CIHs Requested in the Government’s Unified Facilities Guide Specifications

Federal procurement officers dealing with mold remediation projects have been provided direction through the government’s Unified Facilities Guide Specifications.  The mold remediation specifications document, last updated in 2011, is a joint effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency (AFCESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
 
The document lists a number of specifications that procurement officers should follow when dealing with a mold remediation project.  It states that any Contracting Officer must require that the microbial assessor provide documentation proving that the assessor meets various criteria listed in the specifications. 
 
The requirements to be a microbial assessor are specific and list only several groups that meet the qualifications. Certified Industrial Hygienists are specified in the short list of qualified professionals.  In addition to the CIH designation, the microbial assessor is required to have one year of experience in conducting microbial investigations.
 
There are a number of potential health and safety hazards that may be present during mold remediation projects.  These can range from exposure to fungal allergens, asthma triggers and pathogens to concerns over the presence of lead, asbestos and other hazardous substances during cleanup and remediation efforts.  Altered work environments and industrial processes due to mold remediation efforts could in and of themselves lead to potential hazards not present before remediation efforts began.  CIHs are uniquely qualified to handle these types of situations.
 
“The expertise of CIHs has long been recognized by a number of agencies and organizations,” reported Tracy Parsons, CIH, Administrative Program Manager at ABIH.  “The Unified Facilities Guide Specifications recognizes the unique role, educational requirements and knowledge base that industrial hygiene professionals must possess in order to earn the CIH designation.   This recognition is why CIHs are one of only a few approved certified groups who meet the requirements of a recognized microbial assessor in this Federal document.”
 
The Unified Facilities Guide Specifications can be viewed at: http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/DOD/UFGS/UFGS%2002%2085%2000.00%2020.pdf
 
To learn more about the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or the CIH program, please email abih@ABIH.org , visit http://www.ABIH.org, or call (517) 321-2638.
 
About the American Board of Industrial Hygiene
Since 1960, ABIH, a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world’s largest, premier organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. ABIH is responsible for ensuring high-quality certification including education, experience, examination, certification maintenance and ethics enforcement.

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