures, the PCB oils, were simply dumped into substandard or faulty disposal sites and subsequently leaked into the water table or surrounding waterways.
Health and Environmental Hazards
The very quality, its seeming indestructibility, that makes PCBs so valuable as an additive to transformer oils also makes it seriously harmful to the flora and fauna of the environment. Foremost, PCBs accumulate in the tissues of plants and animals and cause a variety of ailments in humans from simple anemia to liver damage and death. Secondly, PCBs contracted from secondary sources such as PCB oil can have mutagenic effects on the offspring of the affected organisms. Lastly, PCB’s are particularly problematic as the particles can be breathed in or absorbed through the skin.
The long term containment of PCB oil has proven to be an almost impossible task with multiple, large scale spills and other “incidents” occurring. Recycling of minimal amounts of PCB oils and the physical destruction of the rest is now the preferred method of disposal
Disposal Options
The disposal of PCB oils presents a formidable but not insurmountable task. Its ability to enter the tissues of organisms through breathing or mere physical contact requires a higher than normal degree of care. Protective clothing and respiratory gear must be worn at all times.
Secondly, its liquid state requires destruction by incineration. In addition to the oil, all items and equipment used to transfer or store the oil must also be properly decontaminated or destroyed. Of course, any items that can be completely decontaminated will be recovered and recycled but the rest must be completely destroyed.
The concept of incineration is simple but the actual process is highly complex as the combustion must take place under extreme and carefully controlled conditions. In particular, complete combustion must be attained as PCB oil can produce the highly toxic furan if burned improperly. In addition, the regulations and oversight of these processes are quite specific and stringent.
Tri-Arrow
For over 18 years, Tri-Arrow has proven its ability to recycle and then safely destroy every type of hazardous chemical waste. Knowledgeable management and staff combine with experienced disposal technicians to relieve a company of the problems associated with the disposal of their PCB oils.
Tri-Arrow is intimately familiar with all provincial and federal guidelines associated with the proper storage, transfer and disposal of these hazardous materials. They use only licensed incinerator operators and have an unblemished record of safe transport and incineration. In short, Tri-Arrow can manage the entire operation including all paperwork to safely and affordably dispose of your PCB oils.
The chemical waste disposal industry is uniquely positioned to recognize and understand the inherent perils of poorly contained or inadequately stored chemical materials. Tri-Arrow, as an experienced and knowledgeable leader in this industry, is routinely trusted to gather, package and securely transport these typically volatile and extremely dangerous chemicals.
Tri-Arrow takes this trust very seriously. So, regardless of the economics or complexity of the situation, the paramount consideration of Tri-Arrow in the chemical waste disposal process is the health and safety of our clients, our employees, our surrounding community and our environment in general.
Tri-Arrow and other like-minded, chemical waste disposal companies are committed to taking the lead in dealing with dangerous waste materials. Our focus, as always, will be on ensuring the overall health and safety of all those around us.
Our Clients
Tri-Arrow understands the needs of its clients. Chemicals are merely a means to an end for them. Once they are used, the residue is merely a problem to be solved. Tri-Arrow provides the knowledge, expertise and experience to relieve our clients of this responsibility. Our experienced technicians can rapidly and thoroughly clean any area of discarded and unused chemical products. The result is a safer workspace for our clients, their employees and peace of mind for their neighbors.
Tri-Arrow’s Employees
A sense of family pervades the atmosphere at Tri-Arrow. As such, it demands that we require the strictest adherence to policies and procedures mandated by the government and by the company. Our highest priority is Health and Safety.. Our technicians are rigorously trained in our chemical handling standard operating procedures as well as in correct labeling, storage and transportation methods. The applicable personal protective equipment is worn and the latest innovations in chemical handling processing is incorporated into our methods.
Our Community
Tri-Arrow has had its roots in the communities it serves for over fifteen years. The vast majority of our employees live locally in our community. We take, very seriously, our responsibility to transport and dispose of, any and all, dangerous chemicals in the safest and most efficient manner possible. Our responsibility doesn’t end until the dangerous chemical materials has been securely stored or disposed off.
