Guzi-West’s Operations and Maintenance Plan

Has your building been inspected for asbestos?

Do you have an Asbestos O&M Plan?

Guzi-West’s Operations and Maintenance Plans focus on identifying the presence/absence of hazardous materials, and specifying appropriate training, cleaning, work practices and surveillance to ensure that any materials containing hazardous materials are managed appropriately. Their program covers everything from notifying tenants of the presence of asbestos to addressing worker practices and assuring that all relevant employees have the proper level of certification. A well thought out O&M program requires a good deal of attention to detail to set up and constant focus to maintain but is ultimately the best possible strategy to limit exposure and any attendant liability.

Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Plan Chico, California

At Guzi-West we have the knowledge and experience to develop asbestos operations and maintenance plans for all businesses, no matter how large or small. Our certified field staff have the necessary background in structural components to efficiently inspect and address all potential sources of asbestos, lead-based paint, and other potential contaminants. We remain focused on limiting your liability while maintaining the best possible environment for cost-effective building management.

 

If you need further information or assistance, please feel free to contact Guzi-West today, https://www.guziwest.com/contact.

What is an O&M Plan?

Has your building been inspected for asbestos?

Do you have an Asbestos O&M Plan?

Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint operations and maintenance plans (O&M Plans) are often necessary for building owners’ management of a structure. They’re also sometimes required for financial transactions for the purchases of residential or commercial structures. When requested for financial transactions, the bank is typically referring to an O&M plan for asbestos and/or lead-based paint. What they mostly are concerned about is a situation in which if there has been a lack of O&M, and there is now an asbestos or lead-based paint hazard present in a structure they are about to finance.

For business owners, the goal is typically to identify whether if asbestos and/or lead-based paint are present. If either is found to be present, they must ensure that staff and occupants are aware of the hazards and are trained accordingly. Additionally, their maintenance plans need to address disposal of the substances. In either case, Guzi-West’s staff is knowledgeable and experienced in identifying and preparing O&M Plans that address financial transactions and/or limit building owner’s liabilities associated with the presence of asbestos, lead-based paint, or other hazardous materials.

Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Plan Chico, California

At Guzi-West we have the knowledge and experience to develop asbestos operations and maintenance plans for all businesses, no matter how large or small. Our certified field staff have the necessary background in structural components to efficiently inspect and address all potential sources of asbestos, lead-based paint, and other potential contaminants. We remain focused on limiting your liability while maintaining the best possible environment for cost-effective building management.

If you need further information or assistance, please feel free to contact Guzi-West today, https://www.guziwest.com/contact. 

 

No Expiration Date on Asbestos

 

Some believe in a myth that there is a “magic number” date that limits a need for asbestos testing. For instance, many insurance adjusters believe there is no need to perform testing on a building built after 1982. Others say 1978. Both are wrong. Drywall joint compound, flooring mastic and popcorn ceiling texture remain common sources of asbestos exposure to this day. Unless you built the building yourself and reviewed each and every component of the structure, there is no way to determine a building is asbestos-free without performing testing.

So what should determine whether or not testing is performed? The only metric that matters is what you intend to do. Asbestos is deadly when it becomes airborne so any task that may cause building components to be crushed or pulverized to dust should be a red flag. Demo of drywall, flooring, ceilings or siding should all be preceded by certified testing. You may know for certain that there is no asbestos in your flooring, but what about the glue holding it down? You can be positive that your drywall is asbestos-free, but what about the joint compound or the texture?

As in all things, it’s better to know. Asbestos Testing

Guzi-West’s inspectors are thoroughly educated on safety regulations. We perform asbestos inspections in accordance with federal safety regulations, compliance monitoring, NESHAP, and AHERA. Our services are provided throughout northern California in cities such as Mckinleyville, Redding, and Eureka.

History of Asbestos

Before the health affects of asbestos were identified, asbestos was used in almost every phase of construction, in every building. For almost a century, asbestos could be commonly found in flooring, siding, roofing, drywall. If it was a component of construction, it probably contained asbestos.

