A chronological H1N1 timeline

In just a few months, the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus went from virtually unknown to an omnipresent topic in the headlines of newspapers worldwide.

News of the highly contagious ailment spread nearly as quickly as the virus' transmission.

As part of our CM e-News Daily^™ Special Report, we want to provide you with as much information about the virus as possible because knowledge is power — and power gives you an advantage in keeping your facility clean and its occupants safe and, more importantly, healthy.

The following is a chronological list of major H1N1 developments:

§ March 28, 2009: First reported case of swine flu in Mexico

§ April 13, 2009: First reported swine-flu related death

§ April 17, 2009: First H1N1 cases reported in the United States

§ April 21, 2009: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns populace of a new flu strain

§ April 25, 2009: St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York, has more than 100 students reporting flu-like symptoms

§ April 26, 2009: A public health emergency is declared in the United States

§ May 8, 2009: The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States reaches 2,000

§ May 11, 2009: CDC says H1N1 is spreading so quickly that they will stop reporting individual cases

§ May 20, 2009: The World Health Organization (WHO) reports more than 10,000 confirmed swine flu cases worldwide

§ June 11, 2009: WHO declares a swine flu pandemic, the first global flu pandemic in 41 years

§ August 27, 2009: As students return to dormitories, colleges and universities note spikes in confirmed cases

§ September 11, 2009: CDC notes confirmed swine flu cases in all 50 states

§ September 15, 2009: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a new H1N1 vaccine

§ October 5, 2009: High-risk groups begin receiving the inoculation

§ October 24, 2009: President Barack Obama declares H1N1 a national emergency

§ November 13, 2009: WHO reports more than 6,250 swine flu deaths worldwide, with more than 4,500 coming from the United States

§ November 8, 2009: First confirmed swine flu-related death of a domesticated animal.

In the eight months since four-year-old Edgar Hernandez, who was the first confirmed case, opened the world's eyes to the newest biological threat, numerous developments have changed swine flu from a non-existent ailment to common conversational fodder at the water cooler.

By better understanding the severity of this threat — how quickly it spreads, its ability to kill and who is susceptible — we can better prepare against and conquer it.

MGM Mirage unveils massive LEED Gold-certified project

LAS VEGAS — MGM Mirage began unveiling its $8.5 billion Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold-certified CityCenter complex today by opening three buildings, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

CityCenter, with residences, hotel towers, gourmet restaurants and an upscale retail and entertainment district, is one of the largest LEED-certified projects to date in the world, the story stated.

MGM Mirage recruited a team of architects and designers to bring its vision to life and asserted a commitment to sustainability with plans to achieve high environmental standards in each of CityCenter's buildings, the story noted.

According to the story, the "dramatic urban development for the new millennium" includes a 4,000-room hotel-casino, three 400-room boutique hotels, 550,000 square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment venues and 1,650 condo units; the 67-acre plot of land is the same size as Rockefeller Center, SoHo and Times Square combined.

The project, which took 61 months to come to fruition, claimed the lives of six construction workers, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Studies note risk of respiratory ailments for detergent factory workers

NEW YORK — Two new studies note that people who work in detergent factories are at increased risk of developing respiratory problems from exposure to chemicals contained in the detergents, according to Reuters.

Dr. Frits van Rooy of the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences and his colleagues note in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine that workers exposed to detergents in liquid form are not considered to be at risk of these lung problems, but they should be, the story stated.

In a related study, Dr. Paul Cullinan of Imperial College and his colleagues report evidence suggesting that current standards for workplace exposure to powdered detergent chemicals are too high to protect workers from respiratory problems, the story noted.

Richard Sedlak, vice president of technical and internal affairs for The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), said: "Over the years, the detergent industry has developed successful product stewardship programs to promote the safe use of enzymes, using appropriate risk assessment and risk management strategies to avoid unacceptable risks in the workplace."

Van Rooy and his team concluded that exposure to liquid detergent enzymes should be regarded as an occupational hazard leading to sensitization and occupational allergy, the story added.

According to the story, Cullinan and his team found that even low protease exposure increased the risk of upper respiratory problems and the airborne protease concentrations found to produce respiratory problems were well within current regulatory guidelines designed to protect workers' health.

Cullinan said: "Setting proper standards will require further work, but this should not be difficult for an industry who for many years has taken great care in measuring both exposures and health outcomes in their factory workforces."