The Environment
The final step in any chemical waste journey is the ultimate disposal of the waste materials. While Tri-Arrow focuses on recycling all the waste it recovers, in some cases it is not feasible. Some chemicals are incinerated to reduce their volume or minimized in other ways. Others will be disposed of in secure chemical landfills.
As a transfer station, Tri-Arow is committed to safe and proper storage of these waste types. We have a standard operating procedure that are closely adhered to and reviewed at our regular monthly Health and Safety meetings.
Tri-Arrow’s Commitment 
From beginning to end, Tri-Arrow’s main concern is with the health and safety of anyone affected by the disposal of chemical waste. We adhere to the strictest guidelines, often surpassing those imposed by the Ministry of Environment. We thoroughly train, test and provide continuing education to our technicians and staff. Simply put, our management team is dedicated, at all costs, to providing the safest, most secure, chemical waste disposal services in the industry.
Business 101 states that there are two ways for a company to improve the bottom line. It can increase sales or it can cut costs. This tenet is as true in the chemical industry as it is anywhere else. Waste minimization, in general, and the minimization of chemical waste, in particular, are fundamental to achieving the latter in the chemical industry. Simply put, the reduction of chemical waste and other economical measures can yield savings of time, money and energy for any company in the chemical industry.
Raw Materials and Chemicals
Regardless of the size of your business, raw materials and other supplies must be procured to perform the necessary activities. Metals, reagents and exotic polymers are all necessary for the continued operation of chemical plants. Many of these compounds are noxious, poisonous and difficult to contain. Common sense dictates that the least amount of hazardous material yields the least hazardous conditions and the least amount of maintenance costs.
Similarly, ordering and utilizing the minimum amounts of necessary materials and reagents leaves the least amount of hazardous residue and extraneous chemicals. Waste minimization is especially important here as the handling of these hazardous compounds requires significant amounts of time and effort on the part of employees to safely store, properly label and correctly document the waste’s storage and disposal. A centralized processor, or “gatekeeper,” to order and maintain all supplies and raw materials is recommended for this process. Supplies can, thus, be stored in one place, tracked and ultimately disposed of properly.
Machinery and Vessels
The need to prevent contamination is another strong incentive for waste minimization. Safety demands that excess waste must always be stored in a secure environment. If this requirement leads to the contamination of a vessel, there will a subsequent cost associated with the cleansing and decontamination of that vessel. In addition, the residue inside the vessel will probably increase the amount of hazardous material. A secondary method of waste minimization is the use of external disposal companies to contain, transport and dispose of the hazardous material.
Space
Proper storage space is always at a premium in a chemical plant. It is not simply a matter of space, however. Hazardous materials must be properly contained and physically safeguarded to meet governmental regulations. The cost of these procedures is proportionate to the amount of waste. Obviously, waste minimization and its rapid disposal are prime factors in minimizing these costs.
Utilities
Most chemical compounds must be maintained in temperature and humidity controlled environments. The utility cost for maintaining these environments rises as the amount of material increases. In addition, the introduction of excess catalysts or reagents to a particular chemical process may not deleteriously affect the final product but it will increase the amount of energy needed to complete the reaction. A strong emphasis on quality control and waste minimization can significantly reduce the associated utility costs.
The Bottom Line
The process of waste minimization in the chemical industry may not be everyday common sense but it is a good business practice. It leads to savings in overhead, utilities, space and maintenance. The timely, safe and economical disposal of hazardous materials will pay benefits in all these areas.
Waste minimization will reduce but cannot eliminate the need for the ultimate disposition of hazardous waste. A trusted, hazardous chemical waste company is crucial to implement this final step. Tri-Arrow can handle all aspects of disposal from sorting, labeling, documenting and ultimately disposing of the most dangerous chemicals.
Laboratory Chemical Disposal
Lab waste disposal is a time consuming, laborious process. It is no wonder that, in many cases. procedures are arbitrarily followed. The five most common errors committed in chemical waste disposal are improper labeling, improper segregation, improper storage, failure to seal properly and excess accumulation. For the proper disposal of chemical lab waste, it is imperative to have the correct tools and containers, procedural knowledge and the requisite training to properly use them.
Proper Disposal
Ultimately, flammable liquids and solid chemical waste are incinerated. Non-reactive liquids are treated in a wastewater facility and the solid residue then burned. The issue for any prudent and responsible lab is the proper accumulation, segregation, storage and subsequent transport of the lab waste.