Once the toxic aspects of asbestos were discovered, efforts were made to roll back its usage. In the 80s the US government made efforts to ban its use but they were unsuccessful. Many people are unaware that the ban was short-lived, being repealed in 1991 in favor of curtailing any “new” uses of asbestos but allowing previous uses. As a result, today there are approximately 3,000 construction products widely available in the United States that contain dangerous levels of asbestos.

Asbestos Testing

Guzi-West’s inspectors are thoroughly educated on safety regulations. We perform asbestos inspections in accordance with federal safety regulations, compliance monitoring, NESHAP, and AHERA. Our services are provided throughout northern California in cities such as Mckinleyville, Redding, and Eureka.

Air Quality in Your Kitchen

Guzi-West likes to review and refer to unbiased, third-party sources as much as possible. One

resource that we recently ran across regarding indoor air quality is the EPA’s interactive home

tour of typical indoor air contaminants by room. The interactive map can be found here and an

excerpt of the information on kitchens is presented below.

Kitchen

A kitchen has appliances that may leak gases, and often contain chemicals for

cleaning or removing pests. It is important to properly maintain and ventilate

appliances, and safely store chemicals.

Pesticides

Pesticides used to rid homes of rodents, termites, insects, and other pests, can

irritate the eyes, nose, and throat; damage the central nervous system and

kidneys; and increase the risk of cancer. Don’t leave food out, and if you must

use pesticides, ventilate during and after use and follow directions to limit

exposure. Use non-chemical methods of pest control when possible.

Learn more about Pesticides.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Common household cleaners, often placed under the kitchen sink, release

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), when used and stored. Store household

products that contain chemicals according to manufacturers’ instructions and

keep all products away from children. Consider purchasing cleaners without

VOCs.

Learn more about VOCs.

Carbon Monoxide

To help prevent carbon monoxide exposure, make sure appliances such as gas stoves vent outside

 whenever possible and that all appliances are properly installed, used and maintained. 

Learn more about Carbon Monoxide.

Worried About Indoor Air Quality in Your California Home?

At Guzi-West, we perform professional testing for indoor air quality in Arcata, McKinleyville,

Eureka, Chico, Redding and surrounding areas. For information about our other services like

asbestos, lead-based paint, methamphetamine, allergen, and other inspection and consulting

services, check out our website. Contact us today to schedule a professional testing service for

your home or business. (888) 351-8189. 

Air Quality in Your Home

 

Do you have unexplained allergies?

Has your home been inspected for contaminants?

Indoor Air Quality can be a big issue with asbestos, mold, smoke, allergens and many other

contaminants being a concern for homeowners, property managers, and building occupants.

Identifying whether a structure has indoor air quality issues is a challenge, especially if a

contaminant is naturally occurring in your home and the surrounding environment.

Many indoor contaminants like mold don’t have established permissible exposure levels and

likely never will; it’s difficult to establish acceptable levels because an individual’s reaction to a

contaminant can vary greatly based upon their sensitivity. We see many examples of one

person being extremely sensitive to one contaminant, while a second person is completely

unaffected when exposed to the same contaminant at the same concentration. Scheduling an

inspection on your home is the best way to combat these contaminants.

Worried About Indoor Air Quality in Your California Home?

At Guzi-West, we perform professional testing for indoor air quality in Arcata, McKinleyville,

Eureka, Chico, Redding and surrounding areas. For information about our other services like

asbestos, lead-based paint, methamphetamine, allergen, and other inspection and consulting

services, check out our website. Contact us today to schedule a professional testing service for

your home or business. (888) 351-8189.

Danger Signs to Watch Out for When Hiring a Mold Testing Company

If you have complaints of must odors, sick building occupants, or believe you may have mold within wall cavities or other “hidden” sources then you may want to hire a mold investigation company.  In selecting a testing company, it’s a good idea to thoroughly vet them. Go online and check their BBB rating and online reviews. Confirm that they are certified and that their certifications are in good standing. Ask for references. In particular, look for these danger signs when looking to hire a mold abatement company or a testing company:

Does the testing company also do mold remediation? Companies that both test for and clean up mold have a vested interest in every test coming back positive so they can sell you on their remediation services. When the remediation is done, of course they will test their own work as passing clearance regardless of the job done. “All-in-one” companies should be avoided or at minimum carefully vetted. 

