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FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What has the County done regarding asbestos-containing materials in our
building?
In 2000, Cuyahoga County approved contracts from three Environmental Consulting firms to provide
comprehensive building inspections and abatement of asbestos-containing
materials and/or hazardous materials in all county owned buildings. The project
also included the development of Operation and Maintenance Plans for each
facility to manage any remaining materials in place, and awareness training for
custodial/maintenance personnel and management personnel. Two-hour OSHA Asbestos
training classes for individuals who may come into contact or disturb these
materials and additional Class I, Class II, and Class III training is being
conducted.
What should I do if I suspect an indoor air
quality issue?
The following procedures shall be followed if you
wish to report an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issue in a county-owned or leased
building.
- Try to identify or isolate the source.
- Speak to your immediate supervisor and have him or her contact Protective
Services. The information can also be forwarded to Protective Services 24 hour,
IAQ Hot-line (443-2141). Make sure all the information is accurate and correct.
If the problem is determined to be an immediate health hazard, please follow
Standard Operating Procedures for responding to Medical Emergencies. Employees
should report all indoor air quality concerns to their immediate supervisor or
Protective Services.
- If the indoor air quality complaint is not an emergency, or does not require
911, then Protective Services should try to identify or isolate the source. The
immediate supervisor or Protective Services should contact the Building
Superintendent or Center Manager. The Building Superintendent or Center Manager
will investigate and contact the Building Engineer(s) or Property Manager if
they think they are needed to resolve the complaint. If the complaint cannot be
resolved, then contact the Public Works Indoor Air Quality Manager for assistance.
- Once the complaint is logged to the Department of Public Works, the designated IAQ
investigator (Jim May, Indoor Air Quality Manager) will assign an incident
number and schedule a meeting with the immediate supervisor to investigate the
complaint and issue a written report after the complaint is resolved.
Good indoor air quality within a building requires a concerted effort by
everyone who works in that building. Building management, maintenance, and
housekeeping personnel cannot bear the full responsibility for good indoor air
quality. All County employees can help by keeping work areas clean, adhering to
the County’s “Non-Smoking” policy, familiarizing themselves with potential
sources of pollutants, and taking an active part in helping to identify and
correct problems. Smoking is strictly prohibited within all areas of County
owned or leased buildings. Employees who violate the non-smoking policy will be
subject to the same disciplinary actions that accompany infractions of other
County rules.
What about our Underground Storage
Tanks?
On an annual basis the County pays its annual premium for
ten (10) Underground Storage Tanks per Section 3737.91 of the Ohio Revised
Code. All Ohio petroleum UST owners are required both under provisions of
federal and Ohio law to demonstrate “financial responsibility.” Financial
responsibility is the ability to pay for the costs of corrective actions
(environmental clean-up) and third-party liability (bodily injury or property
damage) as a result of an accidental petroleum release.
The Ohio
Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Release Compensation Board (PUSTR) consists
of government and industry representatives and has the primary responsibility of
administering the Petroleum Financials Assurance Fund. The “Fund” is a source of
money derived from mandatory per-tank fees and is available to eligible
underground storage tank owners to reimburse petroleum release clean up
costs.