There is a separate methodology for the treatment of solvents, acids and bases. Each methodology is mandated by Provincial and Federal agencies and must be rigorously followed or significant fines may be levied.
What is Lab Packing?
Generally speaking, lab packing is the use of an outside vendor to handle your chemical lab disposal. The following is a brief overview of the procedure.
Segregation
Chemicals are separated by type, placed into small containers and individually labeled.
Repacking
The small containers are packed in 250 litre drums with an appropriate and absorbent packaging material.
Overpacking
250 litre drums that have been inappropriately repacked by the lab personnel or are damaged are further repacked, or “overpacked“, in slightly larger containment drums.
Shipping
The drums of lab waste are labeled, sealed and staged for transport and disposal.
Paperwork
A complete and detailed inventory is made of the contents each drum and is provided to the lab and to the transport company.
Benefits of Lab Packs
The accumulation of small amounts of a multitude of chemicals creates numerous problems for a laboratory, not least of which is lab safety. A lab pack solution resolves these issues and allows the lab to concentrate on its own objectives.
A lab pack reduces the need for secure storage space and the attendant, necessary oversight. In addition, the work area is fundamentally less hazardous as accidents cannot occur if the material is not present.
Lab technicians may not always be familiar with the most current handling procedures or may be pressed for time resulting in improperly packed materials. Our highly trained crews are extremely experienced in the proper containment and packing of every type of lab waste. They will safely and efficiently stage your materials for transport and disposal.
Federal and Provincial regulations
change all the time. Our company maintains an authoritative list of all pertinent regulations and laws. Our technicians will spend the necessary time to ensure that compliance is never an issue. All necessary paperwork is handled by our company.
Familiarity with handing procedures allows our technicians to quickly and efficiently complete the procedures. Lab packing is an economical alternative to handling the process yourself.
The goal of chemical lab disposal is the safe and environmentally responsible destruction of lab waste. A lab pack solution offers this solution. Our chemical waste disposal company can manage this process from beginning to end in a safe, affordable and regulation-compliant manner.
The remediation, disposal and long term storage of chemical waste is, at its most elementary, a nasty business. To its credit, the Canadian government has instituted industry standards and protocols that have ensured an almost flawless record by the chemical disposal industry.
Chemical waste disposal starts at retrieval. Until then, the producing companies are required by law to maintain the standards set by Canadian governmental regulations. Once delivered and sequestered in a certified HazMat vehicle, responsibility for the hazardous waste shifts to the disposal company.
Until properly treated, the transporting company is obligated to manage the chemical waste as hazardous material. Depending upon the exact make-up of the hazardous material, various physical and chemical treatments are necessary to physically transform the waste product into a more benign and easily handled compound. The chemical waste disposal company has various treatment and storage options.
Recycle / Reuse
The first step in the chemical waste disposal process is to recover as many useful compounds as possible. This process reduces the amount of hazardous waste and yields significant economic benefit. Recycling involves the recovery and purification of used materials into new ones in order to prevent the waste of any potentially useful materials. Reuse involves the delivery of used product, as is, so that the materials can be used again in the manufacture of subsequent products.
Incineration
Incineration is the simple combustion of hazardous and non-hazardous waste to reduce the overall mass and thus facilitate subsequent long term storage of the residue. Capture of the noxious gases and particulates produced is an integral part of this process.
Incineration is applicable to liquid as well as solid waste.
Waste to Energy
Certain waste products combust at particularly high temperatures. As such, they are specifically appropriate for use as fuel at cement plants, aggregate kilns, industrial furnaces and incinerators. Alternatively, waste streams that burn at lower temperatures can be consumed at electrical power plants. In both cases, the overall amount of waste material is significantly reduced and is thus more easily stored in the long term.
Stabilization / Landfill
Some materials do not readily lend themselves to incineration or economical chemical transformation and thus remain extremely dangerous. Instead, the strategy is to render these compounds into more compact, stable and easily transportable forms. Subsequent transport and storage is thus facilitated. Solidification, or the encasement of hazardous material in concrete for easier underground storage is one such example. In other cases, the waste is simply sequestered in secure, environmentally isolated landfills.