Does the testing company speak jargon? Never deal with someone who cannot speak plainly. If a testing company is giving you the impression that they are trying to confuse you with gibberish, they probably are. There are a lot of scientific and technical terms involved, but would you trust a mechanic who can only call it a “wheeled internal combustion conveyance” instead of just saying “car”?

Is the testing company willing to discuss their methods with you? A testing company should be able to discuss the process with you in detail and answer any questions you may have. There aren’t any trade secrets to keep from you and you should know exactly what you are paying for. The only reason to keep you ignorant is to take advantage of that ignorance. To that end, do a little online research so if their answers make no sense, you'll be aware.

Dealing with mold properly requires a little homework, but your property is a major investment and worth the time and trouble. If you follow these simple rules, you’ll have no trouble finding a testing company that will give you accurate information, and that’s a big step in the right direction. 

Mold Testing

Guzi-West provides mold inspection and consulting services across northern California. If you’re worried that mold may be growing in your house or business, give us a call! We’ll answer any questions you have and we’ll provide an accurate mold inspection to determine what kind of mold you’re dealing with if you choose to hire us.

All Things Mold

“Mold” is a word that strikes fear into the hearts of most property owners. The mere thought that your home or business could contain mold growth conjures images of armies of technicians, interminable repair schedules and mountains of cash to cover the whole thing. Worse yet, as public awareness of mold issues has increased, so has the number of unscrupulous scammers in the mold industry. It can be a tricky situation but with some education, patience and common sense, property owners can avoid the pitfalls and come through the process with a sense of confidence. It all starts with making informed decisions about whether mold growth is truly a problem in your home or business.   

Over a hundred thousand different types of mold have been identified by science. Only a very few are truly “toxic” and a threat to health, but many varieties can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Up to 25% of the population are reportedly allergic to mold. They will experience symptoms ranging from sniffles and sore throats to blinding headaches. Even if the specific variety of mold is not overtly dangerous, a significant number of people will have health issues caused by the building’s environment. In our opinion, if you see visible mold and can definitively identify the source of water which led to mold growth, a mold investigation isn’t truly necessary. You can move directly to mitigation. The EPA states that most homeowners can handle mold cleanups if the area is less than 10 square feet, while a professional mold abatement company should be utilized if there’s lots of water damage and the area of mold growth is greater than 10 square feet.

Mold Testing

Guzi-West provides mold inspection and consulting services across northern California. If you’re worried that mold may be growing in your house or business, give us a call! We’ll answer any questions you have and we’ll provide an accurate mold inspection to determine what kind of mold you’re dealing with if you choose to hire us.

Opting-In Late for the Fawn Fire Clean Up

If you started asbestos testing with our office but then the federal option becomes available, you could still opt-in and you’d only potentially be out the funds required for our services to date – we say ‘potentially’ because if you have insurance coverage for debris removal, then our services would be covered under that and the State or Federal program will only utilize the amount of funds remaining/available for debris removal. 

If you have no insurance or are paying out of pocket, then you would be out the funds if you paid for our services only to opt-in later if the funding became available.  The State or Federal program would do the same work our office completed but they utilize their own contractors – and we know from experience that they’ll not reduce costs or even accept the survey work completed by anyone else. This option is probably the best one for people who are anxious to get the process started but want to wait as long as possible to see if the funding becomes available. If the funding doesn’t become available, then you’ll already know whether asbestos is present, all your paperwork will be in place, and you can simply move forward with the excavation contractor of your choice as soon as you elect to do so. If you’re not in a hurry to complete the process, or don’t have insurance coverage, then we still recommend you wait.

