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I have been slowly purchasing and collecting ASTM International Standards for years (they're not entirely cheap), and this weekend, I developed a wish list of ASTM standards I plan to purchase in 2014. Under Industrial Hygiene and Safety Standards : ASTM E2238 - 12: Standard Guide for Evacuation Route Diagrams ($37) ASTM F1461 - 12: Standard Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing Program ($42) ASTM D4276 - 02 (2012): Standard Practice for Confined Area Entry ($37) ASTM E2565 - 09: Standard Guide for Consensus-based Process for an Occupational Safety and Health Standard that Includes an Occupational Exposure Guideline ($37) For Asbestos: ASTM E2356 - 10: Standard Practice for Comprehensive Building Asbestos Surveys ($67) ASTM E1368 - 11: Standard Practice for Visual Inspection of Asbestos Abatement Projects ($48) ASTM D7201 - 06 (2011): Standard Practice for Sampling and Counting Airborne Fibers, Including Asbestos Fibers, in the Workplace, by Phase Contr...

While preparing the syllabus and course content for my Spring 2014 course in "Emergency Preparedness and Pre-Planning" at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ, I developed a list of free training sources available on the Internet for my graduate students to use.  Sometimes if I'm in need of a quick refresher, I turn to these sources for additional guidance.  Today's list of courses is from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ). Their Independent Study Program will give you certificates of completion and even college credit if you need (and pay for) it. The courses are not just about emergency management and preparedness - they cover a range of topics, as you can see below. Courses that an Industrial Hygienist or Occupational Safety and Health Professional may find useful: IS-5.a:  An Introduction to Hazardous Materials   IS-37: Managerial Safety and Health IS-240.a:  Leadership & Influence IS-241.a:  Decision Making and P...

So, no surprise, starting and operating a business is a tad expensive. But Spore Consulting needs to have equipment in order to actually do work and provide services. Go figure. I really wanted to purchase fancy equipment, but I also wanted to be able to eat and pay my bills. The whole idea of depreciation on equipment is cool for tax purposes, but less cool when you remember that you still have to pay for it up front (usually). So I went shopping on Amazon . Spouse and I buy pretty much everything but food on Amazon, thanks to living in a rural-ish area. FYI, no promotional consideration from Extech or Amazon was received for these reviews - I just wanted to let the industry know that there are lower-cost alternatives available for new consultants starting out in indoor air quality and industrial hygiene .  What I've purchased so far: Extech MO260 Combination Pin/Pinless Moisture Meter Extech EA80 EasyView Indoor Air Quality Meter/Datalogger Extech 44550 Pocket Humidity/Tempera...

I'm doing this blog post as an extension of my review of this super-fun product on Amazon .  I have this freaking adorable Dalek sitting on my computer desk, positioned so that I can see the Dalek's "head" over my laptop.  My Accountability Dalek in action. Watching me work. Every now and then, when I am bored (Gasp! Say it isn't true!) or needing to smile, I squish the Dalek to make it talk. The sticker on its midsection says "TRY ME!" On some stuffed animals, this is an invitation. With the Accountability Dalek, it's a direct challenge.  "Exterminate! Exterminate!" I like to play that one when people are getting a little snippy on the phone. If you haven't watched Doctor Who, you're missing out. See a clip here . Summarizes the show quite nicely. "You would make a good Dalek." I sometimes use that one when I am feeling particularly robot-like or like my hands are glued to my ergonomic keyboard. It reminds me to get up, m...

All of the industry authorities do a social media blitz before the holiday season to remind you to be safe while putting up the various holiday decorations. I haven't seen an article yet about safety concerns when taking down holiday decorations, so I thought I would do one. Why take down holiday decorations? Your home-owners association (HOA) will make you take them down. Your electric bill. It's scary. Your neighbors were just being nice - they really don't like your 10-foot Santa (including sleigh and reindeer) statues strung with lights and tinsel. They want everything back to normal. And they'll passively-aggressively punish you until you take them down. The holidays are over, yo. Just let them go away until next year. We didn't put up decorations this year (indoor or outdoor) since we spent the holidays traversing the state to get to various holiday functions. Yes, we're scrooges. On the plus side, the double-wide that we are renting has been ready for Ch...