Click here to read the complete article.

Western Washington University wins green cleaning award

BELLINGHAM, WA — Western Washington University has won the 2009 Green Cleaning Grand Award for Schools and Universities from American School and University magazine, according to the Bellingham Herald.

The award is sponsored by the Green Cleaning Network and the Healthy Schools Campaign and will be featured in the December 2009 issue of American School & University, the story stated.

Tim Wynn, director of facilities management at Western Washington University, said: "We're honored to receive this prestigious award and to be recognized as the national leader in green cleaning. We work hard every year to make our cleaning practices more sustainable and environmentally friendly, and are always seeking ways to improve — and I think that shows in awards such as these."

The custodial services department has ceased using petrochemical cleaning products and has begun using compostable trash liners with a goal of reducing the university's waste stream to zero in a few years, the story noted.

Western Washington University's custodial services department has been a "green" department for the last six years and has been nationally recognized in the green cleaning movement for the past nine years, the story added.

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Company faces $484,000 in OSHA fines

BUFFALO — Cambria Contracting Inc. faces $484,000 in U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for failing to train and protect workers in the hazards of asbestos during a recent debris cleanup, according to the Buffalo News.

According to the story, OSHA charged that several Cambria Contracting workers, who allegedly had not been told that asbestos was present at the former Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Company (AM&A) warehouse worksite, lacked proper respirators and protective clothing.

Rather than using vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to collect debris, Cambria Contracting supposedly removed the debris using methods that can cause the asbestos to be released into the air, the story stated.

In all, Cambria Contracting, which has 15 days to contest the findings or comply with the proposed penalties, was cited for 11 willful violations that OSHA defines as an act committed with indifference or intentional disregard for worker safety and health, the story noted.

Robert Kulick, OSHA's New York regional administrator, said: "Cambria Contracting, as an experienced asbestos abatement firm, was aware of the training requirements and other safeguards that were mandated at the site. [Their actions are] unacceptable and needlessly placed the health of these workers at risk."

OSHA also alleges that Cambria Contracting failed to determine the level of asbestos exposure that its workers were subjected to and did not set up a regulated work area for handling and removing the asbestos, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Asbestos abatement performed in Harvey Hall

MENOMONIE, WI — After a recent steam pipe leak at the University of Wisconsin at Stout's Harvey Hall exposed insulation believed to contain asbestos, officials quickly addressed concerns about proper containment and other safety issues, according to the Dunn County News.
According to the story, the original leak was found November 12 and abatement was performed two days later.

Classes were held in the room on November 16, but a maintenance worker reported that there were additional questionable areas in close proximity to the portion of the ceiling that was abated and that plastic containment was needed, the story stated.

Doug Mell, director of university communications, said: "We were notified by maintenance that there was a potential small problem with a pipe in the ceiling of Harvey Hall. We had two certified asbestos people who went in to inspect the ceiling. They closed the room, sealed the pipe and then reopened the room. The whole system worked the way it was supposed to. Our written policy was followed to the 'T' and that policy is posted on our website."
Dirty Ducts Cleaning was contracted to perform the asbestos abatement, and upon completing the job, performed an indoor air quality test to ensure the building was safe for occupation, the story noted.

According to the article, it is believed that the contractor missed a spot "about the size of a fingernail," and a trained in-house employee abated the area in question.

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The growth of green roofs begins down on the farm

MD — Since 1998, Emory Knoll Farms has focused solely on growing plants used in green roofs, according to the Capital.
Millions of small sedums, delosperma and nearly 80 other varieties of green roof plants are grown at Emory Knoll Farms and distributed to more than 400 clients each year, the story stated.
According to the story, Emory Knoll Farms has noted a 70 percent increase in sales over the past five years, something owner Ed Snodgrass says reflects a growing national interest in green roofs.
Snodgrass and his business partner, John Shepley, say they take pride not only in their service and quality of plants, but on "being a resource for the green world as a whole," the story noted.
Snodgrass said: "I went broke dairy farming. We couldn't control the pricing. I had a lot of faith that green roofs would happen, but didn't envision it being this successful."
Through connections in the horticulture world and a few horticulture conferences, Snodgrass, who instantly became fascinated by green roofs, began growing a small number of plants that were used in research; the business grew rapidly from there, the story added.