Working Safely Around Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)!

Asbestos Is A Real Danger!  It’s Presence Still Exists In Commercial Buildings and Personal Residences.  ECOS regularly receives calls from commercial and residential clients about testing for asbestos.  Sometimes these clients want to self perform a test using a kit and/or take their own samples.  ECOS professionals are required by CDPHE to perform the sampling if and when we are going to conduct a test for a client.  We strongly recommend this approach since the cost of our test is cheap relative to the dangers of a client self performing their own test.

Although the use of asbestos has dropped significantly in recent decades, asbestos containing materials (ACM) are common anywhere we work, live and play.  Therefore, this dangerous fiber remains a serious threat to all.

ECOS Strongly Recommends Stay vigilant.

Anyone involved in the removal, repair or encapsulation of ACM should be especially cautious today, taking the steps to avoid any unnecessary exposure to the toxic mineral.

The danger is real. Beware of it. No level of exposure is considered safe. Asbestos materials are no longer allowed in new construction, but the renovation or remodeling of any structure built before the 1990s could be a dangerous undertaking, too.

Inhaling microscopic fibers can lead to a number of serious respiratory illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma.

When working on a ACM project, protective gear should be worn at all times, much like firemen do when entering an older building to avoid smoke inhalation. A fireman, for example, will wear a special breathing apparatus, which remains in place well after the fire is extinguished.

Those removing ACM should do the same. Any clothing worn near asbestos should be left at the worksite or properly cleaned before coming home to avoid subjecting others to unwanted exposure.

Showering at work is very important, too, making sure no fibers are left on the hair or skin before returning home. Air monitoring should be done before, during and after the project.

Mesothelioma was once known purely as an occupational disease, but that has changed. Secondhand exposure is real. People are exposed from spouses or parents bringing home asbestos inadvertently. Don’t let that happen to your family.

ECOS Recommends Clients Hire A Colorado Certified General Asbestos Contractor (GAC)

It’s also why abatement is so important today. If you suspect ACM is present in your home or business, contact a Colorado certified expert to evaluate the situation. ACM typically is not a problem if undisturbed or non-friable.

The seemingly innocent dust may not bother you initially — and the immediate danger may seem minimal — but it could change your future dramatically. Mesothelioma, for example, has a latency period of 20-50 years between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis.

Once these dangerous fibers lodge into the thin lining around the lungs, they cause inflammation, scarring and genetic changes that eventually lead to an incurable cancer. The best chance of beating this cancer is to get diagnosed in the early stages of mesothelioma.

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations of 2007 reinforced many of the procedures that had been recommended for years regarding asbestos removal.

Some key items to remember when removing asbestos in the workplace:

• Air monitoring
• Decontamination procedures
• Asbestos vacuum cleaners
• Water filtration
• Posting danger signs

In older structures, ACM likely is in the flooring, ceiling, walls, insulation, plumbing and electrical equipment.

ACM was part of caulking, cement and drywall. And it likely is still there today.

Many common building materials in the 20th century contained asbestos. It was used to strengthen and resist heat.

When these ACM products begin to deteriorate or if someone drills, sands, or disturbs them, the asbestos fibers enter the air.

Asbestos was used decades ago in building schools, hospitals, community centers and beautiful homes. Removing it today isn’t easy, but often it is necessary.

Do it correctly to avoid any problems.

Boulder, Colorado Clients Wanting ACM Help Will Be Serviced From our Boulder Office:

4525 N. Broadway

Boulder, Colorado 80304

303-442-3267

Aspen, Basalt, and Snowmass Colorado Clients Wanting ACM Help Will Be Serviced From our Aspen Office:

401 Aspen Airport Business Center

Aspen, Colorado 81611

970-925-3267

Steamboat Clients Wanting ACM Help Will Be Serviced From our Steamboat Office:

1920 Bridge Lane Unit 8

Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487

970-879-3267

ECOS & Town Of Basalt – Ewaste Recycling Event

ECOS & Town Of Basalt Sponsor EWaste Recycling Event On Saturday April 25th, 2015.  This Recycling Event Will Be Held From 10 am to 2 pm at Lion’s Park, 101 Midland Avenue.  ECOS IS A Proud Supporter Of The Town Of Basalt Ewaste Recycling Event = Important Green Opportunity!