Option 1, Government Cleanup:  Let’s assume that the government funded option becomes available and you’ll have the choice to ‘opt-in’ to participate or ‘opt-out’ and use your own insurance to clean up the ash and debris and perform required testing.  We put together a flowchart, found here, to show how this process works regardless of which option you choose. If you sign a right of entry (ROE) form authorizing access and the cleanup of your property, the government and their subcontractors do the work, and you eventually get cleared to re-build.  

Option 2, Private Cleanup: This is your chosen option or the only option that ends up being available.  Shasta County is aware this is a tremendous burden on homeowners who are already struggling, so they’re doing what they can to lessen the burden. There are no fees for the associated permitting required for cleanup, it appears no waste profiling of the waste debris will be required for disposal beyond completion of an asbestos survey, no soil sampling is required at completion of the cleanup, and there is a $2,000 disposal voucher for West Central Landfill which will be given to homeowners who had 50% or greater damage to a residential structure.  The process is essentially to have an asbestos survey done on the structures lost in the wildfire, submit a demolition permit application to Shasta County – and a National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) notification in some instances – obtain your $2,000 disposal voucher to West Central Landfill, dispose of all ash, debris and any contaminated soil, and retain any disposal documentation. You should then be cleared to pursue a building permit.  

Availability of Federal or State Funding for the Fawn Fire Clean Up

UPDATE: As of 12/14, Federal/State money is now available for homeowners affected by the Fawn Fire. Learn more at the link below!

Federal/State Money Available for Fawn Fire Cleanup

It’s still not clear if state or federal money will be available for homeowners who lost homes in the Fawn Fire. We still believe there’s a decent chance funding will become available because there are rumors of a federal contract coming for the work. We haven’t seen that in writing, although we’re working on federal contracts currently on other fires across the state. We’ve advised many of you to wait if you don’t have insurance coverage at all or if your insurance coverage is low. 

Here’s what you can do if you want to get the process started: spend as little money as possible, and participate in the state or federally funded option if it becomes available:

Prior to hauling away ash and debris to a local landfill, the County requires property owners to have an asbestos survey done on the structures lost in the wildfire, submit a demolition permit application to Shasta County – and a National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) notification in some instances –  you can then obtain your $2,000 disposal voucher to West Central Landfill for disposal, and ultimately dispose of all ash, debris and any contaminated soil from your property. 

This is work our firm does. It costs roughly $2,000 to complete the asbestos surveys, prepare the applications and notifications, map the property and prepare a total package for submittal. The work can be done at any time and it takes roughly 10 days for our office to schedule and complete the work. Homeowners have the option of moving forward with this work, paying for services, and then ideally by the end of December a final decision will have been issued on state or federally funded options you can choose from.

Will There Be State/Federal Funding for the Fawn Fire Cleanup?

As of 10-28-21, it’s not clear if there will be a state/federal funded clean-up option made available for the Fawn Fire. We believe there’s still a good chance one will become available if you’ve lost your home.  If you already know your insurance coverage is poor – or you don’t have insurance coverage at all – then you 100% should hold tight and wait to see if the government-funded option becomes available. We know that’s easier said than done when you just want to get your life back to normal but waiting could save you tens of thousands of dollars. Assuming the government option does become available, then the debris removal, associated testing and more will be completed at no out-of-pocket cost to you. We have lots of information and articles on how you can maximize your insurance coverage for debris removal, the pros and cons of opting in vs. opting out, and more that can be found on our general wildfire information page here.

Learn more here!

We have offices and personnel in the areas of Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, and Redding, California that can help you with fire debris characterization and debris removal. 

Redding: (888) 351-8189

Arcata/Eureka (North Coast): (707) 388-3008

Fawn Fire Cleanup – What are My Options?

Starting the fire debris cleanup process?

You have one of two options:

Option 1, Government Cleanup:  Let’s assume that the government funded option becomes available and you’ll have the choice to ‘opt-in’ to participate or ‘opt-out’ and use your own insurance to clean up the ash and debris and perform required testing.  We put together a flowchart, found here, to show how this process works regardless of which option you choose. If you sign a right of entry (ROE) form authorizing access and the cleanup of your property, the government and their subcontractors do this work, and you eventually get a clear to re-build.  

