SMOHIT Safety Matters

FROM THE DESK OF RANDALL A. KROCKA

SMOHIT Administrator

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I recently returned from a meeting of the BlueGreen Alliance, a forward-thinking organization that unites 14 of our country's largest unions and environmental organizations. Acting together through more than 15 million members and supporters,they advocate the growth in the number and quality of jobs in the clean economy by expanding a broad range of industries including:

  • Renewable energy
  • Energy efficiency
  • The substitution of safer, cleaner chemicals
  • Modern transportation systems and advanced vehicle technology
  • Domestic manufacturing
  • High-speed Internet and a smart, efficient electrical grid
  • Green schools and other public buildings
  • Improving our nation's water infrastructure, recycling, and sustainable agriculture

 

One of the workshop topics I found to be particularly interesting focused on indoor air quality in our schools. Here is a brief narrative recap:

 

"Schools are central to communities across the nation. Yet many have fallen into disrepair. Some of these pose health and safety risks to their occupants, 95% of whom are women and children, and it's not just a problem of aging buildings. The Institute of Medicine reports that indoor environmental exposures are 100 - 1,000 times more intense than outdoor exposures, and there is research showing that school environments have a profound impact on the occupant health, learning, and academic achievement."

 

I learned that the U.S. is currently running at roughly a 275 billion dollar deficit that needs to be spent on upgrading our school systems nationwide. More than 37% of our schools have inadequate HVAC systems and 20% have inadequate ventilation systems, something that our industry is uniquely qualified to address. Even schools that have invested in up-to-date HVAC systems do not have the budget to properly maintain these systems.

 

This problem affects more than 130,000 public and private schools, which could result in unlimited work potential for our members. The EPA estimates that at least 50% of our schools have indoor air problems. The school districts need an operations and maintenance budget for schools after the new systems are installed that will ensure proper system operation.

 

Resources for more information:

www.healthyschools.org 

www.cleaningforhealthyschools.org 

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html