Deepwell Injection
Some intransigent waste materials do not allow for minimization or solidification. Instead these, typically liquid, materials are substantially diluted and then injected into porous pockets deep inside the earth. Impermeable rock strata surrounding these pockets isolate the hazardous material from the surrounding areas.
The Total Solution - Tri-Arrow Services
The treatment, stabilization and disposal of noxious and dangerous chemicals is an extremely complex and exacting process and requires expert oversight. For over seventeen years, Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery has proven its worth as the preeminent chemical waste disposal company in Western Canada. Tri-Arrow provides a full range of hazardous material services. Collection & transport, product recovery, waste disposal and wastewater treatment are all available. We can even train your people in the proper handling and short term storage of chemical waste.
Thousands of satisfied clients will testify that Tri-Arrow provides the safest, most reliable, regulation compliant chemical waste disposal service in Western Canada. For more information, visit us at
www.tri-arrow.com 
or request a quote at www.tri-arrow.com\contactus
A Community of Recyclers
The idea of going green has been around for decades and the majority of Canadians and Canadian businesses have adopted a reduce, reuse and recycle mentality when it comes to everyday recyclables. Together, we generally recycle paper, bottles and cans. We understand the importance of conserving water and energy. And a few eco-pioneers have purchased hybrid cars or installed solar panels on their homes or businesses.
However, recycling and reducing our overall impact on the environment must go further. Many common household and industrial items too often end up in the landfills rather than the right disposal facilities. Junk like used batteries, computers and televisions contain hazardous materials inside of them and throwing them away in a landfill could cause those materials to seep into ground water and contaminate soil.
Used oil falls into this category as well. More homeowners and businesses should look to recycle their used oil in appropriate hazardous waste facilities rather than just toss the oil into the trash.
Effects of Oil
Throwing out used oil instead of recycling it has long lasting effects on the environment. Used oil enters the environment through storm drains, landfills or is washed off the street or driveway straight into the ground and sewers. This oil then finds its way into rivers, streams and oceans or even groundwater. These waterways serve as drinking water for plants, animals and people. The American Petroleum Institute estimates that just one gallon of used oil can contaminate as much as one million gallons of water. If the water is contaminated, animals and plants could die and humans suffer from a lack of clean water.
Benefits of Recycling Oil
Recycling oil comes with many benefits. First, there is the obvious benefit of cleaner waterways and purer sources of drinking water. For this reason alone, people should recycle their used oil.
We also reap the benefit of reducing the need for new sources of oil. Used oil can be recycled into re-refined or reconditioned oil for use in cars and other machinery that requires oil. These processes extend the life of the oil and allow it to be used again and again, further diverting oil pollutants from water sources.
Additionally, oil can find new life when it can no longer be used as a lubricant by repurposing or reusing the oil as fuel in power plants or industrial space heaters.
How to Recycle Oil
The Canadian Petroleum Products Institute maintains we should first prevent pollution, then reduce and recycle pollutants, control and treat pollutants, and then finally responsibly dispose of them.
Many companies and municipalities provide ways for people and businesses to recycle used oil by taking it to a nearby facility. Finding an oil recycling company or location sometimes, though, hinders homeowners and businesses from taking the extra step to recycle a product that doesn't get conveniently picked up.
Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery, Inc. arranges to pick up your used oil at your location and transport it to our hazardous waste site for recycling and reuse saving residents and businesses time while also saving the environment.
Take the next step in environmental stewardship by letting Tri-Arrow help you recycle your used oil.
Household hazardous wastes are products such as aerosols,paints,paint thinner,furniture polish,household cleaners,oven cleaners,drain opener,windshield wiper fluid,brake fluid,motor oil,adhesives,
pesticides,fertilizers and batteries. These products contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients and should be disposed of properly. It is improper to dispose of hazardous products by pouring them down the drain, into storm sewers, on the ground or putting them in the trash.
Proper storage is just as important as proper disposal of these products to avoid potential risks associated with HHW.
Follow the tips below in your home for proper storage of products containing hazardous substances: 
Improper disposal methods of these wastes can pollute not only our environment but is also harmful to human health. Sanitation workers have been severely injured when hazardous products have been improperly disposed. Our drinking water can become contaminated when these products are poured down the drain or sewers. Many communities in Canada offer safe and convenient ways of disposing of HHW. Call your local environmental, health or solid waste collection agency for upcoming collection days and drop off programs in your area.