Option 2, Private Cleanup: is your chosen option or the only option that ends up being available.  Shasta County is aware this is a tremendous burden on homeowners who are already struggling, so they’re doing what they can to lessen the burden. There are no fees for the associated permitting required for cleanup, it appears no waste profiling of the waste debris will be required for disposal beyond completion of an asbestos survey, no soil sampling is required at completion of the cleanup, and there is a $2,000 disposal voucher for West Central Landfill which will be given to homeowners who had 50% or greater damage to a residential structure.  The process is essentially to have an asbestos survey done on the structures lost in the wildfire, submit a demolition permit application to Shasta County – and a National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) notification in some instances – obtain your $2,000 disposal voucher to West Central Landfill, dispose of all ash, debris and any contaminated soil, and retain any keep disposal documentation. You should then be cleared to then pursue a building permit. 

Learn more here!

We have offices and personnel in the areas of Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, and Redding, California that can help you with fire debris characterization and debris removal. 

Redding: (888) 351-8189

Arcata/Eureka (North Coast): (707) 388-3008

 

SHOULD I WAIT TO DO MY FIRE CLEANUP?

Fire debris cleanup is a heart-wrenching process. If you’re in a hurry and just want to get the process over with, we get it! Many will go this route.  However, if insurance coverage or money is an issue, then you could benefit by ‘opting-in’ to the federal cleanup program where all testing, removal, disposal and reporting is completed under the state program either at no charge to you (if you don’t have fire insurance) or for whatever coverage your insurance policy has for debris removal (i.e. the state will bill your insurance directly but will not collect amounts beyond your coverage limits).  

If you are ready to move forward with debris removal cleanup and you lost your home in the Dixie, McFarland, Monument, Fawn or Beckwourth fires then you’ll have an option for participating in the state/federal run program or opting-out and handling the waste yourself.  A landfill waiver was issued for landfills to accept waste from those fires without performing waste profiling first.  Identifying the presence or absence of asbestos in the fire debris is still required however.  The opt-in/opt-out process typically becomes a heavily debated topic in a local community; we’ve written a guide for property owners affected by previous fires and you can review that guide. 

 

WHERE DO I TAKE MY FIRE DEBRIS WASTE?

Where should I take my fire debris waste? That’s the question many homeowners and building owners have been asking lately.  Despite all the chaos and destruction the fires are causing throughout the State of California, we’re actually fairly ‘early’ in the cleanup process for most fires.  If you’re already at a point where you’re ready to clean up your property and are trying to figure out where to take the debris, then you’ve probably found out that’s not a simple question. We’ll give you the short answer first, then explain the long answer, then which could be best for you.

The short answer is you that need to determine where the closest landfill is located, then you need to contact that landfill to see what the waste profiling requirements are for that landfill.  Each landfill has their own unique process for profiling waste, and while there are some standards across the state for what’s classified as “hazardous waste” there is some wiggle room landfills have to accept fire debris from natural disasters. The fastest way your waste gets profiled is to find a consulting outfit that’s experienced and knowledgeable about the process; that outfit will need to survey the fire debris on your property and sample any materials that may contain asbestos. 

During the same site visit, they’ll also collect a sample of the waste stream – most frequently this is a composite sample of a cross section of your waste stream (i.e. you’re attempting to get a sample that’s is representative of all the fire debris from your property).  That waste stream sample is sent to a CA-certified laboratory for analysis of whatever your local landfill requires for waste profiling (typically at minimum, this includes metals, PCBs, and pH). Once you get the results back, you’ll prepare a waste profile report and submit that report to the landfill for a decision on whether their facility can accept your waste.

We’ve prepared a guide for previous fires that can be reviewed here on making this decision.

What does it mean if they declare a federal disaster?

