Demolition contractors are often faced with working in environments where the sounds of equipment, trucks and workers can be considered a nuisance. During the 2011 C&D Recycling Forum, held in Ellicott City, Md., in late September, Richard Lorenz, CEO and owner of Central Environmental Services (CES), Orlando, Fla., and Scott Knightly of EnviroVantage, Epping, N.H., shared their on-the-job expertise for keeping noise levels under control during a session titled “Thriving in a Quiet Zone” moderated by Mike Taylor, executive director of the National Demolition Association (NDA), Doylestown, Pa.

CES was contracted by the Disney Co. to demolish buildings located on the theme park’s Pleasure Island. The nightclubs had stood empty for three years, according to Lorenz. Because Disney did not want any noise generated from the demolition site during the park’s operating hours, Lorenz and his crew completed the demolition work at night. Work had to be done each day by 8 a.m. when the park opened.

“Safety was definitely our biggest issue,” recalled Lorenz. Workers wore glow-in-the-dark vests and flood lights illuminated the job site. Work began in February and was completed in six months with “not even a cut finger,” Lorenz said.

He said that all of the bar equipment and air conditioning units were still intact when CES arrived at the site. All of those supplies were sold as salvage. A Genesis hydraulic shear was brought in to do the rest of the demolition. Lorenz estimates 86-87 percent of all the material was recycled, including the steel from the structures. CES won the job from Disney for $100,000 per building, according to Lorenz; and his company was able to generate $200,000 per building from recycling.

“Our middle name is environmental. There is no other way to do it,” said Lorenz. He also mentioned how his membership with the NDA has been an influential to his company.”It has taught me the right way to do things,” he said.

Knightly provided advice for demolition within a hospital environment. Hospitals are a 24-hours-a-day-seven-days-a-week work environment, he said.

One of the ways he suggested for mitigating noise is “isolating the superstructure within the area you are working.” He warned, however, “If you think it is quiet, someone is still going to come at you.”

Knightly emphasized the importance of communication when beginning such a project. He advised to bring together staff and infectious control personnel to find out who could potentially shut down the demolition if it becomes a nuisance.

“It may fall apart the day you start,” he says.

Some tips he provided include using chutes and scaffolding to maneuver the site instead of hospital elevators; and leaving the carpet in as long as possible because it will make the work site quieter.

1. Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.

2. Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.

3. Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.

4. Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24-48 hours) after flooding.

5. Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting

6. Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.

7. Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

Experts continue to debate the current state of the economy and whether the low level of market activity represents a recession or a depression.

In all industries, the companies that are most likely to get enough work to navigate their way through the current economic slowdown rarely pay attention to those discussions. Successful construction company leaders know most talk is cheap – only results matter to the bottom line. No matter what label fits the current economy, fewer project opportunities exist. To succeed, companies must figure out how to market their reputation and qualifications better than their competitors.

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER

In a recent nationwide survey of commercial construction and design companies conducted during the third quarter, 83% of respondents said that their primary source of business is a combination of repeat clients, referrals and networking. It should come as no surprise that decision-makers in the commercial construction and design industry rarely enter into unknown business relationships.

Only 17 percent said they would be receptive to starting a relationship with a company based on a cold sales call, and 20 percent said they would look in a printed directory for a new business resource. Comparatively, 87 percent said they would be receptive to a new business relationship introduced by a trusted colleague.

All of this affirms that creating and maintaining business relationships is paramount for companies to succeed in the construction industry.

Among the ways in which companies nurture their business relationships, 48 percent said breakfast and lunch meetings were most common, while 19 percent entertained with a combination of golf, fishing and sporting event outings.

Interestingly, 33 percent said they do nothing to nurture existing business relationships. With that in mind, the opportunity for companies to develop repeat clients and attract new clients may be as simple as providing a little more appreciation for their business relationships than the competition does.

FACE TIME

When it comes to networking, the most effective means is to become a member of a local business or trade organization. In fact, 93 percent of the industry belongs to at least one business or trade organization. And while 80 percent of companies attend a networking event at least once a month, 20 percent do not participate in any way. Regular attendance at meetings and events maximizes the ROI on membership dues and maintains company exposure among clients, prospects and peers.

LEVERAGE

As important as it is for companies to constantly cultivate valuable relationships, the time and expense can add up quickly. A well-thought-out marketing plan can complement those efforts. While 32 percent of companies spend the majority of their advertising budget on logos for vehicles, shirts and stationary, the balance said they spend most dollars on event sponsorships and print or online campaigns.

Also of interest, 51 percent of companies allocate less than $5000 per year for marketing – not a significantly high amount. Therefore, companies that choose to spend a few more marketing dollars are likely to get much more exposure than their competitors.