- Reduce: To help reduce the purchase of household hazardous waste products, consider using alternative methods or products without hazardous ingredients. In doing so we help conserve resources, energy and costs in the making of more products. Try using natural products which are more readily available on the market today. Recipes for making your own natural products can be found in books at most libraries.
- Reuse: If you have leftover products such as paint, cleaners or automotive products share with a friend, neighbor or an organization in your community who may need some of these unused products. Sometimes schools or churches may need them.
- Recycle: Many household hazardous wastes can be recycled. Motor oils, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, automotive batteries and button batteries are products that may be recycled in your area. Contact your local household wastes officials for locations in you area.
- For further information on proper disposal of household hazardous wastes go to http://www.ec.gc.ca
When running a professional painting company or supply, you are undoubtedly going to run into over order issues. Sometimes it is just impossible to accurately estimate just how much paint is required for a project, as it is always a good idea to order more, than not enough. If the color is common, using the left over on future projects is wise as it cuts down on the overhead for the additional work assignments. However, eventually there isn’t anything your company is able to do with the leftovers, so cleaning out the remnants and making room for fresh supplies is required. Proper disposal of latex paint is necessary to prevent damage to local water supplies and the environment.
To increase the life of the company’s paint supply, and to make it easier to recycle, store the leftover paint upside down. This keeps the paint fresh and helps avoid excess paint sticking to the sides of the containers. Furthermore, avoid storing the paint in high temperatures, as this causes damage to the containers and also creates toxic fumes from the latex.
Contact your local waste management facility. These companies specialized in the correct disposal of harmful goods, including latex paint. It is often necessary to go through these companies as many Provinces have laws against improper disposal of latex paints. It is often a crime to pour chemicals, including latex paint, down a sink or to simply toss the paint into a trash can. Failure to properly dispose of your company’s latex paint may result in prosecution, especially if your company disposes of a large amount of paint.
Avoid mixing other chemicals with the latex paint. If you have other supplies that need disposal, it may seem like a good idea to mix everything up so fewer containers are required. This is illegal in many states, as the fumes created are extremely toxic, and it is hard to tell exactly how the chemical compounds may react to one another. Additionally, it makes it rather difficult to dispose of, as different chemicals have different disposal practices, so the combination makes it hard on a waste management facility. It is possible to combine paint containers though, as this is all the same material, so feel free to mix as much of the paint as you choose, in order to reduce the total number of containers, as it makes it easier for transport purposes.
Keep the latex paint completely sealed when taking to the waste management facility. You don’t want the paint to spill everywhere, especially when transferring the material over to the waste management company.
Drop off the latex paint containers to the waste management facilities on the weekdays, preferably early in the morning. Waste management companies generally se more activity as the day progresses, so if you don’t want to wait in line, it is a good idea to drop off the material early. Of course, different waste managements may have different timetables, and may only collect certain materials during specified times of the week. If this is the case, call ahead before venturing out to double-check. You don’t want to make the drive out to the facility, which typically is not located near the city center due to possible contamination and fumes, all for nothing. The waste management facility id dedicated to large, industrial suppliers of latex paint looking to properly recycle and dispose the by product. If you are an individual, you can still follow these steps for securing the latex paint, but take the product to a local paint disposal service (such as a hardware store or service center).
It is an unfortunate fact that in today’s technological world almost everything creates some form of pollution in the form of contaminants. Even cleaning one’s house or clothing introduces chemicals we often just let run down the drain. In the past, many industries would allow contaminants from their process run into the sewers or local river and thus into the water table.
The result is watersheds across the industrial world are polluted and require extensive (and expensive) clean up. This has created a host of new regulations and codes to keep industries from contributing to an already severe problem. These regulations are backed up by fines a company can ill-afford to pay.
So when faced with dealing with wastes associated with your business, what are your options? One could invest in an on-site cleanup, but this is generally very expensive, especially for small businesses. Plus if there are mistakes or accidents then the liability costs can be enormous. Getting on the bad side of the Transport Canada or Worksafe is not a good thing. So what can you and your business do to cost effectively manage waste?