If you’re in a hurry and just want to get the process over with, we get it! Many will go this route.  However, if insurance coverage or money is an issue, then you could benefit by waiting to see if the fire that destroyed your property will be declared a federal disaster.  We anticipate the larger fires currently burning (i.e. Caldor Fire, Dixie Fire) will be declared federal disasters – which will likely trigger California to issue an emergency waiver for landfills, which will ultimately accept fire debris and waste from a forest fire. This has already happened for the Dixie Fire and closest landfills to that fire (check with your local landfills or contact our office and we’ll help point you in the right direction)!

Learn more here!

We have offices and personnel in the areas of Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, and Redding, California that can help you with fire debris characterization and debris removal. 

Redding: (888) 351-8189

Arcata/Eureka (North Coast): (707) 388-3008

Where Do I take My Fire Debris Waste?

You need to determine where the closest landfill is located, then you need to contact that landfill to see what the waste profiling requirements are for that landfill.  Each landfill has their own unique process for profiling waste, and while there are some standards across the state for what’s classified as “hazardous waste” there is some wiggle room landfills have to accept fire debris from natural disasters. Learn more here!

Contact us today to discuss fire debris characterization and ash removal for your home or business in the areas of Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, and Redding, California. 

Redding: (888) 351-8189

Arcata/Eureka (North Coast): (707) 388-3008

What is makeup air and why does it matter for indoor air quality?

In nearly every residential and commercial building there’s a system known as an HVAC system. This stands for “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.”  

In most structures, there are several appliances that push air in or pull air out including things like clothes dryers, bathroom fans, fireplaces and kitchen range hoods. These appliances depressurize the interior of the structure. Any air exhausted through mechanical systems must be replaced by an equal volume of air from the outside to re-balance the pressure. Unless airways are deliberately provided for the incoming air through mechanical design in the HVAC system, it will flow in through the path of least resistance through passive means, such as gaps around windows and doors, between framing and the foundation, or at other leaky building components.  

Learn more here!

Contact Guzi-West today to discuss professional testing for indoor air quality for your home or business in Northern California, in Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, Redding and surrounding areas. (888) 351-8189

Concerned About Your Indoor Air Quality in Your California Home?

 

According to the EPA, there are three basic strategies to improve indoor air quality: 

• Source Control
• Improved Ventilation
• Air Cleaners

Learn more here!

At Guzi-west, we perform professional testing for indoor air quality in Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, Redding and surrounding areas. For additional services, please explore our website. Contact us today to schedule a professional testing service for your home or business. (888) 351-8189

Redding: (888) 351-8189

Arcata/Eureka (North Coast): (707) 388-3008

Guzi-West's Same-Day Turnaround is Better Than Ever!

Guzi-West’s expansion guarantees their clients the ability to have same-day turnaround time results. This includes the ability to do same-day results for:

• Asbestos concentrations 

• Lead concentrations

• Bacteria/sewage clearance

• Mold concentrations 

Guzi-West now has staff in Anderson/Redding, Chico, and Arcata CA which allows us to cover the entire northern state of California and parts of Oregon. Guzi-West’s combination of strategic positioning and potential for same-day turnaround results generates the capability for our company to efficiently respond to emergency situations and situations where fast response times are crucial to your project. 

Contact us today to discuss our analytical capabilities for asbestos, bacteria, lead or professional mold testing your California home or business in the areas of Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Chico, and Redding, California. 

Guzi West Expands Same-Day Testing!

Guzi-West Inspection and Consulting is excited to announce the expansion of the company’s same-day testing and results capabilities. In addition to our new office in Anderson – and the employment of our new qualified asbestos and mold analyst Bobby Ingram – Guzi-West is proud to announce the addition of two Viken Detection Pb200i X-ray fluorescent (XRF) analyzers. 

XRF instruments are used to detect toxic levels of lead in any paint sample instantaneously. The incorporation of these instruments allows us to assist our clients with the fastest turnaround times in northern California. As a result, this allows you to clear abatement/mitigation areas faster, and help you meet insurance company demands for restoration response times, and overall help you where speed is of the utmost importance.  

Contact us today if you’re interested to see XRF instruments speed up the process of your clearance! We’re happy to help you, your business, or your home!