The key to a company’s success in any economy, no matter what the experts call it, is to make sure its reputation and qualifications remain top of mind among peers and existing clients when project opportunities arise.

There is always some mold everywhere – in the air and on many surfaces. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold grows where there is moisture.

Mold and Your Health

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold. These people should stay away from areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas.

In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was significant evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children.

In addition, in 2004 the IOM found sufficient evidence to link exposure to damp indoor environments in general to upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people and with asthma symptoms in people with asthma. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking exposure to damp indoor environments in general to shortness of breath, to respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children and to potential development of asthma in susceptible individuals. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mold

Mold and Your Home

Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets and be carried indoors.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

You Can Control Mold

Inside your home you can control mold growth by:

• Keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%
• Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes
• Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding
• Ventilating shower, laundry and cooking areas

If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you can not rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Also, a good sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth.

EnviroVantage of Epping recently garnered national recognition for their safety efforts by winning a NADCA  (The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association) Outstanding Safety Award.

NADCA recognized member companies that achieved an outstanding safety record of non-fatal occupational injury and illness incidence rates in 2010, which were calculated to be less than the industry average using standardized formulas developed by the National Safety and Health Council.

 Matt Mongiello, chairman of NADCA’s Education & Safety Committee, said, “the success of a company like EnviroVantage depends not only on production and sales, but also how safely each job is performed. There is no job so important – nor any service so urgent – that we cannot make time to work safely.  Establishment of a safe environment is the shared responsibility between a contractor and its employees at all levels of an organization. Achieving the goal of accident prevention and health preservation is an admirable feat and shows the commitment a company like EnviroVantage has dedicated to safety excellence,”.

 Scott Knightly, President of EnviroVantage expressed pride and appreciation for the award.  “This is a team award” noted Knightly.  “Our policy is to have each employee pay strict attention to and follow all safety procedures on every project, because safety comes first, no matter what. This award shows the dedication that we as a company put towards safety and the importance of good preparation to prevent accidents from occurring on the job site.   I am proud of our team for their hard work to achieve this award”.

New Hampshire Congressman Frank Guinta recently attended the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of The Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire and Vermont.

 Scott Knightly of EnviroVantage, Board Chair of ABC NH/VT welcomed Congressman Guinta and facilitated conversation of topics of interest to the organization including Guinta’s insight and position on a recent House vote banning Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) which ended in a 210-210 tie.

 Knightly will lead the ABC NH/VT Management team in a follow up meeting with Congressman Guinta as well as other congressional representatives from NH and Vermont, before a revote is taken,  while they are at the 2011 ABC Legislative Conference to be held in Washington DC June 14-16.

Construction companies typically view sales, quality and profitability by cultural imperatives – but what about safety? Almost all accidents at construction sites can be prevented with zero-accident culture. Some large construction companies operate for millions of manhours without a lost-time accident. Small and medium-sized contractors also can achieve unblemished records through education, training and unwavering commitment to building a culture of safety.

Highly skilled workers are a firm’s most valuable asset. With fewer young people entering the construction workforce, the labor shortage will be felt by every contractor when the economy recovers. When safety is a strong corporate value, firms can protect their current assets as well as attract competent workers who’ll have long careers.

Employee wellness is another key component. More studies are proving a strong connection exists between an employee’s wellness and injury rates. As the workforce ages, wellness becomes even more important.

Many factors can contribute to employees being depressed or stressed, which can lead to distraction, fatigue, illness, and injury. Employees may be distracted because they’re worried about being laid off or about saving enough money for retirement. By helping employees reduce their stress through budget and retirement workshops, contractors may experience work-related accidents.

INVESTING IN SAFETY
The most direct link between safety and money shows up in workers’ compensation insurance – the rate for which is determined by a firm’s experience modification rate (e-mod). Some companies have an e-mod as low as .6 and some surpass 2.0. Any company well below 1.0 has a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace. Depending on its size, a company can save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on workers’ compensation.

Some construction companies will not hire a subcontractor with an e-mod exceeding 1.0, which means a poor safety record can lead to lost business. If a company’s average job size is $5 million and its profit margin is 5 percent, $250,000 would go out the window for every lost job. Losing five jobs equals $1.25 million of lost profit.

However, if a firm invests $50,000 or $100,000 in a safety program, it could see more than $1 million in profits during the following 12 months. Making safety a strong cultural imperative is easier when that $100,000 safety investment is revealed as a necessary stepping stone to higher profits.

A company’s executive leadership team must set an example – not just by going out and demonstrating safety procedures on the jobsite, but also by ensuring all corporate actions and behaviors clearly communicate safety as a priority. Executives should participate on the safety committee, provide and invest in the best training and personal protective equipment, and stay abreast of federal regulations. Ultimately, they should tune in safety just as they tune into quality control and timely execution.