The best answer is to contract it out to an accredited and respected company like Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery. Allowing specialized companies deal with your waste water and other industrial contaminants brings the following benefits:
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Cost Savings: Contracting out the removal of waste water and other contaminants for safe disposal/recovery can eliminate the need for expensive equipment on-site. In addition, this reduces the amount of expensive HAZMAT training needed to for your staff.
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Limited Liability: By having a company like Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery pick up, transport and recover your waste, you shift any potential liability for spills or accidents to them. This will help keep your insurance costs down.
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Professional Expertise: Not only can companies do Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery allow you access to highly trained HAZMAT professionals, they also provide a wide variety of training programs for your employees to help your workforce stay current with all applicable Transport Canada/WorkSafe rules.
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Doing Your Part: Managing your businesses waste, even via contract, allows you to ‘green’ your company. Today’s clients and customers want to spend their dollars on companies which do not contribute to the many environmental problems facing the planet.
Managing hazardous material has and always will be an expensive and often dangerous process. Yet by contracting out with a company like Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery, you are not only deferring the risk incurred in such materials but cutting the costs of dealing with such contaminants.
A change in your industrial processes does not mean you have to incur further costs of upgrading your HAZMAT treatment equipment, training or processes. A quick call to your Tri-Arrow representative and your new hazardous material will be treated with the same professionalism and skill as the previous contaminants.
These are just a few reasons why any smart business owner or project manager should look closely at the services a company like Tri-Arrow Industrial Recovery can do for them. There work is not only good for your company’s bottom line but also the planet as well.
Is your office making you sick?
Do you experience the following?
- headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation
- dry cough
- dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea
- difficulty in concentrating
- dizziness and nausea
- fatigue
- sensitivity to odors
- aches and pains
- itchy eyes, skin rashes
- nasal allergy symptoms
You might be experiencing Sick Building Syndrome. This syndrome is when people who work in an office or building show illness after spending time in a building, but there is no specific name for the health concerns. The symptoms can be in a certain room or area or can be throughout the building. Building Related Illness is when illness can be found to be in airborne contaminants, like mold.
Poor air quality can contribute to complaints in an office, but the condition is temporary. Sometimes buildings can have long term issues resulting when a building is maintained improperly or results from poorly designed buildings. Luckily these symptoms disappear after you leave the building
What causes SBS could be radon or asbestos, or even fiberglass. Proper ventilation has to be maintained and air has to be effectively circulated throughout the building.
The building could also have car exhaust being taken in through air vents if trucks are left idling while deliveries. Carpets, adhesives, paints, cleaning solvents, are some areas that may give off odors which lead to poor air quality.
Recently in an office where the air conditioning vents forced through mold, mildew and whatever black substance that was found in the building an aquaintance of mine became ill. Their breathing was labored, their eyes started to ache, and they ended up with an eye infection which lasted many weeks, even with medication. Their skin burned, and broke out in hives and swelling because of allergic reaction to contaminates. What else was in that black substance?
This building showed signs of problems early on, after roof leaks, the water was never properly remediated, so mold took hold. As a building gets older, remains of previous “tenants” such as rodent or bird droppings make their way into the building’s infrastructure and cause a biological soup which can become toxic to office workers.
Solutions to sick building syndrome usually include combinations of the following:
- periodic cleaning or replacement of filters
- replacement of water-stained ceiling tile and carpeting
- venting contaminant source emissions to the outdoors
- storage and use of paints, adhesives, solvents, and pesticides in well ventilated areas
- use of these pollutant sources during periods of non-occupancy
- allowing time for building materials in new or remodeled areas to off-gas pollutants before occupancy
The important thing is to take action to have a suspected sick building investigated as soon as possible as it is likely that the problem will only get worse if not addressed.
When the sick building is finally address, the contaminated building debris has to be dealt with properly, mold if it exist has to be treated before removal to make sure you don’t spread the infection around. Organic material can be recycled or composted, but what about asbestos or fiberglass?
This is where a waste management company comes in handy. For all hazardous waste, use reputable, licensed companies who know what they are doing to avoid any further contamination.
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Workers who do remedial work use ventilators and coverall to protect themselves from contaminants.
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