ECOS Is Proud Of Luis Pelaez (Pictured below) & The Staff Of La Nueva Mix, The Glenwood Springs Spanish Language Radio Station, For Raising Funds For St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.

Last year, this fundraising event raised $53,245 from listeners during a two day marathon fundraiser.  This year, ECOS is supporting Luis by donating $250, donating carpet cleaning discounted services, and giving Luis paid days off to work this important fundraising event.

On Friday April 10th, please call 1-800-626-8432 to help Luis raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.

Thanks in advance for your help and greatly appreciate support!

ECOS is Colorado’s Premier Resort Restoration Company  |  ECOS  888-375-3267

The ECOS family is excited to share this great story with you about David Crockett who filled out a form with the National Guard for Supervisors and employers that recognize our armed forces and their needs when called to active duty and or training.  David is member of the National Guard and wrote about Jerry Poulsen and the ECOS Grand Junction office.  His application highlighted how Jerry and ECOS Grand Junction are willing to work around his National Guard schedule and how he is always presented with the opportunity to obtain certifications or training for his position with ECOS.

Thanks to David’s effort, Jerry and ECOS Grand Junction were awarded with two awards. The first award was for ECOS Grand Junction and is a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve. The second award was for Jerry as a supervisor for ECOS and is a Patriotic Employer Award.

After winning these awards, ECOS Grand Junction and Jerry have a chance to win two more awards with one being at the White House.  Also there will be an article in the local Grand Junction paper about the awards ceremony.  Nicole Holowaty was present for this ceremony and took the attached picture.

Congrats to David, Jerry, and ECOS Grand Junction!!!  The ECOS family is extremely proud of all of you and your office.

ECOS co-sponsors Carbondale Chamber of Business Event | 888-375-3267

ECOS has been providing residents of Carbondale with emergency response service for over 10 years.  We offer Carbondale residents peace of mind that we can respond to their disaster emergency within 60 minutes.  To celebrate our 10th year anniversary, we are offering 10% off of carpet cleaning jobs, FREE mold inspections, and FREE mold estimates.  We have done hundreds and hundreds of jobs in Carbondale covering all of our service lines.  More specifically, we have done flood damage work, fire and water damage restoration, mold and asbestos remediation for Carbondale homeowners and businesses.  Last month, ECOS co-sponsored a Carbondale Chamber of Business After Hours (BAH) Event.  We took the following picture of our table.

Pictured next to this text are the three ECOS employees that represented our firm.  Pictured from left to right are Scott Hansen, Nicole Holowaty, and Jon Westenfelder.  Scott is our Roaring Fork branch manager and thus leads the effort to bring excellent customer service to Carbondale residents.  Nicole is the ECOS office manager and the Head of Human Resources.  Finally, Jon leads our reconstruction team and has many years of industry experience.

ECOS is honored to be one of five for-profit businesses nominated for the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.  We received the following nomination from a local resident that knows our firm extremely well.  This resident wrote the Carbondale Chamber of Business the following endorsement for ECOS:

“I would like to nominate ECOS Environmental and Disaster Restoration, Inc. for Carbondale Business of the Year.  Open everyday of the year, ECOS provides emergency flood, fire, mold and asbestos services for the Carbondale community and regularly helps Carbondale residents during their time of need to restore their homd and offices to safe living conditions.  ECOS is celebrating its 10th year anniversary helping the citizens of Carbondale and just received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for providing exceptional customer service.   ECOS not only provides their services 24/7, but also has a strong local presence by purchasing supplies locally, banking locally and providing good paying jobs for local residents.  In the past year they exemplified community partnership by co-sponsoring Early Childhood Network’s fundraising event, as well as the Carbondale Cajun Clay event and Chamber Business After Hours, provided free mold remediation for Our School and supported the high school through calendar participation.  They have implemented a broad employee benefit program for their 35 employees this past year to include a health care plan, (paying  60% of the costs), along with paid holidays, vacation and sick days, subsidized housing and extensive employee training in an industry accreditation program to provide certification for their staff.  A youth internship program is planned for the coming year.”