Helping Families Affected by the Carr Fire

The Carr fire in Redding, California is one of the most destructive fires in California’s history, spanning 126,913 acres and counting. In response to this unfortunate event, Guzi-West has offered to donate 20% of its August revenue to families who are victims of the fire. There have been six casualties and over 1,000 homes destroyed by the Carr Fire.

Families are still evacuating their homes throughout the county due to the continuous spread of the fire. Firefighters are doing their best to fight the fire to keep it from spreading further with the current conditions. Guzi-West feels that donations will help families with their losses and struggle during this tragic event. 20% of their August revenue will go to victims of the Carr Fire.

For more information, visit our website!

Lead Based Paint: Lack of Compliance

There have been many cases portraying lack of compliance to safety regulations. You can read an example of failure to comply with lead-based paint regulations below.

Chip and Joanna Gaines, the owners of a TV show on HGTV called “Fixer Upper,” have been fined for failure to comply with safety guidelines for lead-based paint removal. Their show contained footage of employees not following proper safety guidelines while removing lead-based paint. Their company, Magnolia Homes, paid a civil fine of $40,000 and agreed to show a demonstration on how to properly remove lead-based paint. Since then, Chip and Joanna have made a serious effort to make a difference by funding a lead-paint abatement program in their hometown with $160,000.

Read more about fines for lack of compliance here!

Asbestos: Lack of Compliance

There have been many cases portraying lack of compliance to safety regulations. Here are some examples of failure to comply with asbestos regulations:

An audit at California State University uncovered a large list of ongoing problems that created extreme safety hazards for half a million students and employees. The University was fined multiple times for the lack of compliance on two of its campuses – San Diego and Channel Islands.

During the renovation of a former air force base located in Atwater, California—Firm Build employees, subcontractors, subcontractors’ employees and student workers were exposed to airborne asbestos. Directors knowingly strayed from safety precautions to save money during demolition and renovation. Prison sentences were handed down as a result.

Read more about fines for lack of compliance here!

Asbestos & NESHAP

Asbestos is a mineral that is commonly found in building materials. It is toxic to the human body when inhaled or ingested. It can cause serious negative health effects--including some types of cancer. If NESHAP regulations are not followed, people may have higher chances of asbestos exposure as well as exposure to other toxins found in building materials.

Learn more about NESHAP regulations here!

History of NESHAP

NESHAP’s standards were originally proposed in 1971 as a response to the clean air act of 1970. In the following years, amendments were enacted to further reduce the exposure to various air pollutants. By 2004, the final standards of NESHAP were entirely implemented.

Read more about NESHAP here!

Symptoms of Valley Fever

The symptoms of Valley Fever closely resemble symptoms of the flu. They include fever, chills, cough, chest pain, headache, joint aches, night sweats, fatigue, and red spotty rashes. Because of the similarity to the flu, Valley Fever is often delayed in diagnosis or completely misdiagnosed. Knowing what to look for will lower your chances. People most at risk are those over 60, African Americans, and Filipinos.

Learn more about Valley Fever here!

What is Valley Fever?

Valley Fever is a respiratory infection that arises from fungus in soil. When the soil is overturned­­, fungi spores are released into the air. They can then be inhaled. The most common cases are in the soil heavy regions.
In 2017, Valley Fever’s infection rate was the highest it has ever been in California. The reason is unknown but some have linked it to climate change, which has caused droughts and drier weather.

Learn more about Valley Fever here!